Painters charge $20 to $50 per hour or $1 to $6 per square foot, depending on the project size, complexity, and whether it's interior painting or exterior painting.

• The cost to paint the interior of a house is $1 to $3 per square foot of floor space or $1,800 to $5,000 for an average-size home.
• The average cost to paint a room is $300 to $1,000, depending on the size and complexity.
• The cost to paint the exterior of a house is $1.50 to $4 per square foot or $2,600 to $5,700, depending on the size, number of stories, condition, and accessibility.

Painting is a cost-effective way to add value and boost home appeal. Interior painting has a 107% return on investment (ROI), while exterior painting has a 55% return on investment on average.

Interior walls need painting every three to seven years on average, depending on the room type, traffic and condition, and previous paint job. Ceilings need painting every 7 to 10 years, and baseboards and trim need repainting every 2 to 4 years.

Signs interior walls need painting:

• Paint is peeling, flaking, bubbling, cracking, faded, or chalky
• There are stains and mold on the walls
• The walls are damaged
• The last paint job was longer than 7 years ago
• You're tired of the current color
• You're selling the home and want to increase the appeal

A house exterior needs painting every five to ten years on average, depending on the location, climate, sun exposure, material, and condition. Wood siding needs repainting every 3 to 7 years, while fiber cement siding needs repainting every 10 to 15 years.

Signs a house exterior needs painting:

• Paint is peeling, flaking, bubbling, cracking, faded, or chalky
• There are exposed patches of wall
• Stucco needs patching, or wood boards need replacing
• The last paint job was longer than 10 years ago
• You are selling the home and want to boost curb appeal

Painting a room takes two to six hours on average. The time it takes to paint a room depends on the prep work, primer requirements, room size, if ceilings need painting, number of coats, and clean up.

An average-size house takes three to four days to paint with a professional team of three painters. A large three-story or 5+ bedroom house takes four to six days to paint the exterior on average. This time estimate includes prepping the house, painting, and cleaning up.

Painting services do not expect a tip. However, if they go above and beyond or spend more time than expected, a cold drink, hot lunch, or $10 to $20 tip is appreciated. Giving the painter a positive review on HomeGuide, Yelp, or Google is better than a tip.

Start by searching our list of painters near you, then compare reviews and costs. Next:

• Get at least three free estimates in-person to compare.
• Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors.
• Select companies that are licensed, bonded, and experienced.
• Verify their insurance, worker’s compensation, and bond guarantees.
• Read reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide and Google.
• Ask if they are part of their local chamber of commerce or any trade associations such as the Painting Contractors Association (PCA).
• Ask about their warranties and guarantees.
• Get a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins.
• Avoid making large payments upfront. Come up with a payment schedule for work completed.

After asking questions and verifying their credentials, hire the best painting services in your area.

When hiring a local painter, ask them the following questions: