Short answer: professional interior painting typically costs $2–$6 per sq ft of floor area. For an average 2,000 sq ft home that means roughly $4,000–$12,000, walls only, with ceilings, trim and repairs pushing above that range. Doing it yourself cuts the bill to paint and supplies — usually $800–$1,500 for a whole house.
Interior painting cost by home size
| Home size | Typical professional cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,000–$6,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $3,000–$9,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $4,000–$12,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $5,000–$15,000 |
These ranges cover walls in good condition with two coats. Homes with high ceilings, heavy trim, dark colors being covered, or wall damage land at the top of the range — or above it.
Where the money actually goes
Labor is 70–85% of a professional quote. Paint itself is a minor line: even premium paint at $50–$70 a gallon rarely exceeds $1,500 on a full house. Prep — filling, sanding, caulking, masking — is what you are really paying for, and it is what makes a pro job outlast a rushed one.
The honest DIY math
DIY is not free either: budget paint, primer for new or stained walls, rollers, brushes, tape, drop cloths and a ladder — plus your weekends. One room at a time keeps it manageable, and most homeowners who try one room first either gain confidence or happily pay for the rest.
Start room by room: work out exactly how much paint each room needs with our paint calculator, and see a sample room budget in our guide to the cost of painting a 12×12 room.