Painting is one of the most popular projects across Canada, and when you consider the benefits, it’s no wonder why. Painting is considered a relatively quick and inexpensive home project to tackle – plus one that you can even take on during the winter season. Looking for some exact figures before you commit to this home project? Read on to find out how much your painting project will really cost.
1. Project Size
Before you can estimate the final cost of your painting project, you’ll need to decide what areas of your home you want to have painted. All other cost factors, namely the price of materials and labour, are dependent on the size of the project. While you’re considering whether or not to paint both the kitchen, foyer or the powder room, don’t forget that professionals may charge extra for anything from high ceilings to doors and cabinets. These additional costs may be charged as a flat rate (ie. an extra $100 for ceilings) or an extra percentage (ie. 20% more for ceilings above 10 feet tall). The good news is that you can subtract the size of large windows from the overall square footage of the project.
2. Costs of Materials
Once you’ve decided which rooms need painting – and ideally, can ballpark their combined square footage – you’re ready to set a budget to materials. A gallon of paint will typically cost between $30 and $79, depending on the quality and finish of the product. In order to cover an average-sized room (10×12 feet), you’ll need a minimum of two gallons of paint. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of primer, especially if you’re going dark.
3. Labour Costs & Production Rates
After you’ve factored in the cost of materials, the final aspect to consider is the cost of labour. In other words, how much will you have to pay a professional to do the job? Again, this depends on the scope of your project. Every painter or company will price based on a production rate. Their production rate refers to the number of square feet they can expect to paint in an hour. This varies by painter and company, but for an average-sized room, not including the cost of paint, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,040.
Below are the average costs of Paint & Wallpaper services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $3,801 | $300 | $30,000 |
| Calgary | $3,701 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $3,538 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Hamilton | $4,126 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Oshawa | $3,198 | $200 | $50,000 |
| Ottawa | $2,880 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Toronto | $3,901 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $4,997 | $120 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 13,969 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Production rates also vary based on which part of the room is being painted. Keep in mind that trim, doors, windows and moulding all have different production rates so pricing will vary. All of this information will be outlined in your quote so be sure to check the final costs using these numbers.
Now that you have a better idea of how much your painting project will cost, you can finally get it done. When you’re ready to get in touch with painters in your area, simply click on the banner below. Enter your project details and we’ll send them out to reviewed companies near you who are available to help. You’ll be enjoying your freshly painted room in no time.
Article Updated June 2022.
