Paint looks simple until you’re standing in the aisle holding two almost identical off whites, whispering “eggshell?” like it’s a personality test, and doing coverage math in your head like you’re trying to get into an Ivy League.
Here’s what trips people up: most of us budget for paint like it’s just “X gallons times Y dollars.” And then the project quietly balloons because coverage and coats are the real bill. Sticker price is the opening act. Coverage is the headliner.
So if you’re painting a room (or your whole house) in 2025 and you want to avoid the classic 8:47 p.m. emergency run to the store let’s talk about what paint actually costs, when it’s worth paying more, and how to estimate what you need without spiraling.
The only paint budget plan you actually need
Before you fall in love with a color name like Whispering Fog (which is always just gray, by the way), do this:
- Decide where you’re painting: interior vs. exterior, and any weird/problem surfaces.
- Pick a tier: budget, mid range, premium, or “designer because I’m fancy.”
- Figure out primer/specialty needs: stains, glossy walls, bathrooms that feel like a rainforest, etc.
- Measure the room and calculate gallons (then round up because touch ups are not a myth).
That’s it. That’s the whole strategy. Everything else is details and emotional support.
Paint tiers: where your money goes (and why cheap paint is sneaky)
Think of paint tiers like coffee. You can get the cheapest thing… but you might pay for it later in regret and extra trips back to the store.
Budget paint ($15-$35/gallon)
- Usually thinner, rougher pigment.
- Coverage is often 250-350 sq ft per gallon per coat.
- Frequently needs 2-3 coats to stop looking… patchy and sad.
Where I actually like it: ceilings, closets, garages, rentals, rooms you’ll repaint in a few years anyway. Budget paint isn’t “bad” it’s just honest about its limitations.
Mid range paint ($40-$55/gallon)
This is the sweet spot for most normal humans.
- Better coverage and pigment.
- Typically two coats and you’re done.
- Good balance of durability + sanity.
If you’re painting a living room, bedroom, hallway… this is usually my pick.
Premium paint ($60-$90/gallon)
You’re paying for coverage and durability.
- Often 400+ sq ft per gallon per coat.
- Holds up to scrubbing way better.
- Looks nicer longer.
If you have kids, pets, a mudroom, a hallway that gets shoulder checked daily premium starts making sense fast.
Ultra premium/designer ($100+/gallon)
This is where you’re paying for the vibe, the pigments, and the very specific shade you can’t stop thinking about. If you’re not chasing a particular look, you don’t need this. (But also… I get it. I’ve been emotionally manipulated by a paint color before.)
My rule: pay for performance where life happens. Save where nobody touches anything.
Sheen: the “looks innocent but costs money” choice
Sheen can bump the cost $5-$15 per gallon in the same product line, and it changes how your walls behave in real life.
- Flat/Matte: hides bumps beautifully, but scuffs if you look at it wrong. Great for ceilings and low traffic rooms.
- Eggshell: classic wall finish soft sheen, decent durability. Living rooms, hallways, bedrooms.
- Satin: tougher, more wipeable, great for kitchens/baths… but it can show roller marks if you rush. (Slow down, Picasso.)
- Semi gloss/High gloss: trim, doors, cabinets. Durable, shiny, and brutally honest about every dent and patch job.
Pick sheen for the job, not the fantasy Pinterest photo. Your house has to live here.
Specialty stuff: when paint has a “side quest”
Most interior walls are perfectly happy with standard water based latex paint. But sometimes you need the stronger potion.
- Oil based paint ($20-$80): hard, durable finish for woodwork but longer dry time and you’ll need mineral spirits for cleanup. Ventilation is not optional unless you enjoy headaches.
- Paint and primer combos ($15-$65): convenient for simple repaints, but not magic. Not great for new drywall, stains, glossy surfaces, or dramatic color changes. Coverage can be lower too.
- Mold resistant paint: typically adds $20-$40/gallon. Worth it in bathrooms/basements that stay damp.
Which brings us to primer aka the unglamorous best friend.
Primer: when you need it (and when you can skip it)
Primer is what keeps your finish coat from tattling on you.
You need primer (no negotiating) if you have:
- New/bare drywall
- Dark to light color changes
- Water stains, smoke, marker… basically crime scenes
- Glossy surfaces you’re trying to paint over
You can often skip primer if you’re repainting the same/similar color over clean, solid walls especially with decent mid range/premium paint.
Cost: standard primer is usually $15-$25/gallon.
Stain blocking/specialty primers can be $30-$150 (shellac based ones like BIN are pricey but they mean business).
Prime smart now, or repaint sad later. That’s just how it goes.
Interior vs. exterior paint: don’t mix these up
Interior and exterior paint might look like siblings on the shelf, but they live very different lives.
- Interior paint: roughly $15-$90/gallon depending on tier.
- Exterior paint: roughly $25-$100/gallon because it has to survive sun, rain, mildew, and temperature mood swings.
Going cheap outside often means you’re repainting in 3-4 years instead of 8-10. And repainting exteriors is such a pain that I’d rather spend more once than drag a ladder out again because I tried to “save.”
Exterior paint has one job: don’t fail.
The thing nobody budgets for: extra coats
This is where “cheap paint” gets you. Yes, a budget gallon can look like a deal… until it needs three coats and your weekend disappears into a fog of roller lint and bad decisions.
If premium paint saves you one whole coat, that’s:
- fewer gallons
- fewer hours
- less “why is it still streaky??” panic
If you’re flipping a house in two years? Sure, budget might be fine.
If you’re staying put? Better paint often wins over time because you repaint less often and it stays nicer longer.
Cost isn’t just dollars it’s coats.
DIY vs hiring a pro (aka money vs weekends)
Professional painting is mostly labor. Like, 60-80% of the cost.
For a typical 1,500 sq ft interior, you might see:
- Pro total: about $2,700-$5,000
- DIY materials + supplies: about $600-$1,000
- DIY time: about 40-50 hours, plus prep, plus drying time (translation: your couch will miss you)
I’m not here to talk you out of DIY I paint plenty myself. I’m just saying: your time is part of the budget, even if you don’t get a receipt for it.
If you hire a painter, don’t accept a mysterious quote
Painter quotes can be super clear… or written like a ransom note.
A quote should include:
- Brand + product line (not “quality paint”)
- Number of coats
- Prep details (patching, sanding glossy walls, etc.)
- Primer info (included or listed separately)
Red flags:
- “Contractor’s choice” with no details
- Only one coat
- Prep described as “as needed” with zero specifics
- A price wildly lower than everyone else (cheap for a reason is still a reason)
If you don’t ask what paint they’re using, you’re basically letting someone pick your wall finish without accurate paint color matching like it’s mystery jellybeans.
How to calculate how much paint you need (without hating math)
Rule of thumb: 350-400 sq ft per gallon per coat for many wall paints. Two coats is the norm, so you’re really planning around 175-200 sq ft per gallon for the full job.
Measure wall area like this:
- Measure the room perimeter and multiply by ceiling height.
- Subtract:
- ~21 sq ft per door
- ~9 sq ft per standard window
Example: a 12×12 room with 8 foot ceilings, 1 door, 1 window
Perimeter: 12+12+12+12 = 48
48 × 8 = 384 sq ft
384 − 21 − 9 = 354 sq ft paintable wall
Two coats on 354 sq ft usually lands at about 2 gallons (and I like rounding up if you want touch ups later future you will feel very smug).
Heads up: textured walls, popcorn ceilings, bare drywall, brick/stucco can eat paint like it’s their job. You may need 15-50% more (or more on masonry).
Should you buy a 5-gallon bucket?
Sometimes yes. A 5 gallon bucket often costs 25-40% less per gallon than singles.
I usually consider it when:
- you need 3+ gallons of the same color, or
- you’re painting multiple rooms / a whole open floor plan
But please, for the love of all things not purple in your lighting: buy a sample/test SW 9650 green paint first. Because being stuck with five gallons of a color you hate is a very specific kind of home owner pain.
Realistic room cost examples (materials only)
Let’s use mid range paint at about $45/gallon:
- Bedroom (12×12): ~2 gallons = $90 (+ primer if needed)
- Bathroom (small): ~1 gallon = $45 (consider mold resistant if it’s humid)
- Living room (bigger): ~3 gallons = $135 (+ primer if it’s a big color change)
- Whole home interior (around 2,000 sq ft of wall area): often 11-12 gallons = ~$500-$540 (+ primer)
Exterior materials are a different beast, but if you need a quick ballpark, many people land around $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft for paint + primer (materials only), depending on surface and quality.
How to save money without making the job miserable
You don’t have to spend like a billionaire. You just need a plan and a little restraint.
My favorite cost cutters:
- Reduce scope on purpose. Walls only (skip ceilings/trim) can save a lot trim often doesn’t need repainting as often anyway.
- Shop sales. Holiday weekends can knock 20-30% off.
- Do your own prep. Move furniture, fill nail holes, remove outlet covers. Prep is where labor costs hide.
- Buy better paint where it matters. Spend on hallways/kitchens/baths. Save on closets/ceilings.
- Measure before you buy. Guessing is how you end up in the checkout line twice.
Quick FAQs I get all the time
Is premium paint worth it?
In high traffic or scrub heavy rooms yes. It usually looks better longer and handles cleaning without turning into a shiny patchwork mess.
Can I use interior paint outside?
Please don’t. It’ll fail fast. Exterior paint is made for weather drama. Interior paint is not.
Do painter quotes include paint?
Often yes, but don’t assume. Ask what brand/product line and how many coats. If it’s not written down, it’s not promised.
How much does it cost to paint one room?
Materials only is often $50-$150-ish depending on size and tier. Hiring out labor can add $200-$600+ per room, depending on your area and prep needs.
If you do nothing else after reading this, do this: measure your walls and plan for two coats. Your budget will stop getting jump scared halfway through the project and you’ll never again have to do that sad late night paint run in yesterday’s sweatpants.