Cost to Paint a Whole House Interior
Interior house painting runs $1.80-$4.50 per sq ft of floor area with a pro. What a 1,500 sq ft home really costs, DIY vs hired.
Interior house painting is the big-ticket version of everything above. For a typical <strong>1,500 sq ft single-story home (3 bedrooms, 2 baths)</strong>, hiring a pro runs roughly <strong>$1,800 to $4,500</strong>; a 2,000 sq ft home with more trim and higher ceilings pushes toward <strong>$3,500–$8,000</strong>. Doing the whole interior yourself costs <strong>$500–$1,200 in materials</strong> — and a month of weekends. Here's how to budget either way without getting burned.
Whole-House Interior Painting Costs
| House size (interior) | Pro — walls only | Pro — walls, trim & ceilings | DIY materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~1,200 sq ft (2–3 bed) | $1,400 – $3,500 | $2,500 – $6,000 | $400 – $900 |
| ~1,500 sq ft (3 bed / 2 bath) | $1,800 – $4,500 | $3,000 – $7,000 | $500 – $1,200 |
| ~2,000 sq ft (4 bed) | $2,500 – $6,000 | $4,000 – $9,000 | $700 – $1,500 |
| ~2,500+ sq ft (5 bed, two-story) | $3,500 – $8,000 | $6,000 – $12,000+ | $900 – $2,000 |
These are planning ranges compiled from HomeGuide's 2026 national data ($1–$3 per sq ft of wall for labor, rooms averaging $300–$1,000, whole-interior projects scaling from there). Two-story houses and homes with lots of trim, vaulted ceilings, or wallpaper removal land at the top of every row — sometimes beyond it.
How Contractors Price Whole-House Jobs
Most pros price whole interiors per square foot of paintable surface (walls + ceilings), not per square foot of floor. Labor runs $1–$3 per sq ft of wall with the median U.S. painter earning $23.75/hour (BLS, May 2025). Materials are usually a separate line: paint alone for a whole interior runs $300–$800 depending on grade, and many contractors charge retail for paint or pass along their trade discount — ask which.
DIY a Whole House? Read This First
DIY materials for a 1,500 sq ft interior run $500–$1,200 (paint for every room, primer, tape, drop cloths, rollers, brushes, plus tools if you don't own them). The real cost is time: figure 2–4 hours per room per coat, two coats, plus prep — a typical 3-bedroom house is 60–100 hours of actual work spread over weeks. That's why most people who start a whole-house DIY finish it room by room over a season, or call a pro after the first room.
How to Get an Accurate Whole-House Quote
- Ask for per-room line items so you can compare bids on the same scope — “whole house” means wildly different things to different contractors.
- Confirm what's included: prep and patching, primer, number of coats, ceilings, trim, doors, and whether walls get a full second coat or just touch-up.
- Say what's not included: wallpaper removal, popcorn ceiling removal, drywall repair beyond minor patching, and moving heavy furniture are usually extras.
- Get three quotes minimum. Whole-house pricing varies 40%+ between contractors on identical scope.
- Season matters: fall and winter interior rates are typically lower than spring/summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a 1,500 sq ft house?
How many gallons of paint do I need for a whole house interior?
Should I paint my whole house myself or hire a pro?
How long does a whole-house interior paint job take?
What's the cheapest way to repaint a whole house?
Where These Numbers Come From
Ranges compile HomeGuide's 2026 national cost data ($1–$3 per sq ft labor; rooms $300–$1,000; accent walls $80–$200) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS painter wage data (median $23.75/hr, May 2025). Whole-house rows interpolate those room/labor rates across typical floor plans. Updated September 5, 2026. Planning ranges only — whole-house pricing varies sharply by region, trim volume, and wall condition. Get three itemized written quotes.