How much will it cost to paint a ceiling in 2023? (2023)

FAQs

What is the average cost to paint a ceiling? ›

The cost to paint a ceiling ranges from $1 to $2.50 per square foot, depending on the materials you use and how difficult the ceilings are to access.

For the average 12×12 room, the cost will usually range between $350 and $850 with around 70% of the total projected charge covering labor costs. With the highest quality and most experienced painters the cost can go over $1,000.

There are a lot more surfaces to paint and more detail work than you'll find on an exterior paint job. The base price for painting a ceiling is about $1.50 per square foot. A 10x12 ceiling, for example, will be around $180.

In rooms where there is no natural 90-degree line between walls and ceiling, painting the ceiling may be the best choice for a clean, crisp look, Hunnefeld says. “You don't have a natural break, visually, that you do when you have 90-degree perpendicular angles,” he says.

The cost to paint a bedroom ceiling is usually between $680 and $1,500, and it can still go up. An average 12-by-12 foot bedroom with 8-foot tall walls can cost $680 to paint with two coats. It mostly depends on the size, height, and shape of the ceiling.

Generally, you will want a minimum of two coats of paint – this is a good rule of thumb for any wall or ceiling you're painting. You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room.

5 gal. container covers up to 1000 sq. ft. Hides minor surface imperfections.

Paint usually is applied at 350 to 400 square feet per gallon (primer at 200 to 300 square feet per gallon).

Some contractors use a rough base rate of $1.50 or $2.00 per square foot, some multiply 4 to 6 times the paint cost, some estimate the time the job will take and add it to an estimate of materials—and some may simply offer the lowest price to outbid the competition.

One gallon can of paint will cover up to 400 square feet, which is enough to cover a small room like a bathroom. Two gallon cans of paint cover up to 800 square feet, which is enough to cover an average size room. This is the most common amount needed, especially when considering second coat coverage.

How long does it take a painter to paint a 12x12 room? ›

Generally, to paint a standard room that measures 12 x 12 feet, it takes about 6 hours for both the walls and the ceiling. That time estimate is only correct if the walls are in good condition and spackling does not need to be done first.

White ceiling paint is the most popular choice for homes, but no color is off-limits. Colored ceilings are a great way to change the shape and mood of a room. White ceiling paint: Ceilings are most often painted white to reflect light and brighten up a room.

For the average room and average painter, it might take about 45 minutes to an hour to paint the walls and ceilings with the initial coat, and maybe half that time to apply the second one. Pro painters can usually do this even quicker.

Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.

As long as the primer applies uniformly over the previous color, then one or two coats should be sufficient. Again, it is not necessary to apply several coats of primer to try to get a perfect white finish. That is the job of the topcoat (paint) which has to be applied on top of the primer.

Always use ceiling paint as opposed to wall paint. Consider the color options. Standard white ceiling paint will brighten a room, but a colored ceiling may make the room seem bigger. Mildew and water stains will bleed through even the best paint, so it may be necessary to use a stain-blocking primer before painting.

STEP 3: Prime the ceiling.

Don't cut corners and skip this step. The primer will provide a stain barrier and, in most cases, will make it possible to use only one coat of paint to finish. The specific primer you use depends on the texture of your ceiling.

You want to keep it consistent on the entire ceiling. Most people agree that the best strategy is to roll toward (parallel with) the prevailing source of natural light, such as a big window. This prevents any roller lines from showing up.

The ceiling should always be painted first. This allows you to effectively cover the surface with at least two coats while not having to worry about any over-spray (the effect of excess paint being sprayed onto the walls) by the roller. When painting the ceiling, you should always use a roller with a double arm frame.

Some painters break out a roller when it's time to paint a ceiling, but it isn't always the best tool for the job. If you're planning on painting the entire room, then Wagner paint sprayer are much more efficient, especially if the ceiling is heavily textured.

How much paint do I need for a 12x12 ceiling? ›

the square footage of the room. This room is 12 x 12 with 8 foot ceilings. This room has 384 square feet (not including windows and doors). If we know that we will use around 2 gallons for two coats in this room.

A quart of paint typically covers about 100 square feet, so if you're planning on painting one coat, you might be able to get away with buying just 1 quart of ceiling paint. If you're painting two coats (and you probably should), you'll need 2 quarts.

Consider buying paint in 5-gallon containers.

It's usually cheaper than buying five 1-gallon cans of the same finish. The larger containers are ideal when tackling big jobs.

Remember that each coverage amount is for two coats. If you paint one coat and feel like you've got good coverage, awesome! But for the most professional look, we always recommend two coats.

Eggshell paint reflects more light than matte to produce a low luster. This low luster pulls out more of the paint's color than a flat sheen and it gives the room a soft glow. Because eggshell paint has a slight gloss, it is easier to maintain than matte or flat paint.

Most typically, a gallon of paint covers anywhere from 350 to 400 square feet. Meaning that a gallon of paint is enough to cover a small space, like a bathroom. Depending on the number of coats you intend to paint, one to two gallons of paint is the average amount for a typical-sized room.

Hourly rates for a professional painter will average $20 to $50 for basic painting but can increase to $100 per hour, or more, for specialty work such as murals or specialty paint.

The biggest cost is labor. Most of the painter's time is spent preparing the surface so paint will adhere well and the job will last. Your biggest potential savings come from controlling or reducing how much time a professional painter has to spend on the cleaning, patching, sanding, caulking and painting.

Ceiling Paint: Dry in one hour, re-coat in two hours. Water-Based Front Door Paint: Dry in 30 to 45 minutes, re-coat in one hour.

How can I paint my ceiling without getting paint everywhere? ›

Step 6: While the ceiling is still damp, use an unloaded paint roller in a corner of the ceiling and lightly pull it in a straight line without pressure. Continue this action, slightly overlapping each line. This will prevent ceiling paint streaks.

Usually for a 3 bedroom unit or house, it requires 20L of ceiling paint. The most commonly used sheen is flat. For bathroom ceilings, it's best to use a mould proof or low sheen paint because those areas are moist and develop mould easily. For walls, roughly 30L of paint is required and it is usually low sheen.

For the average room and average painter, it might take about 45 minutes to an hour to paint the walls and ceilings with the initial coat, and maybe half that time to apply the second one. Pro painters can usually do this even quicker.

Professional painters are also quick to note that using painter's tape is not guaranteed to make a project look professional. Even the highest quality tapes have been known to bleed through, allowing paint to get into areas where you really don't want it and where touch-ups will be needed after the job is complete.

While paint color on your walls cannot physically change the size of a room, it can dramatically change how you perceive the size of a room. It's true, the color of a room can actually play tricks on you to make you feel like the room is bigger, smaller, wider, taller, etc.

Everyone agrees that early morning is the absolute best time to begin a painting job. There is plenty of natural light streaming in, and you have hours to get the job done. When you open all of the windows and doors, you can control and minimize the “new paint smell” that you will have throughout the day.

The cost to paint a ceiling ranges from $1 to $2.50 per square foot, depending on the materials you use and how difficult the ceilings are to access.

Gray hides more imperfections on an exposed ceiling than white while not being as bold as black. With gray paint colors, you can play around with undertones such as brown, blue, and green.

What color looks good on ceilings? ›

Color can create a sophisticated charm, but typically, your best color for ceiling paint is white. It's the most neutral color that will pair well with any wall color you choose. Choosing white ceilings is especially important for the rooms you use most often, such as the kitchen and living room.

Generally, you will want a minimum of two coats of paint – this is a good rule of thumb for any wall or ceiling you're painting. You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room.

How Much Paint Is Needed for Ceilings? As with the walls, to arrive at the ceiling's square footage, multiply its length by its width. Then, to determine the gallons of paint needed, divide that number by 400.

A white ceiling makes smaller spaces feel larger. For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color. Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.

On the contrary, flat paint offers a chalky, matte finish that doesn't reflect light. Therefore, flat paint is a good choice when it comes to applying on ceilings. Flat paint actually lowers down the light glare, making it an appropriate choice for ceilings.

Although there are some homeowners that use ordinary paint, experts always recommend flat paint for ceiling. Flat paint is an ideal choice for ceiling which tend to have flaws.

The cost to paint a room usually runs between $2 and $6 per square foot. Total painting costs range between $955 and $2,890, with a national average of $1,892.

Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.

Most typically, a gallon of paint covers anywhere from 350 to 400 square feet. Meaning that a gallon of paint is enough to cover a small space, like a bathroom. Depending on the number of coats you intend to paint, one to two gallons of paint is the average amount for a typical-sized room.

If the wall surface is smooth, you can skip the primer step. However, if there are textured areas or wrinkles on the wall, you'll need to prime it first. If your wall has been previously covered in wallpaper, you should definitely plan on using a primer before painting.

How much does it cost to paint a 20x20 room? ›

Answer: The average cost to paint a room in the U.S. can sometimes estimate between $2 and $6 per square foot. Total painting costs for a single room can range from $955 to $2,890, with a national average of $1,892 (BobVilla.com). That's the national average data.