What a painting estimate should include
Two painting quotes for the same house can be far apart, and the gap usually comes from prep and scope. Your estimate should make both visible, so the client compares the work and not only the bottom line.
- The body, with coats and size. "Exterior body, 2 coats, 1,900 sq ft siding" gives the client three facts at once: what gets painted, how many coats and how much surface. A one-coat quote from someone else now reads differently.
- Trim, fascia and soffits on a separate line. Trim takes longer per foot than siding. A separate $1,150 line explains why the price isn't just square footage times a rate.
- Prep you can name. Pressure wash and scrape loose paint is $425 in the example. Prep is the part nobody sees in the finished job, so it has to be on paper.
- Carpentry by the foot. Replacing rotted trim boards at 24 linear ft x $14 gives a count and a unit price. If scraping uncovers more rot, the rate is already agreed.
- The extra the client picked. "Front door, 2 coats, color of choice" is a small line, but it's the one the client will walk past every day.
- Exclusions for the usual surprises. Lead paint abatement, decks and fences, and window glazing are all excluded. On older homes, check your state's rules on lead-safe work before you price the prep.
- Paint, weather and validity in the notes. The example includes premium exterior paint, warns that weather can move start dates, holds the price 30 days and asks for a 25% deposit.
How to write a painting estimate for a house
- Measure each side of the house. Note the siding area and the trim length side by side, and photograph every elevation so you can check your numbers later.
- Look closely at the surface. Peeling, chalky paint and soft wood all change the prep. Press a screwdriver into any trim that looks suspect and price what you find.
- Keep prep, painting and repairs apart. Three kinds of work get three kinds of line, and the client sees where the money goes.
- Name the paint. If the price includes a premium product, say so. If the client picks colors later, write "color of choice" and agree a date for the decision.
- Plan for the weather. Exterior paint needs dry days in the temperature range the paint maker sets. Say on the estimate that weather can move the start.
- Ask for a deposit to hold the date. The example asks for 25% to put the job on your calendar. With TapBill the client can sign the estimate right on your phone screen.
Use this painting estimate template
For indoor work, the painting invoice template shows rooms billed by the square foot with the paint colors in the notes. If the house needs other repairs before you paint, see the roofing estimate and the handyman estimate examples, or start one from scratch in the estimate generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write an estimate for a paint job?
Measure the surfaces, decide how many coats, and list prep, painting and repairs as separate lines. Then add what's excluded, how long the price holds and the deposit. The exterior example on this page follows that order from top to bottom.
Should a painting estimate include the cost of paint?
It should be clear either way. You can build paint into the line prices, as the example does with premium exterior paint, or list it by the gallon. Say which one you did, so the client doesn't expect a second bill for paint.
What if I find more rotted wood after scraping?
Use the per-foot price already on the estimate. Show the client the extra boards, agree the count, and add it as a written change before you replace them.
How long should a painting estimate be valid?
The example uses 30 days. Exterior work also depends on the season, so if a client signs late, confirm the start date and check that your paint costs haven't moved.