Are you wondering how much it costs to paint a bathroom?
You’ve come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you’ll learn:
- The typical cost of DIY painting a bathroom
- How to save money when painting bathrooms
- How much it usually costs to hire a professional vs doing it yourself
- The estimated cost of labor and supplies to paint a bathroom
And much more!
So, if you want to learn how much you should plan on spending to get your room painted, then keep reading our cost guide for all our tips and insights below!
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Bathroom?
This will ultimately depend on the square footage of the bathroom in question, the quality of paint you choose, and whether you decide to DIY or hire a professional painter for the paint job.
Plus, there are a few other factors like prep work that can influence the painting costs for your bathroom.
So, that said, let's break down some of the itemized costs you'll encounter if you're DIY painting your bathroom vs. hiring a painting contractor.
Average Cost of Painting For A Bathroom If You DIY?
If you're looking to DIY your paint job for your bathroom, it's likely going to cost much less than it would to hire a professional painter.
But, there are a few painting supplies you'll need to buy (if you don't have them already) that you wouldn't need to if you hired a paint company.
These include things that go beyond the actual cost of painting like painter's tape, paint brushes, paint rollers, paint trays, and drop cloths.
If you happen to have these things already, however, then your total cost will likely just include the gallons of paint you'll need to buy to do the job.
So, below I'm going to go through an itemized list of the average price of all these items below so you can get a sense of how much to budget for your painting project:
- Drop Cloths - $10
- Painter's Tape - $7
- Paint Roller Frame - $7
- Paint Roller Covers - $10
- Paint Tray - $6
- Paint Brushes (For Detailing) - $10
- Disposable Painter's Masks - $20
- Disposable Painting Gloves - $8
- Safety Goggles - $12
- 1 Gallon of Benjamin Moore Bathroom Paint - $80
- 1 Gallon of Sherwin Williams Paint - $50
- 1 Gallon of Primer - $36
Based on the assumption that you'd need to buy all of the supplies above plus a single gallon of paint, the estimated total cost of painting your bathroom yourself is:
$150 - $200
Ultimately, your total painting costs will depend on the square footage of your bathroom, and also the current state of your walls (are you painting bare drywall or repainting over existing paint?), and the prep work required for this particular job.
For example, if you're painting drywall you might need more coats of paint or primer to ensure the paint adheres and looks nice.
Or, if there's some mildew or mold growing in your bathroom (which is common for high-humidity areas) you might need paint with mildew killing properties that may cost a bit more.
Therefore, the total cost of your painting job for your bathroom will depend on the current state of your bathroom and whether you choose to use top quality paint or mid-tier paint.
I would suggest using a good quality paint for your bathroom, however, because the bathroom is one of the higher traffic areas of your home and it's also a high-humidity room so the paint job will wear more over time and this is something that a good quality paint can combat.
Read More >> What Is The Best Primer For A Bathroom Ceiling?
Average Project Cost To Paint A Bathroom If You Hire a Professional Painter?
If you end up going with a professional painter to paint your bathroom, most painters charge you by square footage rather than an hourly rate.
While every painting company charges differently, a square foot estimate is most common.
That said, the typical painting costs for hiring a professional to paint a bathroom can vary quite a bit.
But, for the sake of this article, I'm going to base my estimate on the national average size of a master bathroom (115 sq ft) so if you're dealing with a much smaller bathroom you can take that into account.
Based on the national average, however, a typical professional painter will charge between $1 to $3 per square foot.
It's also important to note that labor costs for interior walls also depends on how many touch-ups are involved (if your wall surface is damaged, for example) and if you're asking them to use multiple different colors within the bathroom.
How To Estimate The Cost To Paint A Bathroom Based on Square Footage?
The national average size of a typical bathroom in the U.S. is anywhere from 40 square feet to 160 square feet for more luxurious bathrooms.
Knowing this, you'll likely see quotes from painting contractors in the range of $115 - $345 for a single bathroom.
The best way to estimate the total cost of hiring a professional to paint your bedroom is to simply grab a tape measure and figure out the dimensions of your room.
If you happen to know the exact dimensions of your bathroom, that's great. But if not, you can still get a rough estimate and go from there.
Cost of Painting Factors To Watch Out For?
There are a few key factors to consider when estimating the project costs of painting your bathroom.
Prep Work
For example, if your walls need tons of touch-ups or are completely unpainted, they're going to require a few extra steps like spackle and sanding or multiple coats of paint, respectively.
Cost of Paint
This one will play a huge role in the overall painting costs of your bathroom.
Bathroom paint generally costs a bit more per gallon because it often needs to include mold killing properties to prevent mildew growth and this makes it a more high-end type of paint.
Luckily, since most bathrooms are only a few hundred square feet, you'll only need one gallon of paint as opposed to the multiple gallons of paint you'd need to paint a higher surface area room like a dining room or living room.
Read More >> How Do You Paint A Wall Like A Pro?
How Can You Save Money When Painting A Bathroom?
Lucky for you, if you decide to go the DIY route there are several things you can do to lower your painting estimate and save money on your painting project.
Types of Paint
One of the best ways to save money is to choose the type of paint you're using carefully.
For instance, if you choose to go with a latex paint that has a matte finish, it'll probably cost a bit less than a high-gloss or semi-gloss finish. That's because high gloss paint typically costs more per gallon of paint.
Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Rollers For Ceilings?
Renting vs. Buying Supplies
Did you know you can actually rent certain painting supplies rather than having to buy them?
Most Home Depot stores and Lowe's stores have a rental program where you can rent out certain painting and home improvement supplies. So if you know you'll only need those supplies for this particular project, that can be a much more cost-effective way to get the things you need.
Here's another thing that blew my mind when I learned it: some libraries rent out basic home improvement supplies!
That'll save you lots of money on your painting project and you'll still be able to get the job done right.
Sales And Dented Cans
Another way you could try to save money on paint is by waiting for your local hardware store to run a sale. Even if they knock off a few dollars on a can of paint, it still helps out the bottom line of your budget for the painting project.
You can also see if they have any dented or otherwise blemished cans that they could sell to you for less.
Final Thoughts On Bathroom Painting Costs
Now that we've broken down the individual costs for painting a bathroom in your home, these cost estimates should give you a good starting point.
While every painting project is different, knowing the range of costs before you start is always helpful so you can find all the areas of the budget that you can cut back on.
Whether you're going to DIY a room in your house or plan to hire a professional, I wish you the best of luck on your painting project.
As always, happy painting!
