Painting jobs are won or lost on the estimate. Clients compare quotes line by line, and the painter who explains the prep work usually looks like the better value.
1. Measure every surface
Measure walls and ceilings by area, trim by length, and count doors, windows and cabinets. Note ceiling heights and anything that needs a ladder or scaffolding.
2. Price room by room
List each room or area with the surfaces you'll paint. Clients can then drop a room or add one without asking for a new quote.
3. Write down the prep work
Patching, sanding, caulking, priming, scraping and protecting floors and furniture. Prep can take as long as the painting itself; writing it down shows the client what they're paying for.
4. Specify the paint
Name the product line, the finish and the number of coats for each area. If the client hasn't chosen colors yet, say how many colors the price includes.
5. Ask for a deposit
A deposit covers the paint and holds the date on your schedule. Say how much it is and when it's due.
6. Note the conditions
Who moves the furniture, whether the home was built before 1978 (lead-safe work rules then apply), and that the price assumes the surfaces are in the condition you saw.
7. Send it while you're still there
The best time to send an estimate is before you leave. The client is still thinking about the job, and you're not competing with the next quote they get.
Text or email a link they can open on their phone and approve with a tap, rather than a PDF they have to print, sign and scan.
A sample painting estimate
Here’s the kind of estimate these steps add up to, made in Invoizr. Names and numbers are made up.
Common mistakes
- Quoting a single price for the house with no breakdown.
- Not mentioning prep, so a cheaper quote that skips it looks the same.
- Leaving the number of coats out.
Free painting estimate template
A printable PDF with the lines painters need most, ready to fill in by hand. No sign-up needed.
Or write it on your phone: Invoizr builds the estimate from your saved prices, sends it as a link the client approves with a tap, and turns it into an invoice when the job is done. See how Invoizr works for painters, or try it free for 14 days.