Average Cost To Paint A Room in Seattle (From $3/sqft)
Jan 29, 2026
Before you commit to repainting a room, it helps to understand why costs can slide from reasonable to “wait, why is this more?” so quickly.
A basic bedroom might sit near the $3 per square foot mark, while larger or more detailed spaces easily stretch higher. Seattle labor, prep, and surface area all factor in.
We’ll walk through every major cost driver so you know exactly what influences the final number.
Key Notes
FP Painting Seattle prices interior work at $3–$4 per sq ft.
Prep level, wall condition, and drywall repairs significantly shift total labor hours and cost.
Larger rooms, higher ceilings, complex trim, and color changes increase surface area and raise pricing.
Seattle Room Painting Cost Overview
Seattle’s cost of living and skilled‑labor market put interior painting on the higher side compared with the national average. Across the region, the average cost to paint a room typically lands between $700 and $1,500, depending heavily on scope.
A few anchor points based on local data:
Small Bedroom (10×12):
Walls only: $350–$650
Walls + ceiling + trim: $700–$1,050
Primary/Medium Bedroom:
Full repaint (walls + ceiling + trim): $900–$1,300
Living Room:
$1,000–$1,600 depending on height, layout, and built‑ins
FP Painting Seattle Pricing
While the ranges above represent broader Seattle norms, we price interior painting transparently and simply.
Interior Painting Rates
~$3 per sq ft for labor + materials
~$4 per sq ft for labor + materials + paint
Cost by Room Type
Small Bedroom (≈10×12, 8–9 ft ceilings)
Estimated Paintable Surface:
~350–450 sq ft (walls only), ~470–550 sq ft (walls + ceiling + trim)
Walls Only:
Labor + materials: ~$1,050–$1,350
Labor + materials + paint: ~$1,400–$1,800
Walls + Ceiling + Trim:
Labor + materials: ~$1,400–$1,650
Labor + materials + paint: ~$1,900–$2,200
Why It Varies:
Ceiling height, trim detail, built-ins, and how much masking/protection is required all impact total surface area.
Primary Bedrooms / Medium Rooms (≈12×15)
Estimated Paintable Surface:
~450–550 sq ft (walls only), ~650–750 sq ft (full room)
Full Repaint: Walls + Ceiling + Trim
Labor + materials: ~$1,950–$2,250
Labor + materials + paint: ~$2,600–$3,000
Primary bedrooms typically have more windows, more linear trim, and more prep work than smaller rooms.
Larger Living Rooms
Living rooms vary wildly, so the numbers below use a typical Seattle living room with 9–12 ft ceilings.
Estimated Paintable Surface:
800–1,100+ sq ft depending on ceiling height, openness, and window count
Walls + Ceiling + Trim:
Labor + materials: ~$2,400–$3,300+
Labor + materials + paint: ~$3,200–$4,400+
Living rooms tend to be the most unpredictable rooms in a home. Vaulted ceilings, built-ins, open-concept floor plans, and large window walls dramatically increase surface area and detail work.
What Drives Room Painting Cost in Seattle
Seattle homes aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all, and neither are the walls inside them. Here’s why prices shift:
Size & Surface Area
More square footage = more labor time.
High ceilings = more ladder or scaffold work.
Prep Work & Wall Condition
The biggest hidden driver. Light sanding is one thing, but:
Cracks
Settling lines in older homes
Stains
Holes
Peeling paint or failed DIY attempts
… can add $0.50–$0.75 per sq ft in extra prep.
Labor Rates & Crew Efficiency
Seattle labor is among the highest on the West Coast. Painting crews typically charge $65–$95/hr, and painting a room often takes 4–8 hours, sometimes more.
This is why room painting is labor‑heavy – up to 75–95% of your total cost.
Paint Type, Sheen & Color Changes
Low‑VOC paints (common in Seattle) cost more.
Deep color changes require extra coats.
Bathrooms need moisture-resistant formulas.
Paint decisions affect labor almost as much as materials.
Room Complexity
A smooth-walled box? Affordable.
A room with:
Built-ins
Lots of windows
Detailed millwork
High/angled ceilings
Heavy furniture
…becomes a more time-intensive project.
Timing & Project Scope
Winter interior season sometimes brings 10–15% savings from some contractors.
Painting multiple rooms at once nearly always reduces per-room cost.
A Simple Room Painting Cost Calculator
If you want a rough ballpark before getting a quote, you can estimate your room’s paintable surface area. This won’t be perfect – wall condition and complexity always shift the final number – but it gives you something grounded in our pricing.
How to Calculate Paintable Surface Area
Measure the perimeter of the room
Multiply by wall height
Add ceiling square footage (if painting)
Add trim (doors, windows, baseboards)
Multiply the total surface area by our rates:
~$3/sq ft for labor + materials
~$4/sq ft for labor + materials + paint
That’s it – a simple way to get close before we step in with a precise quote.
Example Calculation (10×12 Room, 8-ft Ceilings)
Step 1: Wall area
Perimeter: 10 + 12 + 10 + 12 = 44 ft
Multiply by height (8 ft): 44 × 8 = 352 sq ft
Step 2: Add ceiling
Ceiling area: 10 × 12 = 120 sq ft
Step 3: Total paintable surface
352 + 120 = ~472 sq ft
Step 4: Apply pricing
Labor + materials: 472 sq ft × $3 ≈ $1,416
Labor + materials + paint: 472 sq ft × $4 ≈ $1,888
So a full repaint for a room this size typically falls somewhere in the $1,400–$1,900 range using our pricing structure (final number depends on trim, repairs, and prep level).
When Drywall Repairs Affect Painting Cost
Common Drywall Issues That Show Up Before Painting
Nail pops
Hairline cracks from settling
Small dents or corner damage
Previous DIY patches that need reworking
Cut-outs from plumbers, electricians, or HVAC techs
Water-stained areas that need patching and priming
Even light imperfections require prep to avoid flashing, uneven texture, or visible seams once the paint dries.
Our Drywall Repair & Patch-Blend Pricing
Drywall repair and blend painting is priced separately from full-room painting because every repair requires its own prep, patching, texture, and paint match.
Drywall Repair Pricing:
Small: $399
Small+: $499
Medium: $599
Medium+: $699
Large-: $799
Large: $899
Large+: $999
X-Large: $1,099–$1,599
X-Large+: $1,599+ (consult may be required)
In-person consult: $149 (waived if job is awarded)
Patch Blend Pricing:
For the patch blend painting after patch:
$150 per small repair
$150-$600 per medium repair
$600+ for larger jobs
Want A True Estimate For Your Space?
Transparent sq-ft pricing with tidy, stress-free execution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to paint a typical room in Seattle?
Most standard bedrooms take 4–8 hours depending on prep, ceilings, and trim. Rooms with repairs or complex layouts may stretch into a full day.
Do I need to move all my furniture before painters arrive?
Clearing smaller items helps, but larger pieces can usually be moved and protected by the crew. Empty or lightly furnished rooms paint faster and lower labor time.
Is it worth repainting a room if I’m planning to sell my home soon?
Yes. Fresh paint is one of the highest-ROI improvements and makes spaces feel newer, cleaner, and more move-in ready. Neutral tones typically show best.
How often should a room be repainted in Seattle’s climate?
Interior walls generally look their best for 5–7 years, depending on humidity, sunlight exposure, and daily wear. High-traffic rooms sometimes need refreshes sooner.
Conclusion
The average cost to paint a room in Seattle comes down to what’s really happening on those walls. A small bedroom might land near the $1,400 range when ceilings and trim are included, while larger living areas with more surface area or patching push higher.
Labor is the big driver, prep sets the pace, and ceilings or detailed trim can add more than people expect. Once you start looking at surface area instead of room labels, the pricing becomes far easier to read.
If you want a number that reflects your room and not a broad range, request a free quote. We’ll look at the surfaces, the prep, the scope, and give you a clear price that’s easy to trust and doesn’t leave you guessing.
