Cost to Paint a House in Canada 2023

If you find yourself bored with the colour of your walls or you’ve noticed some chipping and flaking on the exterior of your home, then it might be time to consider painting.

While painting is fairly straightforward as far as home improvement projects go, the cost to paint a house in Canada depends on several factors, including the size of your home, where exactly it’s located and whether you’re painting the outside or the inside.

How much does it cost to paint a house in Canada?

Average paint costs

Type of paint	Typical cost per gallon
Flat	$30 and up
Semi-gloss	$60 and up
High-gloss	$40 and up

Average cost to paint a house interior

Dimensions of room (in feet)	Typical cost for labour and materials (two coats of paint)
10×14	$280 – $420
12×18	$432 – $648
14×16	$448 – $672
16×20	$640 – $960
22×28	$1,232 – $1,848

Average cost to paint a house exterior

Type of home	Typical cost for labour and materials
Single-storey	$2,000 and up
Multi-storey	$5,000 and up

Price ranges reflect averages sourced from sites like Painters Edmonton[1], EcoPainting.ca[2], Home Painters Toronto[3], HomeStars[4], and Prestige Painting[5]. Your home painting costs may vary.

Factors that affect the cost of painting a house

Interior vs. exterior painting

There is a big difference between painting the inside and outside of a house, especially when it comes to choosing products and the cost of labour. Painting a home’s exterior can get tricky if you’re dealing with multiple storeys or an exterior that’s in bad repair. Inside the home, high ceilings or oddly shaped rooms can increase the cost of painting.

Square footage

When it comes to the cost of painting your house, it’s important to know just how much space you’re tackling. The bigger the space, the more paint it’ll require. A rough estimate is that one gallon of interior paint will cover 350-400 square feet with a single coat, although multiple coats are often necessary to finish a project. If you plan on hiring someone to do the job, you’ll also need to factor in the higher labour costs associated with a larger space.

Type of paint

The type of paint you choose will affect your overall cost. Interior versus exterior paint, for instance, will be priced differently. Factors such as brand, color and finish also play a role in a paint’s price tag. And while you might be tempted to choose a bargain-brand paint to cut costs, know that you might not get good coverage from it. This means you’ll need to use more coats than you would with a more reliable brand.

Talk to a painting professional or a paint expert at your local hardware store to find the right paint for your price point and needs.

Labour and location

If you hire a professional painter, you’ll have to factor in the cost of labour in addition to materials. Labour costs will vary from company to company, but will also depend on where you live. Typically, hiring a painter in a bigger city with a higher cost of living will be more expensive than if you lived in a small town. That being said, if you live somewhere rural, you might not have as many options. You may also have to factor travel time into your costs, which could make it a little more expensive.

Nerdy Tip: Make sure any professional house painting estimates you get include the brand and type of paint they’ll be using, as well as the number of coats they’ll be applying. These specifics are necessary for accuracy and to help you compare quotes between painters.

Benefits of painting your house

Improved appearance

One of the main reasons people paint their homes is to freshen them up. Maybe you want an updated look to match new furniture or appliances. Maybe you had some scuff marks and scrapes on your walls and decided that they needed to be covered. Or, maybe you just got bored of the original colour and wanted something new. Regardless of the reason, a fresh coat of paint can be an easy and inexpensive way to give your home an update.

Better protection from the elements

You might be surprised to learn that exterior paint can play a role in protecting your home from the elements, especially when it comes to rot, mildew or other issues caused by moisture. Certain exterior paints can also help protect against UV rays, which can warp and otherwise damage your home’s siding.

Potential increase in home value

A fresh coat of paint can attract a home buyer’s eye and reassure them that they won’t have to spend money on a paint job any time soon. It might also mean they’ll be willing to pay more for your house.

If you’re painting for yourself, choose colours and textures you love. After all, this is your space. But if you’re painting your home with the intention of selling in the near future, however, know that many real estate agents encourage neutral tones such as grey, beige and white. It’s been shown that homes with these colours sell faster since they give a “blank canvas” look that allows potential home buyers to better envision making the space their own.

Alternatives to painting your house

Interior options

If you don’t love the idea of paint, then you have a few other options you can consider for the interior of your home, including:

Wallpaper.
Decals.
Pallet Walls.
Tile.

Exterior options

When it comes to the exterior of your home, alternative options to a paint job include:

Replacement siding.
Stone veneer.
Liquid ceramic.

$1,500 to $5,000 is a typical price range for painting the inside of a 1,200 sq. foot house. However, there are a number of factors that can impact the final cost, including the type of paint you choose, the layout of the home and whether or not you plan to tackle the painting on your own or use a professional.

Painting is often considered one of the easier home improvement projects to do yourself, assuming you are familiar with the basic steps. But painting is also time-consuming and does require some skill, so if you get easily frustrated, it might not be the best option for you. It’s also important to consider the design of your home before you decide to DIY. Can you easily reach the ceilings? Do you have any awkwardly shaped spaces? If you’re unsure whether you have the time, energy, materials or necessary access, it might be better to hire a professional.