What Makes a Good Painting Estimate
Scope, prep, coats, product, and exclusions — what a real estimate should say before you sign.
A painting estimate is one of the most-shopped items in home services, and one of the most misleading. Two bids that look similar in price can be very different in what they actually include.
Here is what a good painting estimate should tell you.
Scope. Which surfaces are being painted, in which rooms, and in which colors. Trim, ceilings, doors, and closets should each be called out. If the estimate says only "paint the interior," you do not have a real scope.
Prep work. Filling nail holes, caulking, sanding, spot priming, and masking. This should be described specifically. If prep is not in the estimate, expect it to be minimal.
Number of coats. Two coats is standard on most jobs. Some colors and some substrates require three. A one-coat estimate should raise an immediate question.
Product. Manufacturer, product line, and sheen. There is a real difference between builder-grade paint and a good-quality interior or exterior line. On exteriors, a product like Sherwin-Williams Duration behaves differently from a bargain equivalent.
Exclusions. What is not included. Furniture moving, wall repair, wallpaper removal, and cabinet painting are common exclusions. Better to see them called out than assumed.
Timeline and payment. Roughly when the job will start, roughly how long it will take, and how payment is structured. Reasonable painters do not ask for the full price up front.
If the estimate you receive covers these points in writing, you are likely dealing with someone who intends to do the job the same way they wrote it up.