# Free Painting Estimate Template | Download PDF, Excel, Sheets Canonical URL: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/painting-estimate-template/ Plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/painting-estimate-template/llms.txt Publisher: SimplyWise, Inc. (https://www.simplywise.com) Published: April 17, 2026 Updated: September 11, 2026 Summary: Download a free painting estimate template. Professional PDF, Excel, and Google Sheets formats covering prep, coats, labor, and materials. --- Templates > Painting > Estimate Template ## Free Painting Estimate Template Professional estimate template used by 10,000+ contractors. Use the PDF, Excel, or Google Sheets layout below. Fill it out in under 3 minutes. πŸ“„ PDF Excel Google Sheets No signup required. Start estimating in the SimplyWise Cost Estimator app. PAINTING ESTIMATE Premier Painting Co. Client: Mike & Sarah Thompson 1524 Maple Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305 Date: April 15, 2026 | Valid for 30 days Interior walls, 3 bedrooms (1,200 sq ft) $1,440 Ceiling painting, 3 rooms (600 sq ft) $720 Primer + 2 coats premium latex paint $960 Trim, baseboards, and door frames $680 Labor (2-person crew, 4 days) $3,200 Prep work, taping, drop cloths $450 TOTAL $7,450 Trusted by 10,000+ contractors ⭐ 4.8 Stars πŸ“± App Store πŸ“± Google Play ## What Every Painting Estimate Should Include βœ“ Company name, license number, and contact info βœ“ Client name and project address βœ“ Detailed scope of work (prep, prime, paint, touchup) βœ“ Paint brand, finish, and color selections with costs βœ“ Labor hours and crew size with daily rates βœ“ Equipment and supplies (sprayers, ladders, drop cloths) βœ“ Markup and profit margin (typically 15-25%) βœ“ Subtotal, tax, and grand total βœ“ Payment schedule (deposit, progress, final) βœ“ Estimate validity period (30-60 days) βœ“ Terms, warranty, insurance, and permits βœ“ Signature line for client approval ## How to Write a Painting Estimate in 5 Steps ### Step 1: Measure and Assess the Space Walk every room. Measure wall height and width, note ceiling texture, count doors, windows, and trim pieces. Check for wallpaper removal, drywall repairs, or lead paint that adds prep time. Take photos of problem areas. ### Step 2: Calculate Paint and Materials One gallon covers around 350 sq ft. Budget 2 coats minimum. For a 1,200 sq ft interior: roughly 7 gallons wall paint, 2 gallons trim paint, plus primer if needed. Add tape, caulk, drop cloths, and sandpaper to your materials list. ### Step 3: Price Your Labor Interior painting runs $1.50-$3.50 per sq ft depending on prep work and finish quality. A 3-bedroom interior takes a 2-person crew 3-5 days. Factor in prep time. It’s usually 40-60% of total labor hours. ### Step 4: Add Your Markup Apply your markup (20-35% is standard for painting). This covers overhead, insurance, drive time, and profit. On a $6,000 job, a 25% markup adds $1,500. Don’t compete on price. Compete on quality and reliability. ### Step 5: Send It and Follow Up Export a clean PDF and send it within 24 hours of the walkthrough. Include paint color samples or swatches if discussed. Follow up within 48 hours. Painting estimates that arrive fast close more often. ## Average Painting Job Costs to Guide Your Estimates Use these benchmarks as starting points. Actual costs vary by region, materials, and job complexity. | Job Type | Material Cost | Labor Cost | Total Range | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Interior 3-bedroom (1,200 sq ft) | $800 – $1,400 | $2,400 – $4,200 | $4,000 – $7,000 | | Exterior 2-story home (2,500 sq ft) | $1,200 – $2,000 | $3,500 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $10,000 | | Single room repaint (12Γ—12) | $100 – $200 | $300 – $500 | $500 – $800 | | Kitchen cabinet painting | $400 – $800 | $800 – $1,500 | $1,500 – $3,000 | | Deck/fence staining (400 sq ft) | $200 – $400 | $400 – $800 | $800 – $1,500 | | Commercial office (3,000 sq ft) | $1,500 – $3,000 | $3,000 – $5,000 | $6,000 – $10,000 | Costs vary by region. Get a location-specific estimate in 6 seconds with SimplyWise Cost Estimator β†’ ## Estimating Best Practices for Painting Contractors ### Always include prep work separately List sanding, patching, caulking, and priming as separate line items. Clients understand why the job costs what it costs, and you don’t eat hidden prep time. ### Specify paint brand and finish Benjamin Moore vs builder-grade paint is a different job. Spell out the brand, sheen (flat, eggshell, semi-gloss), and number of coats. Avoids disputes and justifies your price. ### Offer interior + exterior bundles Clients doing interior work often need exterior too. Offer a 10-15% bundle discount. Your average ticket jumps and you lock out competitors. ### Photo-document existing conditions Cracks, peeling, water damage. Photograph everything before starting. Protects you from blame for pre-existing issues and sets expectations upfront. ### Build in a color change fee If the client changes colors mid-job, that’s extra coats and materials. Include a per-room color change fee ($150-$300) in your terms. ### Quote per room, not just a total Break estimates into per-room pricing. Clients can add/remove rooms, and you upsell more easily. Transparency builds trust. ## Estimate Template vs. Estimating Software Free Template ### Free - βœ“ Pre-filled line items - βœ“ PDF, Excel, Google Sheets - βœ“ Print or email to clients - βœ“ Manual updates required - βœ“ No cost database Free to Try ### SimplyWise App - βœ“ Photo-to-estimate in 6 seconds - βœ“ Live material pricing by ZIP code - βœ“ Professional PDF estimates + invoices - βœ“ Send directly to clients - βœ“ Track all your estimates Licensing is the other half of bidding across state lines. Our verified guide to what a contractor license costs in all 50 states (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/contractor-license-cost-by-state/) covers every fee, bond, and threshold, with a full guide for each state. ## Frequently Asked Questions What’s the difference between an estimate and a quote? How many coats should a painting estimate include? Should I charge for painting estimates? What file formats can I download this template in? Is this template really free? ## More Free Templates for Contractors ROOFING ESTIMATE Johnson Roofing Co. Tear-off existing shingles (30 sq) $2,400 GAF Timberline HDZ shingles $4,200 Labor (3-person crew, 2 days) $3,600 TOTAL $15,940 ### Roofing Estimate Template Asphalt shingles, metal, flat roofs with tear-off, materials, labor, and warranty line items built in. HVAC ESTIMATE Summit HVAC Services Carrier 3-ton AC (16 SEER2) $3,800 Furnace (80K BTU, 96%) $2,900 Labor (2-person crew) $3,200 TOTAL $15,655 ### HVAC Estimate Template Heating and cooling system installs with equipment specs, ductwork, and seasonal labor adjustments. CONTRACTOR INVOICE Apex Construction LLC Phase 1: Foundation $18,500 Phase 2: Framing $32,000 Materials + fixtures $22,000 BALANCE DUE $96,451 ### Contractor Invoice Template Professional invoice template with progress billing, retainage tracking, and change order support. ## Ready to save hours on every estimate? SimplyWise turns a photo into a professional estimate in 6 seconds. SimplyWise Templates Blog Privacy (https://simplywise.com/privacy) Terms (https://simplywise.com/terms) --- ## About SimplyWise SimplyWise, Inc. (New York, NY) builds mobile apps for contractors, tradespeople, and small business owners. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job site photo into an itemized estimate with labor and material costs in about 6 seconds, and the client signs the branded quote to approve it. It is rated 4.8 on the App Store. It is free to try with a 7-day free trial, then $29.99 per month or $239.99 per year (about $20 per month on the annual plan), and one subscription includes every app in the SimplyWise suite. - Download: https://www.simplywise.com/download - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplywise.costestimator - Every SimplyWise page as plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/llms.txt