Free Painting Estimate Template (2026)
A ready-to-use painting estimate template for interior rooms, exteriors, and cabinet work. Spell out prep, coats, and paint grade line by line — and get the color, sheen, and price signed off before the first drop cloth goes down.
Sample painting estimate
| Line item | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior walls, 3 bedrooms — prep, 2 coats | 1200 | sq ft | $2.50 | $3,000.00 |
| Ceiling repaint, flat white | 800 | sq ft | $1.50 | $1,200.00 |
| Trim & baseboards, enamel | 1 | job | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Drywall repair, minor patches | 4 | hour | $65.00 | $260.00 |
| Premium paint materials (customer-selected) | 1 | job | $480.00 | $480.00 |
| Total | $5,590.00 | |||
Rates shown are sample US market figures for illustration — always price to your own market, license level, and warranty policy.
How to use this template
- Download the CSV and replace the sample lines with your own scope of work.
- Fill in your business details, license number, and payment terms.
- Add an expiration date — prices for materials move, and 30 days is standard.
- Walk the customer through every line on site, then get a signature before you leave.
Or skip the spreadsheet entirely
QuoteSeal builds this same itemized quote on your phone in minutes, captures the customer's signature on site, attaches job photos as evidence, and turns the approved quote into an invoice and PDF. Free for your first 10 quotes — no credit card required.
Painter estimate FAQ
What should a painting estimate include?
Square footage or room counts, prep work spelled out (patching, sanding, priming), number of coats, paint brand and grade, colors and sheens per room, start date and duration, and a signature line. The two biggest painting disputes — 'that's not the color I picked' and 'prep was supposed to be included' — both die when colors and prep are written and signed.
Should the customer buy the paint or should I?
Either works, but put it in writing. If you supply, add a materials line with the exact product. If the customer supplies, note that extra trips for wrong or insufficient paint are billable. Signed clarity here prevents the most common painting job argument.
How do I handle change requests mid-job?
Never do verbal change orders. Write the change, price it, and get a new signature before doing the work — it takes two minutes on a phone and eliminates 'I never agreed to pay for that' at final invoice time.