Why We Built This Guide

One of the first questions homeowners ask us is: “How much does painting cost?” The honest answer is: it depends.

But instead of hiding behind that, we want to be transparent and walk you through what affects pricing, give you realistic ranges, and help you understand the value you receive when working with a professional, local, family-owned company like ours.

What Impacts the Cost of Painting?

Several factors influence price. Here’s what matters most:

1. Size of the Project – Overall scope, square footage, number of rooms
2. Surface Conditions – Number or repairs, amount of sanding, priming, and prep work
3. Paint & Materials – The quality of product (we use premium coatings like Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald & Duration, and Benjamin Moore lines)
4. Detail & Complexity – Amount and state of existing trim, multiple colors, vaulted ceilings.
5. Accessibility – Project height, ladders/lifts, or hard-to-reach areas, cluttered rooms, landscaping/hills (exterior)
6. Season & Scheduling – Interior work in the winter vs. summer 

Exterior Painting Pricing and Cost Guide in Columbus, Ohio

The main factors that contribute to exterior painting pricing and cost:

• Size and Height of Your Home
• Surface Type and Material
• Current Condition of the Surface.
• Prep Work Required- scraping, sanding, priming, caulking, masking, carpentry.
• Accessibility and Logistics- landscaping, gardens, hills.
• The cost of painting the exterior of your home depends on much more than square footage. The condition, materials, prep work, and paint you choose all factor into the investment. Our goal is to help you understand these variables so you can make the best decision for your home.

Interior Painting Pricing in Columbus, Ohio

Pricing includes prep, premium paints, two coats, and clean, professional results:

• Small Room, Painting Walls (bedroom, office): approximately $400-$600
• Bathroom and Kitchen, Painting Walls: approximately $300-$600
• Medium-Large Room, Painting Walls (living room, family room, open concept kitchen/living room): approximately $600 – $1,200
• Kitchen Cabinets: approximately $5,000-$8,000 (depending on number of doors and drawers)
• Ceilings: Approximately $1/sq ft depending on style and height of ceiling, $150-$300/room
• Popcorn Removal: $7-$10 per sq ft (12×12 room is typically $1,000 – $1,200 including the cost of materials)

The main factors that contribute to interior painting pricing and cost:

• Is there a drastic color change? Most color changes cover well in two coats, however going from, say, a dark blue to white will require an additional third coat. Bright white colors and vivid colors typically require a third coat and a few extra hours of labor and material. This is all to ensure proper coverage
• Are there any major drywall repairs? Large damages to drywall and stress crack repairs add time to a project. To repair, we cut the crack, apply fiber tape, apply mud, sand and prime before painting. Small drywall repairs like nail holes or a ding on the wall are included in our standard prep.
• How tall is the room? An 8-foot wall height is quicker and takes less material than painting a 9 or 10+ foot tall room.
• Are there any built-ins or extra areas to cut around? Painting clean lines around built-in cabinets or many windows takes additional time. We also take extra time to mask any built-in’s or areas not being painted.
• Sinking “nail pops” is common on stairwells. They are typically a screw that is pushing through the drywall. We cut a small 1”x1” hole, sink the screw, patch, prime and paint.

Trim, Windows, and Doors

Baseboards and Crown Molding

Recoating previously painted baseboards or crown molding typically ranges from $150 to $250 per room. Converting stained baseboards or crown molding to a painted finish typically costs between $250 and $350 per room.

Door Frames

Recoating previously painted door frames typically ranges from $100 – $130 per frame. Converting stained door frames to a painted finish typically ranges from $200 – $230 per frame.

Doors

Recoating previously painted doors typically ranges from $100 – $175 depending on the style of door.

Converting stained door frames to a painted finish typically ranges from $370 – $425 depending on the style of door.

Working on doors with windows, or intricate wooden patterns take significantly longer than a standard interior door.

Windows & Trim

Standard Windows (includes Casing, Jamb, and Sill)

Recoating previously painted window trim (no other areas) typically ranges from $100 – $175 depending on the style of window.

Converting stained window trim (no other areas) to a painted finish typically ranges from $250 – $350 depending on the style of window.

Double Hung Windows + Casing, Jamb, and Sill

Recoating previously painted windows and double hung windows typically ranges from $220 – $300 per window depending on size and style.

Converting stained windows and double hung windows to a painted finish typically ranges from $400 – $500 per window depending on size and style.

Each window is different and factors like grilles, difficulty to access areas of the windows, and repairing damages on the wood contribute to prices changing.

Ceiling Painting

Popcorn vs. Smooth

Our process for painting ceilings varies depending on the texture of the ceiling, and if we are painting any other areas in the space. We paint most ceiling projects using a paint sprayer. This ensures a smooth finish without risking damaging popcorn or knockdown texture. On occasion we may brush and roll a smooth ceiling, especially if the space is smaller.

Stress cracks on a ceiling are more involved than drywall stress cracks due to having to match texture after repairing. After repairing a stress crack and re-texturing the cracks should not come back. There may be a slight difference in texture after a major ceiling repair.

12×12 room: $150 – $350 depending on stress crack repair, water damage, re-texturing and if we are painting the walls. If we are painting the walls there is a little bit less masking we need to do.

Popcorn Removal

Popcorn ceiling texture removal to knockdown or smooth typically falls between $7 and $10 per square foot in Columbus. Our price tends to land on the $8 per foot range for most projects.

Popcorn removal in a 12×12 room is typically $1,000 – $1,200 including the cost of materials.

The factors that can influence pricing are:

• Whether or not the popcorn ceiling has been painted before.
• Are there any stress cracks to repair before we skimcoat?
• Are any areas difficult to access? Stairwells with intermediate landings are trickier than a standard bedroom
• Are we removing popcorn texture in the closets of the bedrooms?

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Cabinet projects typically range between $5,000 and $7,000 to complete.

Our process for painting cabinets or built-ins is comprehensive to ensure a factory-finish. This includes:

1. Masking off counter-tops, walls, floor, door ways, and appliances
2. Removing Doors, Drawers, and Shelves(Re-install after painting)
3. Cleaning all cabinet surfaces with degreaser.
4. Sanding all cabinet surfaces with medium grit sand pads
5. Vacuuming and wipe clean surfaces with a micro-fiber towel
6. Applying 1-2 coats of Oil-Based Primer
7. Filling any nail holes, dents, and imperfections after prime coat and spot prime
8. Sanding again with fine-grit sand pads prior to applying the finish coat
9. Applying two coats of Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Enamel.

The main factors in pricing are door and drawer count and if we will be repairing damages to the wood during out prep process. Converting from stained to paint takes an extra coat of oil primer and sanding. Re-coating previously painted cabinets in good condition (no major peeling, just normal we and tear) are slightly quicker to complete and require less material.

Things to Consider When Comparing Estimates

• Not all products offer the same durability, coverage, and final finish. Columbus Painting uses the highest quality products on the market from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. We use products that we are experienced in applying on every project to ensure the best end result. Differences in product choice can impact the total cost of a project with paint ranging from $35 – $110 per gallon.
• Do you trust one company more than another? When gathering estimates it is important to consider which company you trust the most. Did they show up on time and communicate before the appointment? Did they provide a clear and accurate scope of work including products, number of coats, and written timelines? Did they explain their crews and who may be working on your project? Did anything feel unclear?
• Did the estimates you are comparing offer the same warranty? Columbus Painting offers a standard 2-year warranty on all work we complete, PLUS an extended product warranty that ensure there are no defects in the materials we use.
• Did they include a complimentary color consultation? Columbus Painting includes a 45-minute consultation with Sherwin-Williams color experts to ensure you love the colors you choose.
• What type of business is providing the estimate? Is it a franchise, single operator, or team of painters? How long have they been serving Central Ohio? Columbus Painting is a small, family-owned business based in Columbus, Ohio. We have been in business since 2024.
• Are they Professionalized? Columbus Painting is actively involved in the Paint Contractors Association (PCA). The PCA is a 140-year old non-profit that centers around professionalizing the painting industry. Columbus Painting is also an active member in local Chambers of Commerce (Hilliard & Dublin) and maintains an A-rating with the Better Business Bureau. Our team has developed strong relationships with vendors, coating sales representatives, and industry peers to create efficient and lasting solutions for our clients.
• Did the estimate provide proof of insurance and workers compensation? Columbus Painting is fully insured and has a current workers comp policy that you can view inside any of the proposals we send.

Conclusion

We hope this helps give you a ballpark for what to expect when hiring a professional painting company in Columbus.

Every painting project we visit is unique, and we would be happy to visit your space and provide an accurate and transparent no-pressure estimate.