Labour or paint: what weighs more in the cost of painting?

In most interior paint jobs, labour weighs more than the paint. Painting is work that takes time and care. Paint is an important part of the cost, but it is rarely the biggest. That is why choosing cheaper paint saves little, and it can turn out expensive if extra coats are needed.

What you pay for in labour

Paying for labour is not just paying for the time spent rolling on paint. It includes several tasks that the customer does not always see.

What you pay for in paint

The cost of the paint depends on the area, the number of coats and the coverage of the product. Coverage tells you how many square metres each litre covers. It is shown on the tin and varies with the paint and the surface.

Very porous or rough surfaces use more paint. A primer on new or repaired walls also helps to use less paint in the following coats.

Why saving on paint can be expensive

A paint with poor coverage may need three or four coats, instead of two. Each extra coat means more hours of work, and the hours cost more than a litre of paint.

In addition, a poor paint may mark easily, yellow or peel sooner. If you have to repaint again soon, you pay twice.

How the cost splits in practice

There is no set percentage, because it depends on each job. In a home with a lot of repair work, labour weighs even more. In a home with good walls and a single colour, the paint may account for a larger share.

To see how your quote is split, ask the painter to separate the cost of labour from the cost of materials. Many are happy to do so.

How to decide

  1. Ask for the quote with labour and materials separate.
  2. Ask which paint will be used and how many coats it needs.
  3. Check the coverage per litre on the tin.
  4. Work out the area and see whether the quantity of paint makes sense.
  5. If you are supplying the paint, agree who keeps any leftovers.

How much paint you will need

A simple calculation helps you check the quote. Divide the area to be painted by the coverage shown on the tin, in m² per litre. Multiply by the number of coats. The result is the approximate number of litres.

For example, if the area is 100 m², the stated coverage is 10 m² per litre and you will apply two coats, the calculation gives 20 litres. This is only an example to show the calculation. The real figures change with the paint and the wall, and it is wise to add a small margin.

Tip: Keep a little paint of each colour, tightly closed, for touch-ups. Write the room and the date it was used on the lid.

See also