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What painting costs in Canada, 2026.
Room by room, house by house, city by city: typical prices for professional interior and exterior painting across Canada, what drives them up or down, and how to read a quote.
Updated October 2026 · Prices in Canadian dollars
Quick answer
In 2026, Canadians typically pay $450–$850 to paint an average bedroom, $7,500–$12,000 to paint the interior of a 2,000 sq ft home, and $6,000–$16,000 to paint the outside of a two-storey house. Painters charge about $45–$80/hr per hour. Expect 10–25% more in Vancouver and Toronto, and less in smaller cities.
Painting costs at a glance
| Project | Typical price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Average bedroom (12 × 12 ft), walls only | $450–$850 |
| Bedroom with ceiling, trim and door | $800–$1,300 |
| Living room, walls only | $900–$1,600 |
| 1-bedroom condo, full interior (Toronto) | $1,700–$2,400 |
| 2,000 sq ft home, full interior | $7,500–$12,000 |
| Bungalow exterior | $4,000–$7,500 |
| Two-storey house exterior | $6,000–$16,000 |
| Painter's hourly rate | $45–$80/hr |
Professional labour and mid-to-premium paint, basic prep and two coats, before GST/HST.
Cost to paint a room
Room prices assume 8 ft ceilings, walls in fair condition and a similar colour. Ceilings over 9 ft, dark-to-light colour changes and lots of repairs cost more.
| Room | Approx. size | Walls only | Walls, ceiling & trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bathroom | 40–80 sq ft | $300–$550 | $450–$800 |
| Small bedroom or office | 10 × 10 ft | $350–$650 | $600–$1,000 |
| Average bedroom | 12 × 12 ft | $450–$850 | $800–$1,300 |
| Primary bedroom | 12 × 16 ft | $650–$1,100 | $1,000–$1,700 |
| Kitchen (walls, not cabinets) | 10 × 14 ft | $400–$800 | $650–$1,200 |
| Living or dining room | 15 × 18 ft | $900–$1,600 | $1,300–$2,400 |
| Hallway and stairwell | two storeys | $600–$1,500 | $900–$2,000 |
Whole-house interior painting
| Home size | Walls only | Walls, ceilings, trim & doors |
|---|---|---|
| About 1,000 sq ft (condo or small bungalow) | $2,500–$4,000 | $4,000–$6,500 |
| About 1,500 sq ft | $3,500–$6,000 | $5,500–$9,000 |
| About 2,000 sq ft | $4,500–$8,000 | $7,500–$12,000 |
| About 2,500 sq ft | $5,500–$10,000 | $9,500–$15,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft and up | $7,000–$12,500 | $11,500–$19,000 |
Empty homes (before you move in) are faster and cheaper to paint than furnished ones. Multi-level homes with tall stairwells cost more.
Condos
| Condo | Walls only | Full interior |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto 1-bedroom (500–700 sq ft) | $1,200–$1,900 | $1,700–$2,400 |
| Toronto 2-bedroom (700–1,000 sq ft) | $2,000–$2,900 | $2,600–$3,800 |
| Vancouver 1-bedroom | $2,000–$3,500 | $2,500–$4,500 |
| Vancouver 2-bedroom | $2,500–$5,000 | $3,500–$6,500 |
| Montréal 4½ (about 2-bedroom) | $1,700–$2,500 | $2,200–$3,500 |
Condo buildings usually require an elevator booking and a certificate of insurance, which can add $100–$300.
Exterior house painting
| House | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bungalow (1,000–1,200 sq ft) | $4,000–$7,500 |
| Two-storey, about 1,500 sq ft | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Two-storey, about 2,500 sq ft | $9,000–$16,000 |
| Large, complex or heavy-prep wood home | $15,000–$25,000 |
| Siding | Relative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | Base price | 100% acrylic, vinyl-safe colours. Check your siding warranty first: some manufacturers don't honour it on painted vinyl. |
| Aluminum | Base price | Wash off the chalky residue; bonding primer on bare spots. |
| Fibre cement | Base price | Holds paint well; repaint roughly every 10 years. |
| Stucco | +10–30% | Porous, so it uses more paint; masonry or elastomeric coatings. |
| Wood clapboard or cedar | +40–60% | Most prep: scraping, sanding, priming bare wood, caulking. |
| Brick | Quoted case by case | Close to permanent; needs breathable mineral paint or limewash. |
Cost per square foot
Painters quote "per square foot" in two different ways, which is why online numbers vary so much:
- Floor area (the size of your home): about $3.50–$6/sq ft for a full interior repaint.
- Wall area (the surface being painted): about $1.50–$3/sq ft inside and $2.50–$5/sq ft outside.
A 12 × 12 ft room has 144 sq ft of floor but about 380 sq ft of wall (four 12 ft walls, 8 ft high, less a door and window), so always ask which one a quote means.
Painter hourly rates by city
| City or region | Typical hourly rate | Compared with national average |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Burnaby, North Shore | $60–$90/hr | +15–25% |
| Toronto and the GTA | $55–$90/hr | +10–25% |
| Victoria, Kelowna | $55–$80/hr | +5–10% |
| Calgary | $50–$80/hr | About average to +5% |
| Edmonton | $50–$80/hr | About average |
| Ottawa | $50–$80/hr | About average |
| Hamilton, Kitchener–Waterloo, London | $45–$75/hr | −5% to average |
| Montréal, Québec City | $40–$75/hr | −5% to −15% |
| Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina | $40–$65/hr | −5% to −10% |
| Halifax and Atlantic Canada | $40–$65/hr | −5% to −10% |
| Smaller towns | $40–$60/hr | −5% to −15% (minimum charges often apply) |
Per painter, labour only. Crews of two or three are common, and many painters quote a fixed price instead.
Ceilings, trim, doors and extras
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Ceiling, average room | $100–$300 |
| Baseboards and trim | $1–$3/linear ft |
| Interior door, both sides and frame | $100–$200 |
| Accent wall | $150–$350 |
| Closet interior | $75–$150 |
| Drywall patch (each) | $50–$150 |
| Wallpaper removal | $1–$3/sq ft |
| Minimum job charge (some companies) | $1,000–$2,000 |
How much does paint cost?
| Paint | Price per gallon (3.78 L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor / budget | $30–$45 | Ceilings, closets, rentals. |
| Mid-range | $45–$70 | Most repaints; good coverage. |
| Premium | $70–$120 | Best coverage, washability and colour. Benjamin Moore lists Regal Select at $97.99 and Aura at $118.99. |
| Exterior acrylic | $50–$110 | Premium lines can be applied down to about 2°C. |
| Primer | $25–$50 | New drywall, stains, bare wood, big colour changes. |
Paint is usually 15–25% of a professional job; labour is the rest. A gallon covers about 350–400 sq ft per coat. Painters often get contractor pricing, so supplying your own paint rarely saves much.
What affects the price
- Prep and condition. Patching, sanding, scraping, stain-blocking and rot repair take longer than painting itself.
- Colour change. Going from a dark colour to a light one, or covering a bold colour, can need a primer plus two coats.
- Height and access. Ceilings over 9 ft, stairwells, three-storey exteriors and steep lots need extra ladders, scaffolding or lifts.
- Detail. Lots of trim, doors, windows, built-ins and multiple colours add labour.
- Furniture and occupancy. Empty homes are faster than lived-in ones.
- Location and season. Big-city labour costs more; exterior painters book up from May to August.
- Older homes. Lead-safe practices for homes built before 1990, and plaster repairs, add time.
- Product. Premium lines cost more but cover and wear better.
How to save on painting
- Get at least three written quotes and compare the scope line by line, not just the total.
- Do the easy prep yourself: move furniture, take down art, clear shelves.
- Paint walls only and keep the existing white ceiling and trim if they're in good shape.
- Stay with similar colours, or choose a light colour over a light colour.
- Book interiors in late fall and winter, when painters are less busy.
- Bundle rooms into one visit instead of several small jobs.
What a good painting quote includes
- Every room or surface included, and what's excluded (closets, ceilings, trim, doors).
- The prep: protection, repairs, sanding, caulking, priming.
- The paint brand, product line and sheen, and the number of coats.
- Colours, or a deadline for choosing them.
- Start date, duration and working hours.
- Price, tax, deposit and payment schedule (a deposit of 10–30% is common; final payment after a walkthrough).
- Proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.
- The painter's workmanship warranty, in writing.
DIY vs. hiring a painter
| Do it yourself | Hire a professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Average bedroom | $120–$220 in paint and supplies | $450–$850 |
| Time | 1–2 weekends | About 1 day |
| Best for | Small, low rooms; touch-ups | High ceilings, stairwells, exteriors, whole homes |
| Risks | Uneven coats, roller marks, ladder falls | Choosing the wrong painter: check insurance and references |
How we put these numbers together
These ranges combine Canadian painting companies' published prices, homeowner cost surveys and recent quotes shared by Canadian homeowners, cross-checked against current labour rates and paint prices. They're typical ranges, not quotes: the only way to know your price is a written estimate after a painter sees the job.
- HomeStars: Cost to paint a house in Canada (2026)
- HomeStars: Painting cost per square foot in Canada (2026)
- HomeStars: How much does it cost to paint a room in Canada (2026)
- Government of Canada Job Bank: House painter wages (NOC 73112)
- Health Canada: Lead-based paint
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST rates
- Benjamin Moore Canada: product list prices and coverage
- Published price guides from Canadian painting companies in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montréal (2026)
FAQ
Painting costs, answered.
How much does it cost to paint a house in Canada?
For the interior, most homeowners pay $5,500–$9,000 for a 1,500 sq ft home and $7,500–$12,000 for 2,000 sq ft (walls, ceilings and trim, two coats). For the exterior, $4,000–$7,500 for a bungalow and $6,000–$16,000 for a typical two-storey home. Prices are 10–25% higher in Vancouver and Toronto.
How much do painters charge in Ontario and Toronto?
In Toronto and the GTA, painters typically charge $55–$90/hr per hour, and about $450–$850 to paint the walls of an average bedroom, or $800–$1,300 with the ceiling, trim and door. Elsewhere in Ontario (Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener–Waterloo, London) rates are closer to $45–$75/hr. Ontario quotes usually exclude 13% HST.
How much do painters charge per hour in Canada?
Most professional painters charge $45–$80/hr per hour per painter in 2026, with $55–$90/hr common in Vancouver, Toronto and other expensive markets, and $40–$65/hr in smaller centres. Many quote a fixed price per job instead of hourly.
How much does it cost to paint a room in Canada?
About $450–$850 for an average 12 × 12 ft bedroom, walls only, two coats. Including the ceiling, baseboards and door: about $800–$1,300. A small bathroom is about $300–$550, and a large living room $900–$1,600.
What is the cost per square foot to paint?
Interior painting typically costs $3.50–$6/sq ft of floor area (or $1.50–$3/sq ft of wall area). Exterior painting costs about $2.50–$5/sq ft of paintable wall surface.
How much paint do I need?
One gallon (3.78 L) covers about 350–400 sq ft per coat on smooth, primed walls. An average 12 × 12 ft bedroom with 8 ft ceilings has about 380 sq ft of wall, so two coats take about two gallons. Rough or porous surfaces like stucco and new drywall use more.
Is it cheaper to paint a house yourself?
In materials, yes: a bedroom costs roughly $120–$220 in paint and supplies if you do it yourself. But professionals work several times faster, do the prep that makes paint last, and carry insurance. For high ceilings, stairwells, exteriors and whole homes, most people find a professional is worth it.
Do painting quotes include tax?
Usually not. GST or HST is added to the quote: 5% GST in Alberta, the territories and (plus PST where it applies) in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; 13% HST in Ontario; 14% in Nova Scotia; 15% HST in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI; and GST plus QST (14.975%) in Quebec. Check your quote says "plus tax" or "tax included".
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