Painting Costs
How Much Does Painting Cost in Northern Virginia?
Interior and exterior painting prices in Northern Virginia, explained: the 2026 ranges our instant estimator uses, what moves them, and how a free on-site walkthrough turns a range into a fixed written quote.
Painting prices in Northern Virginia come down to a short list of things: what you are painting, how big it is, what condition it is in, how much of it is detail work, and which paint you choose. Two homes with the same square footage can land at different prices because one has ten-foot ceilings, peeling trim or a dark color to cover and the other does not.
Five drivers move the number on almost every job. Surface and size: wall area is the base of every price, by the room or by the square foot inside and by siding type outside. Condition: nail holes and light sanding are included; skim coats, peeling paint and rot repair are priced as prep. Height: tall ceilings and three-story exteriors take more ladder time. Detail: trim, doors, windows and shutters are brushed by hand, so they are priced separately from walls. Paint tier: the line you choose changes both the price and how long the finish lasts.
The guides below walk through each driver for interior and exterior work with the same 2026 ranges our instant estimator uses. Read the guide for your project, then request a free on-site estimate; every range is confirmed after a free on-site walkthrough and turned into a written quote that does not change.
Cost Guides
Pick the guide for your project to see what moves the number.
Interior Painting Cost Guide
What it costs to paint a room, a floor or a whole home in Northern Virginia, by the room or by the square foot, and the five things that move the number. The same 2026 ranges our instant estimator uses, confirmed after a free on-site walkthrough.
Exterior Painting Cost Guide
What it costs to repaint the outside of a Northern Virginia home, by siding type, size and stories, and what trim, shutters, decks and repairs add. The same 2026 ranges our instant estimator uses, confirmed after a free on-site walkthrough.
Commercial Projects
Commercial work is priced per square foot by space type, without paint tiers. Ceilings add 25% – 35% of the base, doors and metal frames $75 – $125 each, and nights or weekends 15% – 25% of the running total; storefront and exterior work is quoted on site. Every commercial project carries a minimum of $1,500 – $2,000, which covers mobilization, protection and cleanup on a small suite or a single unit.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Office / medical suite | $1.75 – $3.50 per sq ft |
| Retail / restaurant | $2.00 – $4.00 per sq ft |
| Warehouse / industrial | $1.25 – $2.75 per sq ft |
| Apartment common areas | $1.50 – $3.00 per sq ft |
| Apartment unit turnover | $1.50 – $2.50 per sq ft |
Minimum per project $1,500 – $2,000
Commercial PaintingEvery range is confirmed after a free on-site walkthrough.
Ranges reflect 2026 Northern Virginia rates for licensed, insured crews and premium paint (Sherwin-Williams / Benjamin Moore). Your written quote is fixed after the walkthrough — no surprises.
Cost Questions, Answered
What the ranges include and what moves them.
How much does it cost to paint a house in Northern Virginia?
Interior painting runs $2.50 – $5.00 per square foot of floor area for walls, or $600 – $3,000 per room depending on its size. A full exterior repaint of a two-story home of about 2,200 sq ft runs $3,800 – $13,000 depending on siding. Trim, ceilings, decks and heavy prep are add-ons. Every range is confirmed after a free on-site walkthrough.
Why is the price a range instead of one number?
Two homes with the same square footage can need very different amounts of prep, have different ceiling heights or choose different paint tiers. The range covers that spread honestly; the free on-site walkthrough narrows it to a fixed written quote.
What is the difference between these guides and the instant estimator?
The guides explain what drives the price and show the full range for each room type, siding type and add-on. The estimator applies those same ranges to your inputs — your rooms, your siding, your add-ons — and gives you a figure in about two minutes. Use the guides to understand, the estimator to plan.
Does the paint tier change the price?
Yes. Ranges are shown at the Premium tier (SW Duration · BM Regal Select), our most popular. Standard (SW SuperPaint · BM Regal) prices at about 90% of these figures, Ultra (SW Emerald · BM Aura) at about 115%, and Labor Only — you supply the paint — at about 82%. Commercial projects are priced without tiers.
Do the ranges include paint, or just labor?
Both. Every range includes labor, premium Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore paint, materials, protection and cleanup. If you would rather buy the paint yourself, the Labor Only tier prices the work at about 82% of the Premium figure. Commercial projects are priced without tiers and always include paint.
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