Painting the inside of a house costs $3,500 to $10,000 on average in 2026, by national published figures. We do not publish a San Bernardino price list, because the house sets the price: its size, the height of the ceilings, the texture on the walls and how much repair they need.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?
It costs $3,500 to $10,000 on average to paint the interior of a house, by the national figures. HomeGuide gives a national average of $7,500, a low of $2,000 and a high of $15,000. A second HomeGuide page, on hiring a painter, lists a whole house interior at $2,900 to $8,800. The two pages do not agree, which shows how wide the range is.
In San Bernardino, most homes have textured walls, and many built before the 1980s have popcorn ceilings. Texture takes more paint and more time to cut in than a smooth wall. HomeGuide lists texture as an add of $0.80 to $2.00 per square foot.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
It costs $300 to $1,000 to paint one room in most cases, by the national figures, with a national average of $750. The published low is $150 and the high is $2,500. Painters also have a minimum project fee, listed at $250 to $500 or more.
| Room | National range |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | $150 to $400 |
| Primary bathroom | $250 to $650 |
| Kitchen (walls) | $150 to $250 |
| Bedroom | $350 to $850 |
| Primary bedroom | $650 to $1,400 |
| Living room | $600 to $2,000 |
| Dining room or hallway | $300 to $1,000 |
How much to paint a 1,500 or 2,000 square foot house inside?
For a 1,500 square foot house the national range is $4,500 to $6,000, and for a 2,000 square foot house it is $6,000 to $8,000. Those figures come from HomeGuide's interior painting page and go by floor area.
| Home size | National range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 to $4,000 |
| 1,200 sq ft | $3,600 to $4,800 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $4,500 to $6,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft | $5,400 to $7,200 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $6,000 to $8,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $7,500 to $10,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $9,000 to $12,000 |
HomeGuide's page on painting a room publishes lower whole-house figures: $1,300 to $4,400 for 1,500 square feet and $1,600 to $5,600 for 2,000 square feet. The gap between the two pages is mostly about what is included, such as ceilings, trim and doors.
How much to paint a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house?
A 3-bedroom house costs $1,200 to $8,500 to paint inside, by the national figures. That range is wide because it runs from walls only in a small house to walls, ceilings and trim in a large one.
You can also add up the rooms from the table above. One primary bedroom ($650 to $1,400), two bedrooms ($700 to $1,700 for both), a living room ($600 to $2,000), kitchen walls ($150 to $250), one bathroom ($150 to $400), one primary bathroom ($250 to $650) and a hallway ($300 to $1,000) come to $2,800 to $7,400. That is arithmetic on national figures, not a quote.
How much do painters charge per square foot?
Painters charge $1 to $3 per square foot of wall and ceiling surface, or $3 to $7 per square foot of floor space, by the national figures. Be sure which one a quote uses. A 12 by 12 room has 144 square feet of floor but about 400 square feet of wall.
The same source lists walls only at $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot of surface and puts labor at 70% to 85% of the total.
Do painters charge by the room or by the square foot?
Both are used. Many painters price by the room for a few rooms and by the square foot for a whole house. Either way the number should come from a walkthrough. We measure, look at the walls and ceilings, and write down what is included, so you can compare our quote with others line by line.
Does it cost more to paint ceilings as well as walls?
Yes. Ceilings cost extra, and the national figure is $1 to $2 more per square foot. HomeGuide's ceiling page lists $1 to $2 per square foot for a ceiling alone and $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot for a textured or popcorn ceiling.
Popcorn ceilings are common in San Bernardino homes from the 1950s to the 1980s. They soak up paint and are usually sprayed. If the popcorn has never been painted and the home predates the 1980s, see our page on popcorn ceilings before anyone disturbs it.
How much extra for trim, doors and baseboards?
Trim and baseboards cost $1 to $4 per linear foot, or $500 to $2,000 for a house, by the national figures. Per room, baseboards are listed at $25 to $200. Interior doors cost $75 to $150 each, and an interior window frame $25 to $100.
Trim takes time because it is brushed by hand in a harder, shinier paint. Ask whether the quote includes doors, door frames, window sills and closets. Those are the items most often left out.
How much extra for high or vaulted ceilings and stairwells?
Ceilings higher than 10 feet raise the painting cost by 10% to 50% or more, by the national figures. No dollar figure is published for a vaulted ceiling. Stairwells are listed per linear foot by height: $16 for 8 to 13 feet, $20 for 13 to 17 feet, $24 for 17 to 19 feet and $30 above 19 feet.
Two-story entries and vaulted living rooms are common in newer homes in Verdemont and the University District. They need tall ladders or scaffolding, which is where the extra cost comes from.
Does it cost more to go from a dark color to white?
Usually, yes. Covering dark walls with white takes a primer coat or a third coat of paint, and that adds labor and material. No published figure exists for this, so we price it after we see the walls. The same is true going from a light color to a deep red or navy.
How much more if the walls need a lot of prep?
Walls that need a lot of prep cost more, and the national figure for sanding and patching is $1 to $3 per square foot. HomeGuide's drywall page lists small hole repairs at $300 to $500 and cracks at $350 to $1,000 or more when a drywall contractor is called in.
Normal prep is part of our quote: filling nail holes, patching small dents, sanding, caulking and spot priming. Heavy prep, such as water damage, large holes or failing texture, is listed as its own line so you can see it.
Does the price include moving furniture and covering floors?
With us, yes. We move the furniture to the center of the room, cover it and protect the floors. We ask you to put away small and fragile things first. Some painters charge for moving furniture. The national figure is $35 to $60 per hour, so ask every bidder whether it is included.
Why are my painting quotes so far apart?
Quotes end up far apart because they are not for the same job. One includes ceilings, trim and closets and another does not. One allows two coats and real prep, another one coat and little prep. The paint grade differs. So do insurance and licensing costs.
Put the quotes side by side and check five things: the surfaces included, the prep, the number of coats, the paint line by name, and who moves and covers the furniture. Once those match, the prices usually move much closer.
How do I know if a painting quote is fair?
A painting quote is fair when it is written, specific and in line with other detailed quotes for the same scope. It should list rooms and surfaces, prep, primer, coats and the paint. You can check it against the national ranges on this page, but those are a guide, not a rule.
In California, also check the down payment. On a home improvement contract it cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less. A quote that asks for more is a warning sign whatever the price.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (909) 487-2695.