Free Painting Estimate Template (Excel)
What's in the painting estimate template
The Painting Estimate sheet is one row per room or surface: area in square feet, number of coats, and your paint's coverage rate in square feet per gallon, followed by your paint price per gallon and a labor rate per square foot.
That's enough structure to price interior or exterior jobs room by room, with each room's material and labor cost broken out before they're combined into that room's line total.
Calculating gallons needed from square feet and coats
Gallons needed calculates as area x coats divided by coverage rate — enter the square footage, how many coats the job needs, and your coverage rate, and the gallon count appears automatically. A typical coverage rate is 350 sq ft per gallon per coat, and two coats is standard for a color change, though you can adjust both per room.
Material cost then multiplies gallons needed by your price per gallon, so the material number always reflects the actual paint the job requires rather than a rough guess.
Splitting labor by room and surface
Labor cost calculates as area x your labor rate per square foot, entered separately from material cost so you can see exactly how much of a room's total is paint versus time.
Because each room is its own row, you can price a job with different coverage or labor rates per room — say a higher rate for detailed trim work versus a lower rate for open wall area — without the totals losing track of which room they belong to.
Painting estimate vs painting invoice: what's the difference
This estimate template is what you send before the job starts, to quote materials and labor by room. Once the work is done, you'd bill the client with the free painting invoice template instead, which itemizes labor and materials actually used and calculates a balance due after tax and any payments received.
How to use it
- Add a row per room or surface with its area in square feet and number of coats.
- Enter your paint's coverage rate — gallons needed and material cost calculate automatically.
- Enter your labor rate per square foot — labor cost and the line total calculate automatically.
- Check the summary for total gallons, materials subtotal, labor subtotal, and the estimate total.
Download the free Free Painting Estimate Template (Excel)
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Construction Pack
When estimates turn into jobs, the paid Construction Pack ($49) handles the paperwork: WH-347 certified payroll, a WIP report that ties billings to costs, and manpower planning across jobs.
See the full versionFrequently asked questions
Can I use this painting estimate template in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive, then open it and choose File > Save as Google Sheets. All the totals keep working.
Is this template really free?
Yes. You give an email address to download it, and then it's yours to use with no further cost.
What coverage rate should I use for a gallon of paint?
A common rule of thumb is 350 sq ft per gallon per coat, though it varies by paint and surface — check your paint can's label and adjust the coverage field per room if needed.
How many coats should I plan for?
Two coats is standard for most color changes; one coat can work for a same-color refresh. Enter the number of coats per room and the gallons calculation adjusts automatically.
Should I use this or the painting invoice template?
Use this estimate template to quote the job before work starts. Once the job is done, use the free painting invoice template to bill the client for labor and materials actually used.
What's the usage license?
Personal use or use within one business. It's not meant to be resold or redistributed as a template product.