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Painting Cost Per Square Foot Commercial Building

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A fresh coat of paint keeps your commercial property looking in tip-top condition and gives customers a fantastic first impression of your business. Additionally, your staff will be happier and more productive if they work in a well-maintained environment. But what is the painting cost per square foot of a commercial building?

If it’s time to paint your commercial exterior or interior then you’ll want a professional painting company that can stick to your budget and provides a high-quality finish that lasts. Not sure where to start? We’ve covered the basics involved in calculating the average painting cost per square foot for a commercial building. 

painting cost per square foot commercial building

Painting Cost Per Square Foot Commercial Building

To get a basic estimate of what a commercial paint job will cost, you should consider 3 main factors:

  • How much paint you’ll need.
  • The amount of labor it will take.
  • What condition the building is in. 

How Much Paint is Needed? 

Calculating the amount of paint required isn’t difficult. First, determine if you want just the walls painted or the ceiling and any trim as well. Multiply the length of each wall by its height and then add them together. Do the same for any doors and windows and subtract this figure from the wall space to get the total square footage of wall space. 

If you want to paint the ceiling, then you’ll need to multiply the length of the room by the width to get the gross ceiling area. Add this onto the total square footage for the wall space.

Once you’ve determined the total square footage that needs painting you can calculate the amount of paint needed. Bear in mind that one gallon of paint typically covers 300 square feet of a smooth wall in a commercial application. Most professional painters prefer premium-quality paint, which costs between around $50 – $75 per gallon. 

Labor Costs

commercial painting costs per square foot

Labor costs also need to be taken into consideration. On average a painter covers approximately 150 – 200 square feet an hour. Labor costs are generally charged on an hourly basis, and you can expect to pay $60 – $100 per hour on average. 

You’ll also want to add on another few hours for preparatory work before painting can commence. This may involve washing, caulking, scraping, and priming. The tools a painter uses can determine the speed of the job, e.g. brush and roller vs paint sprayer. Clean up after a job is also an important part of the process which needs to be factored into the time taken.

What You Can Expect as an ‘Average’ Painting Cost Per Square Foot for Commercial Jobs 

average cost per square foot commercial painting

Now you know how to calculate how much paint and labor will cost, you can add them together and work out the average painting cost per square foot.

  • Paint: $2,000 – $3,000
  • Labor: $5,000 – $8,000 

So, for a property of 15,000 square feet and in good condition, with a typical brush-and-roll two-coat paint system you’re looking at an average of $5,000 – $10,000, or .33 to .66 cents per square foot for the walls and ceiling.

The Condition of the Building & Other Factors 

While it would be nice if every commercial paint job were straightforward, there are certain physical elements in buildings that can cause significant fluctuation in price. 

Different types of buildings can pose challenges due to their height and structure and may require specific skills or tools. If a business is operational, it also means painters need to work when there is minimal disruption, noise, odor and safety compliance for staff. 

Most painters will include minor cracks and nail holes in their standard preparation and price, but any major prep work, such as large cracks or holes or warped drywall will cost more for labor. 

Textured walls can also cost more, not only for the extra paint needed to cover it but in labor if it needs repairing to look even and consistent. You may also be charged extra if there is heavy lifting or major furniture manipulation involved to clear access to walls. 

With any Commercial Painting Job, it’s Best Not to Cut Corners 

Are you looking for commercial painting services in Colorado? Colorado Commercial Painting has been providing painting services for over 30 years. Please get in touch with us today if you’d like to know more. Learn more about the average cost of painting a house exterior and the cost of painting a house interior

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Trevor Z Marshall

Owner & Managing Member at Colorado Painting

Originally from Texas, I’m now thrilled to call Colorado home! Life at our house is full of energy, with four kids, a dog, a cat, and a rotating cast of fish (turns out they’re not the easiest pets to keep alive). Thankfully, my wife Erin and I somehow manage to stay afloat. I’m a proud graduate of Vanderbilt University and have been fortunate to live and work across the country, gaining valuable experiences along the way. When I’m not working, I enjoy making the most of Colorado’s beautiful outdoors, catching up with friends and family, following sports, especially European football, and exploring Boulder’s fantastic craft beer scene. I’m passionate about supporting our team members, whom we proudly refer to as Partners, in delivering top-tier customer service and achieving outstanding results. Looking forward to the opportunity to work together!

Jeff K.Jeff K. ★★★★★ Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting did a great job and would highly recommend them.Rodgrick M.Rodgrick M. ★★★★★ Excellent service!!TravisTravis ★★★★★ Colorado Painting was super easy to work with and they did an excellent job. The project was completed quickly and with no issues. I would highly recommend Colorado Painting.zoe R.zoe R. ★★★★★ Could not be happier with my experience!! The crew was kind, professional, and very punctual. not to mention the attention to detail, which was fabulous. The salesman and project manager were very knowledgeable and helpful, and I love the way my house turned out! I'll be recommending Colorado Painting to my friends and family for sure.Lois R.Lois R. ★★★★★ The Colorado Painting team was amazing! Quick, clean, professional, and friendly. They helped pick colors and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. Highly recommend these guys.Michael H.Michael H. ★★★★★ We recently had the interior of our home painted and couldn’t be happier with the results. The crew was professional and paid great attention to detail. The whole process was easy and I would highly recommend them!Katie F.Katie F. ★★★★★ Their price was comparable to other companies but the service & results were above and beyond. Love the painting job on our house years later!Kelly F.Kelly F. ★★★★★ Painted our odd shaped vaulted ceiling entryway and bathroom! We were extremely pleased with the results. They repaired weathered trim around skylight and vaulted shelf. Looks amazing. Quick, efficient, professional job! Love these guys!Paul F.Paul F. ★★★★★ Everybody we worked with was extremely qualified, knowledgeable and helpful. They went above and beyond! We highly recommend this company and will definitely use them again!Kelly F.Kelly F. ★★★★★ Honest prices, great service and good quality work!Malak D.Malak D. ★★★★★ I had an amazing experience with this painting company from start to finish. The team was professional, punctual, and extremely detail-oriented. They took the time to properly prep the space, protect my furniture, and ensure everything was neat and clean throughout the job. The quality of their work is outstanding smooth finishes, sharp lines, and even coverage that completely transformed the look of my home. What really stood out was their communication. They explained the process clearly, answered all of my questions, and kept me updated each step of the way. The crew was respectful, friendly, and finished the project on schedule. I couldn’t be happier with the results the rooms look brand new! I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for reliable painters who truly care about their craft and their customers.Faith KFaith K ★★★★★ This place is the real deal! They know everything when it comes to paint and are professional through it all. If you’re around Denver DEFINITELY reach outHanna A.Hanna A. ★★★★★ I don’t often leave reviews, but these guys are out of this world. All the guys were incredibly professional and nice. They quoted me a good price and made sure I was 100% happy with the job when they were done. I know that if I wasn’t, they would have done anything to fix it, luckily I was more than pleased! I recommend them to everyone!GANDOFF0030GANDOFF0030 ★★★★★ Commercial team was on top of it! Amazing people and understood what I asked of them. Very well done and will recommend every single time!Allison P.Allison P. ★★★★★ The staff was great at communicating. The painting team was very fast and did a great job. They painted our whole house and back porch and it looks so good!Danny F.Danny F. ★★★★★ WOW!Osman & his team are incredible, they all work together to get the job done. Bedroom #1 - Popcorn ceiling removed, retextured & entire room painted. Bedroom #2 and bathroom painted. Entire job completed in 2 days! It was amazing to see the pride these guys put into their work! Thanks also goes to the project manager, Ben, for keeping us informed along the way.Eric HEric H ★★★★★ Had a wonderful experience with the Colorado Residential Painting team, from sales, painting execution, to final walk through, and payment process!Sales:The team worked diligently on getting me the best price with top quality paint materials. The quoting process was prompt, professional, and with clear communication. In addition to painting the entire home exterior, we had exterior trim that needed replaced, and we even included a custom solid wood front door that needed careful attention to sand, stain, and reseal. Our sales rep (Eric) was a pleasure to work with and helped us through the up front analysis and evaluation of options to choose from.Painting Process:Communication and attention to detail was extraordinary! Greatly appreciate the level of expertise and professionalism! The lead painter (Leo) and his team were superhuman in their details, work ethic, and commitment to making the customer satisfied! The project lead (Ben) was onsite everyday making sure the team had everything they needed to work efficiently and get the job done on time without any delay.The ENTIRE team was friendly, communicated clearly, and simply amazing!Highly recommended and phenomenal job!Peter M.Peter M. ★★★★★ Fantastic service all around. Great people. I cannot say enough of good things about them. i would definitely recommend them.pam F.pam F. ★★★★★ Excellent service, attention to detail, great crew and companyCharlie A.Charlie A. ★★★★★ Eric and the team were nothing short of exceptional. They were very professional and courteous. They asked a bunch of questions for my preferences and provided their expert opinion when asked for it. They have problem solving skills when it comes to siding repair and made it look seemless. Top notch group overall and I would hire them again not for exterior painting.js_loader
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