Estimates
A painting estimate, line by line
By DoneQuote Editorial · August 23, 2026 · 7 min read
On this page · 9 sections
A painting estimate should identify the surfaces, preparation, coating products and number of coats. Show repair allowances and exclusions, explain how extra work is approved, and state when the price expires.
The exterior, interior and cabinet examples below are fictional and use invented prices. Complete all product placeholders and confirm site conditions before using them. For pricing structure, see painter rates per square foot.
In all three examples, service rows price the labor and application work. Paint, primer, caulk and other listed consumables are charged only in the separate materials row. Complete the product selections before pricing your own version.
A two-story exterior, with rot under the trim
Estimate #2026-231 · Issued August 23, 2026 · Valid through September 22, 2026
For: full exterior repaint, two-story, lap siding
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure wash siding, trim, eaves; allow to dry per coating instructions | 1 | job | $525.00 | $525.00 |
| Scrape, sand and spot-prime failing paint (approx. 400 sq ft of surface) | 400 | sq ft | $1.15 | $460.00 |
| Caulk siding joints, window and door surrounds | 1 | job | $340.00 | $340.00 |
| Body: two coats 100% acrylic exterior latex, satin — [brand, line] | 1,850 | sq ft | $1.55 | $2,867.50 |
| Trim, fascia, corner boards: two coats — [brand, line] | 340 | lin ft | $3.25 | $1,105.00 |
| Front and rear doors, brushed exterior enamel — [brand, line] | 2 | each | $185.00 | $370.00 |
| Wood repair allowance: cut out and replace rotted trim, up to 3 sections | 3 | section | $145.00 | $435.00 |
| Masking, drop cloths, plant protection, daily cleanup | 1 | job | $290.00 | $290.00 |
| Materials: primer, paint, caulk, masking (receipts on request) | 1 | lot | $980.00 | $980.00 |
Subtotal: $7,372.50 · Sales tax applied per state rule · Illustrative deposit: $700, subject to local requirements. Balance on completion.
Excluded: window glazing, gutters and downspouts, deck and railing, all siding replacement and trim replacement beyond the three-section allowance, work subject to lead-safe renovation requirements, which must be assessed and priced before disturbing affected surfaces. Rot beyond the allowance is proposed at $145 per additional section, with written approval of the scope, price and timing before removal.
Schedule: four working days, weather permitting. The surface must meet the selected coating’s moisture and drying requirements before painting.
An interior repaint: three rooms, a hall and stairwell
For this interior example, room prices describe the work while the stated area helps identify the scope. Confirm the room dimensions, ceiling heights and access before setting your own price.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living room: walls + ceiling, two coats (approx. 620 sq ft wall) | 1 | room | $940.00 | $940.00 |
| Bedrooms: walls only, two coats, one color each | 2 | room | $565.00 | $1,130.00 |
| Hall and stairwell: walls + ceiling, two coats, staging over stairs | 1 | area | $1,120.00 | $1,120.00 |
| Interior doors and casings, brushed enamel — [brand, line] | 7 | each | $95.00 | $665.00 |
| Baseboard: caulk, two coats — [brand, line] | 210 | lin ft | $3.10 | $651.00 |
| Patch nail pops and small drywall damage, spot-prime | 1 | lot | $310.00 | $310.00 |
| Move and cover furniture, floor protection, masking | 1 | job | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Materials: primer, wall paint — [brand, line] —, enamel, caulk, masking | 1 | lot | $520.00 | $520.00 |
Subtotal: $5,576.00 · plus applicable sales tax
Excluded: closet interiors, wallpaper removal, ceiling texture repair, color changes after the first coat goes on.
A kitchen cabinet refinish
A small job by square footage and a big one by hours — nearly all of it prep nobody can see in the finished kitchen.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove, label and rehang doors and drawer fronts | 32 | piece | $18.00 | $576.00 |
| Degrease, sand and de-gloss doors, drawers and face frames | 1 | job | $480.00 | $480.00 |
| Bonding primer, sprayed, doors, drawer fronts, exterior box surfaces and face frames — [brand, line] | 1 | job | $610.00 | $610.00 |
| Two finish coats waterborne alkyd enamel, sprayed — [brand, line] | 1 | job | $1,150.00 | $1,150.00 |
| Mask kitchen, plastic containment, ventilation, dust control | 1 | job | $265.00 | $265.00 |
| Materials: primer, enamel, abrasives, masking | 1 | lot | $340.00 | $340.00 |
Subtotal: $3,421.00 · plus applicable sales tax · Kitchen out of service 4–5 days; doors cure off-site.
Excluded: new hardware, hinge or door replacement, interior of cabinet boxes, countertop protection beyond standard masking.
Describe surface preparation separately
Describe washing, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking and priming so the customer can see the work included. Match the method to the surface and coating; Sherwin-Williams’ preparation guidance, for example, requires washing, rinsing and allowing surfaces to dry.
Give each prep step its own row, with a quantity where you have one. "Scrape, sand and spot-prime approx. 400 sq ft" is a claim about her house. "Prep as needed" is a claim about nothing.
Name the product, not just the color
Color is the customer's call and sheen mostly is too, but the product line is yours and it belongs in writing: brand, line, sheen, and the number of coats. Two estimates that both say "two coats" can be far apart on material cost and years apart on service life.
Before sending, complete the brand, product, sheen and coat count for every coated surface, including ceilings and doors. The tables show placeholders; they are not complete product specifications.
What happens when you find more than you priced
If you find soft or rotted trim, compare the needed work with the allowance in the estimate. Define the size and material of an allowed “section” before sending; a per-section price needs a clear unit.
Record the additional repair, quantity, price and schedule effect, and get written approval before doing it. A printed repair rate is a pricing basis, not permission for unlimited repairs.
Two time limits belong on the page
How long the price holds. Pick an acceptance deadline that your material pricing and schedule support. Write the date on the estimate. After acceptance, use the agreement’s change procedure rather than treating expiration as a right to increase the price.
What the warranty covers. Define workmanship coverage, its duration and the claim process. Identify any manufacturer warranty separately. Have exclusions reviewed for the applicable law; customer agreement to an exclusion does not automatically remove duties imposed by law.
Confirm tax, lead-safe work and deposit requirements
Check how your state taxes the specific work before sending the total. For example, Texas distinguishes residential repair from nonresidential remodeling. Confirm both the customer tax charge and tax on paint purchases.
EPA’s lead renovation rule generally covers paid paint-disturbing work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, subject to exemptions. Its minor-repair exception is limited to six square feet or less per interior room, or 20 square feet or less outside; window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces do not qualify for that exception. Required lead-safe work cannot be waived by listing it as excluded. Confirm coverage, certification and work practices before starting.
For covered California home improvement work, the deposit cap is $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. The $700 illustration is below that limit for this total; check the rules for your actual job.
Reuse painting descriptions and review each draft
Save preparation, coating, trim, door and repair services in DoneQuote at your own selling prices. Review the draft’s quantities and product choices, add the relevant repair allowance, and check the validity date before sending. Catalog entries support reuse; they do not guarantee every needed line appears in an AI draft.
All three come down to the same four things: prep visible, product named, surprises priced before they appear, a date on the price.
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