House painting cost per sq ft

Asian Paints' budget calculator estimates the walls at carpet area × 2.5 and the ceilings at the same as the carpet area. Together, that is about carpet area × 3.5. Our calculator uses carpet area × 3, a little less, which is closer to the areas painters usually quote on. A 750 sq ft carpet 2 BHK then has about 2,250 sq ft to paint, inside.

Measured is better. Multiply the length of each wall by its height, take off the doors and windows, and add the ceiling. Another rule of thumb, built-up area × 2.2–2.5, gives about the same figure.

For the outside, multiply the perimeter of the house by the wall height and the number of floors, then take off the large openings.

Brand ranges map roughly onto these tiers. In Pune, for example, one painting firm's March 2026 rate card gives Asian Paints Tractor or Apcolite at ₹20–30, Royale at ₹36–55 and Royale Aspira at ₹58–82, with putty, primer and two coats. Exterior Apex is ₹26–40, and Apex Ultima with waterproofing ₹42–68. A national guide gives premium interior at ₹22–35.

New plaster needs one or two coats of putty, a primer and two or three coats of paint. Walls in good shape need far less: touch-up putty and one or two coats. Scraping off old distemper adds about ₹6–12 per sq ft. Damp patches and cracks add about ₹10–20 for repair and primer before you paint.

A 2 BHK of 750 sq ft carpet, repainted in a metro like Pune or Bengaluru: 750 × 3 = 2,250 sq ft of walls and ceilings, two coats.

A house exterior: a 40 × 30 ft, two-storey house with 10 ft floors has a perimeter of 140 ft. 140 × 10 × 2 = 2,800 sq ft, less about 400 sq ft of windows and doors, leaves about 2,400 sq ft.

1. Fix the damp first: leaking pipes, terrace and bathroom waterproofing, cracks. Paint over damp peels within a season.
2. Cover floors and furniture, and remove switch plates.
3. Scrape loose paint, sand, and fill cracks.
4. Putty, then sand smooth.
5. Primer.
6. Two top coats, a third for dark colours.
7. Touch-ups after the lights and fittings go back.

In a full interior job, painting comes last, after carpentry and the false ceiling. Outside, avoid the monsoon: paint needs dry walls and a few dry days to cure.

• Spend on the living room and bedrooms; ceilings can take a cheaper grade, as they get little wear.
• Use texture on one feature wall, not every room.
• Repaint before the walls start peeling: a sound wall needs less putty and fewer coats.
• Buy the paint yourself and pay labour only, if you can check the products and quantities.
• Pay for the waterproof exterior coat on walls facing the monsoon, even if the rest is standard.

Most homes use a painting contractor. Small painters are often not GST-registered and charge no GST; registered firms add 18%. A paint dealer can help you choose shades and work out litres. In a full interior job, the interior designer usually brings the painter. These figures are approximate; get 2–3 quotes on the same area and spec.