Prices checked September 2026. Painting is mostly labour: contractors estimate that labour is 60% to 80% of the bill, and that prep (filling, sanding, caulking, masking, priming) is close to half of that labour. That is why two quotes for the same room can differ by hundreds of dollars: they are pricing different amounts of preparation, not different paint.
How much does it cost to paint a room in Toronto?
A typical 3 by 3.7 metre (10 by 12 foot) bedroom with 2.4 metre (8 foot) ceilings costs about $350 to $550 for walls only and $500 to $900 with the ceiling, trim and door included, based on 2026 price guides from Toronto and GTA painting contractors. A living or family room usually runs $700 to $1,400 for a full repaint, and a hallway with a stairwell $600 to $1,500 because of the height and the ladder work.
| Job | Low | Typical | High | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walls only, per sq ft of wall | $1.80 | $2.50–$3.50 | $5.50 | Prep needed, number of coats, colour change |
| Walls, ceilings and trim, per sq ft of floor | $3.00 | $3.50–$5.50 | $7.00 | Ceiling height, trim detail, furniture to move |
| Bedroom, walls only | $330 | $350–$550 | $800 | Room size, patching |
| Bedroom, walls, ceiling and trim | $400 | $500–$900 | $900+ | Doors, closet interiors, crown moulding |
| Living or family room, full repaint | $500 | $700–$1,400 | $2,200 | Open plan, vaulted ceilings |
| Hallway and stairwell | $330 | $600–$1,500 | $1,500+ | Height, scaffolding or tall ladders |
| One-bedroom condo, whole unit | $1,500 | $2,000–$3,000 | $5,500 | Condo elevator bookings and parking |
| House around 1,800 sq ft, whole interior | $4,500 | $5,000–$7,500 | $11,000 | Ceilings and trim included or not |
| Detached house around 3,000 sq ft | $9,000 | $10,000–$14,000 | $16,000 | Stairwells, high ceilings, number of colours |
These ranges are built from 2025 and 2026 price guides by GTA painting contractors and a national task marketplace, compared across at least four sources. Paint is usually included in contractor quotes. As a check on materials, Benjamin Moore lists its Regal Select interior paint at $97.99 for a 3.78 litre can on its Canadian store in 2026; premium paint is a small share of a professional quote next to the labour.
How is interior painting priced on Doyo?
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting and Cabinet Painting on Doyo are all priced by written quote. A painter visits, looks at the walls, the prep and the colour change, and sends a line-by-line quote in the app. You pay a deposit when you accept it, and Doyo holds that deposit until you confirm the work is done. Part of the painter’s payment is held back for a warranty period after completion, so there is still money on the table if something needs putting right.
Say who supplies the paint when you book. Either works, but if the painter brings it, agree the brand, the colour and who pays for it in the written quote. Photos of each room and rough sizes help the painter give you a realistic idea before the visit.
Why do painters charge so differently?
Mostly because of prep and crew. A painter who fills every crack, sands, spot-primes and cuts in by hand will quote more than one who rolls two coats over what is there. Government of Canada Job Bank data puts the median wage for painters in the Toronto region at $29 an hour, against $25 across Ontario, which is part of why GTA quotes run higher than in London, Ottawa or Kitchener-Waterloo. A contractor’s price also covers insurance, supplies, travel and the days between jobs.
What changes the price of interior painting?
- Prep. Nail holes, cracks, water stains and old peeling paint all take time before any colour goes on.
- Colour change. Going from dark to light, or covering a strong colour, usually needs primer and two top coats.
- Ceilings and height. Ceilings are slower than walls, and stairwells or 3 metre (10 foot) ceilings need tall ladders or scaffolding.
- Trim, doors and detail. Baseboards, casings, crown moulding and panelled doors are painted by brush and add up quickly.
- Furniture and occupancy. An empty home paints faster than a furnished one.
- Paint quality. Premium paint costs more per can but can cover in fewer coats and wear better in kitchens and halls.
- Condo logistics. Elevator bookings, parking and building rules can add 10% to 15% to a condo job.
How do I avoid being overcharged for painting?
- Get at least two written quotes that list the same things: rooms, surfaces, number of coats, prep, paint brand and who supplies it.
- Know the 10% rule. Ontario says the final price cannot be more than 10% over the estimate unless you agree to new work or a new price.
- Keep the deposit small. Ontario’s consumer guidance recommends down-payments of no more than 10% on home renovation and repair contracts, and any contract over $50 must be in writing.
- Ask what happens with repairs found during prep, such as a soft patch of drywall, and how they will be priced.
- Agree the finish (flat, eggshell, semi-gloss) per surface, since changing it later means repainting.
- Ask whether the quote includes tax so quotes can be compared fairly.
Questions people ask
Sources
- Health Canada — Lead-based paint · canada.ca
- Ontario.ca — Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs · ontario.ca
- Government of Canada Job Bank — Painters and decorators (NOC 73112) wages, Toronto region · jobbank.gc.ca
- Benjamin Moore Canada — Regal Select interior paint (list price) · benjaminmoore.com