To stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to use virtual tools for communication. If you’re hiring local interior and exterior painters, contact them to see if they’ll set up a video call to assess your project. During this call, they can get a feel for what needs to be done and may be able to give you a price quote. 

Discuss potential plans and strategies for getting the work done safely. And ask whether they accept virtual or digital payments.

To figure out whether a painter is considered an essential service provider during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit your local jurisdiction or state’s government website for information.

The CISA website also provides a helpful resource: Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19. This page is intended for a national audience and includes 16 different categories of critical infrastructure sectors. Some jurisdictions follow CISA’s definitions of critical infrastructure, but not all of them do.

If you hire a painter, maintain at least 6 feet of distance at all times, sanitize involved surfaces and spaces, and use digital payment services instead of cash or a check. When contacting and consulting with a painter, make sure you discuss a plan that will keep everyone safe while the painter works on your project.

Many painters accept digital payments through Venmo, Square Cash, Google Pay, PayPal, Zelle and others. Due to COVID-19, others may quickly adopt this technology to maintain social distancing practices and follow health recommendations.

Contact professionals beforehand to ensure they’re able to accept digital payments and continue to follow safety guidelines throughout your interactions. Compare local interior and exterior painters’ profiles to see which types of payments they accept.

If you’re hiring an exterior painter, the painter will likely not need to enter your home. But for interior paint jobs, the painter will need to enter your home.

When talking to potential painters, discuss a strategy to make sure you and the painter(s) stay safe while they’re completing the job in your home. Or, you might want to discuss scheduling the paint job at a later date.

Though painting has always been an in-person job, painters may be willing to offer some virtual help due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If you come across painters’ profiles that state they offer remote services, message the painters to see what those services include.

The national average cost for an interior painter ranges between $450 and $900. Interior painters can tackle everything from complete color makeovers in each of your rooms to touching up an accent wall to painting pieces of furniture. The square footage and complexity of the project, along with the materials needed, are the main factors that will affect cost. Other factors include whether you supply the paint yourself or want the painter to do so, whether you move the furniture and do the prep work or ask them to do it, and whether any repair work is needed on the walls. Painting the ceiling and the trim will also have an effect on cost. The type of paint you choose can also raise or lower your house painting cost. A gallon of paint may range from $20 to over $100, depending on quality and brand. Ask your painter if they charge per hour or per square foot, and how much you can save by doing prep work (moving furniture, etc.) yourself.

The cost to paint a room will vary based on the size of the room, the type of paint you select, any ceiling or trim work needed, and any repairs needed. If no repairs or other additional work is needed, painting a room with contractor-grade paint could range from $1 to $2 per square foot, including materials. Selecting a luxury paint (some cost more than $100 per gallon) will certainly increase your house painting costs. Here are some additional examples of average house painting costs, per room:

• 12x12 room with a 9-foot ceiling: about $125
• 12x12 room with an 8-foot ceiling: about $100
• 14x16 master bedroom with a 9-foot ceiling: about $150
• 14x16 master bedroom with an 8-foot ceiling: about $125
• 16x16 living room with a 9-foot ceiling: about $175
• 16x16 living room with a 20-foot ceiling: starting at $225

Interior house painting costs are calculated on a few key factors. Nationally, interior house painting projects range from $200 to $2,500. The wide price range indicates how much square footage, paint selection and labor can affect cost. One pro uses a laser to measure each room, subtracting the size of the doors and windows, and then bases the quote on the square footage of the actual surfaces to be painted. Painters may provide you with savings if you opt to paint your entire home rather than just having one room or an accent wall painted. For example, the average house painting cost for an 8x12 room with 8-foot ceilings is roughly $200, when contractor-grade paint is used. Painting ceilings, baseboards and frames can also affect cost. Pros may charge per linear foot to smooth and paint baseboards. In one area pros might charge 50 cents per linear foot to paint baseboards, while pros in another part of the country could charge $1.50 per linear foot for the same task. Painters may charge flat rates for painting door and window frames, with one charging $20-$25 and another $60 per door. Geography and regional costs to do business play a major role in the cost of interior painting. The same painter in a rural region has less to pay in taxes, transportation, insurance and overhead than they would in a major city like New York.