Pocket InvoiceA painting estimate should describe the finish being priced. Record the measured paint area, substrate condition, preparation, product, primer and finish coats. A building's floor area is not the same as the wall or ceiling area to paint.
Define the surfaces and preparation
Name the rooms or elevations, walls, ceilings and trim. Record measurements and how openings are treated. Identify the existing condition, protection, cleaning, filling, sanding and access equipment included in the job.
Agree the color and finish, product or specification, primer requirements and finish coats. Do not imply that all coatings suit every substrate. Use the chosen product's instructions and the condition observed on site.
Check paint quantities before purchasing
For a hypothetical product covering 10 m² per liter per coat, 120 m² with two coats needs 24 liters before any allowance: 120 × 2 ÷ 10. A chosen 10% allowance makes 26.4 liters. Check the product, surface condition, primer, pack sizes and expected loss before using that allowance.
The paint purchasing guide explains how different coverage and pack sizes change the purchase. A quantity calculation does not guarantee that two coats will achieve the agreed finish.
Choose itemized costs or a clearly defined package
| Illustrative itemized line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Preparation: 8 hours × $30 | $240 |
| Paint materials for the specified scope | $180 |
| Application: 20 hours × $30 | $600 |
| Agreed access and disposal | $80 |
| Total before separately applicable tax | $1,100 |
These hypothetical US-dollar prices show how to write the estimate; they are not a market benchmark. When quoting a package that already includes materials or preparation, do not add the same charges again. The painting estimating guide covers costing and scope review.
The editable Word file requires manual amount checks. For automatic calculation, use the online estimate tool or a checked estimate spreadsheet.
Set conditions before work begins
Write the exclusions, validity date, proposed schedule, deposit and payment stages. Explain how extra preparation, hidden damage, a color change or additional coats will be assessed and approved.
- Replace the business, customer, address and document details.
- Enter the actual surfaces, products, quantities and work.
- Check totals, tax treatment and payment arrangements.
- Keep the accepted version and document later changes separately.