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Free Painting Estimate Template
Quote an interior or exterior paint job with prep, paint, and labor laid out clearly. Fill it in, set a validity date, and download a PDF.
Your Information (From)
Client (Prepared For)
Estimate Details
Line Items
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Updates as you typeYour Business Name
Estimate
EST-001
Prepared For
Name
Date
June 13, 2026
Valid Until
30 days
| Description | Qty | Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior, 3 bedrooms and hallway (labor) | 1 | $1,850.00 | $1,850.00 |
| Paint and primer (gallons) | 9 | $48.00 | $432.00 |
| Prep, patching, and masking | 1 | $420.00 | $420.00 |
Notes
Estimate valid for 30 days. Two coats included. Wall repair beyond minor patching billed separately. 25% deposit to schedule.
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What to put on a painting estimate
A painting estimate should make the prep work visible, because prep is where the hours go and clients always underestimate it. List your business details, the client and property address, an estimate number, date, and validity window, then itemize labor, paint and primer by the gallon, and prep like patching, sanding, and masking. State how many coats are included, because a client who assumed three coats and got two is an unhappy client and a bad review.
Common line items
Painting estimates usually break down like this:
- Labor, by room or by square footage
- Paint and primer, by the gallon
- Prep: patching, sanding, caulking, masking
- Number of coats included
- Trim, doors, and ceilings, if priced separately
- Drop cloths, tape, and supplies
Turning an estimate into an invoice
Collect a deposit to cover the paint order and hold the schedule, then invoice the balance on completion after a walkthrough. State that significant wall repair beyond minor patching is billed separately, since that is the most common reason a paint job runs over the estimate. When the client approves, convert the estimate to an invoice rather than retyping it.
How to win more of the jobs you bid
The paint job that goes sideways is almost always the one where prep was underquoted to win the bid. Quote the prep honestly and explain it, because the client who understands why prep costs what it does is the one who pays without grumbling. A free WaffleInvoice account lets the client approve the estimate online and turns it into an invoice in one click.
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Free Painting Estimate Template FAQs
How do I estimate a painting job?
Price labor by room or square footage, count paint and primer in gallons, and quote prep separately. State the number of coats included so there is no dispute later.
Why list prep as its own line?
Prep is where the hours go, and clients always underestimate it. Showing it as its own line explains the price and protects you when a wall needs more work than expected.
How many coats should the estimate include?
State it explicitly, usually two. A client who assumed more coats than you quoted is the most common source of paint-job complaints.
Do I need a deposit to paint?
For most jobs, yes. A deposit covers the paint order and holds your schedule slot, with the balance due on completion.
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