Division 09 · Painting and Coating
Painting estimates where prep gets priced before the first coat
Painters rarely lose money on the paint. They lose it on the prep: patching, caulking, masking, pressure washing and the second trip to cut in around a ceiling grid. Our painting estimators measure every wall, ceiling, door frame and exterior elevation, apply coat counts and coverage rates from the specification, and add the prep hours that a square-foot allowance quietly leaves out.
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Scope of takeoff
Painting quantities we take off
Surfaces are measured by substrate and finish system, then converted to gallons, hours and access equipment.
Interior walls
Drywall and plaster walls by finish system, with primer and one or two finish coats
Ceilings and soffits
Flat gypsum ceilings, bulkheads, coffers and exposed deck painted in place
Doors and frames
Hollow metal and wood doors by side, frames, sidelites and transoms with enamel finishes
Trim, base and casework
Wood base, casing, crown, chair rail and built-in cabinetry in stain or enamel
Primer and sealer
Block filler, bonding primer, stain-blocking sealer and galvanized metal primer by substrate
Finish coats
Eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and flat by area, including high-performance coatings in wet zones
Exterior elevations
Stucco, siding, fascia, soffit and metal panels with surface prep and sealant
Exposed structure and MEP
Sprayed deck, joists, ductwork, conduit and piping in open-ceiling spaces
Caulking and sealants
Paintable caulk at trim, frames and wall-to-ceiling joints, plus patching compound
Surface preparation
Pressure washing, scraping, sanding, patching and lead-safe work where required
Wall coverings and special coatings
Vinyl wall covering, epoxy, intumescent and anti-graffiti systems per specification
Access equipment and labor
Lifts, scaffold, masking and lift-time premiums for high walls and occupied space
On site and on the drawings
The work behind every painting estimating
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Overview
Where painting quantities come from
Painting is measured in surface area, but the surface is rarely what the drawings show. Wall areas come from the finish plans and elevations, ceilings from the reflected ceiling plan, and doors, frames, windows, handrails, pipes and exposed structure from the schedules and details. Each surface is tagged by substrate, such as drywall, CMU, hollow metal, wood, galvanized steel or stucco, because the substrate decides the primer and the coverage rate.
Coverage drives material. Smooth drywall under a roller covers 350 to 400 square feet per gallon, block filler on CMU covers 75 to 150, and sprayed exposed structure may cover under 200 once overspray is counted. The specification sets the coats, typically one primer and two finish coats, so gallons are calculated per surface rather than from a blanket factor.
Labor follows the same logic. We price masking, patching, caulking, cutting in, rolling and spraying separately, then add lift and scaffold time for atriums, stairwells and exterior elevations. Occupied-space work and night shifts get their own multipliers.
Estimate types
What type of painting estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Commercial painting bid
Complete surface takeoff by substrate with coats, primer, gallons, prep and labor organized by floor and room type for bid day.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Exterior repaint estimate
Elevation-based pricing with pressure washing, scraping, caulking, spot priming and access equipment for repaint programs.
- Accuracy
- ±6%
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours
Residential repaint pricing
Room-by-room walls, ceilings and trim with coverage-based material and prep hours, ready to convert into a homeowner proposal.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- Same day to 24 hours
Gallons and material list only
Surface areas and gallons by product and sheen with a purchase list, for painters who price their own labor.
- Accuracy
- Qty only
- Turnaround
- 24 hours
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Step 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Step 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Step 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Step 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
- Surfaces tagged by substrate so block filler, bonding primer and galvanized primers are priced where the specification requires them.
- Gallons calculated from realistic coverage rates between 75 and 400 square feet, not one blanket number for every wall.
- Prep itemized separately: patching, caulking, masking, washing and sanding show up as hours instead of disappearing into the rate.
- Lift and scaffold time for atriums, stairs and tall elevations carried as its own line before the bid goes out.
- Coat counts and sheens read from the specification, including high-performance coatings in wet and sterile areas.
- Doors counted per side and frames by size, since enamel doors cost more per opening than a wall of equal area.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Clients
Who relies on our estimates
From single-trade subs to national developers, every client gets the same measured-twice standard.
General Contractors
Bid more work without adding estimating headcount. We deliver division-by-division numbers you can level against sub quotes.
Subcontractors
Trade-specific takeoffs with labor hours and material lists, ready to drop into your proposal.
Home Builders & Remodelers
Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowance-based budgets homeowners understand.
Lenders & Insurers
Replacement cost and draw-schedule estimates documented to underwriting standards.
FAQ
Painting Estimating FAQs
Straight answers on scope, turnaround, pricing and deliverables.
How do you calculate gallons of paint?
Each surface is measured in square feet, multiplied by the coat count in the specification and divided by the coverage rate for that substrate. Smooth drywall runs near 350 to 400 square feet per gallon, while block filler and rough stucco cover much less. Waste is added on top.
Do you include surface preparation in the estimate?
Yes. Patching, sanding, caulking, masking, pressure washing and scraping are listed as separate labor lines. On existing buildings we use condition notes and photos to set the prep hours, and we flag assumptions such as lead paint or failed coatings for your review.
Are doors and frames counted separately from walls?
They are. Doors are counted from the door schedule by side and type, frames by opening size, and trim by linear foot. Enamel finishes on metal and wood take more labor per square foot than wall rolling, so they should never be priced at wall rates.
Can you price exterior painting from elevations?
Yes. We measure each elevation by substrate, deduct glazing, add trim, fascia and soffits, and include washing, caulking, priming and access equipment. For repaint work we ask for photos or a site visit summary to confirm coating condition.
Do you follow any painting industry standards?
Our estimators follow PDCA guidance on surface preparation and application, and we read the manufacturer system and MPI references named in the specification. We do not claim certification on your behalf, but the quantities and coat counts match what those documents require.
What turnaround should I expect on a painting estimate?
Most commercial painting packages return in 48 hours, and residential repaints or single-floor tenant spaces are often same day or next day. Large multi-building projects are scheduled individually, and we confirm the delivery date before starting.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Ready for a painting estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.