In this post, we will learn to calculate the cost to paint one room. Besides cost estimation, we will learn to calculate the quantity of material required to paint any given area.
Suppose let us consider the size of the room is 12 feet x 12 feet. The cost estimation will show the total cost to paint one room (interior only) of 12 feet x 12 feet size.
For estimation, we have taken the room of size 12 feet (3.66 M) and height 10 feet (3.05 M). There are four walls. Let us name each wall as Wall-A, Wall-B, Wall-C, and Wall-D. So the size of one wall will be 12 feet in length and 10 feet in height -12 feet x 10 feet (3.66 m x 3.05 m).
There is one door represented by the letter D having size (0.8 m x 2.1 m) and one window represented by the letter W having size (1.8m x 1.2m). Interior paint will be applied to the walls only.
Before applying the paint the surface is to be cleaned for dirt, dust, loose matter, and grease, etc. The surface is to be rubbed with sandpaper to remove loose material as well as to make it uniform. This will ensure a good bond between the paint and the surface.
First, a primer coat is applied with a brush or spray as the case may be. It is thinned with water in the required proportion. After drying it is rubbed with sandpaper. Then a coat of putty is applied. Putty should not be applied in thick quantity. If a thick layer of putty is to be applied then it should be applied in two coats.
The surface is then left to dry. After drying it is rubbed with the sandpaper to form a mechanical key to the finished coat. Two or three coats are applied as per the requirement. Each coat is left to dry before application of the next coat.
Table of Contents
Description of Item
To paint a room, basically, three items are required- Primer, Putty, and Paint (distemper, acrylic, emulsion, or plastic paint).
| Description of Item | No. | Length | Breadth | Height | Qty. | Unit |
| Applying one coat of water thinnable cement primer of approved brand and manufacture on the wall surface | ||||||
| Wall A | 1 | 3.66 | 3.05 | 11.16 | ||
| Wall B | 1 | 3.66 | 3.05 | 11.16 | ||
| Wall C | 1 | 3.66 | 3.05 | 11.16 | ||
| Wall D | 1 | 3.66 | 3.05 | 11.16 | ||
| Ceiling | 1 | 3.66 | 3.66 | 13.4 | ||
| Deductions | ||||||
| Door | 1 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.68 | ||
| Window | 1 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.16 | ||
| Total | 54.20 | Sqm. | ||||
| Providing and applying plaster of Paris putty of 2 mm thickness over the plastered surface to prepare the surface even and smooth complete. | ||||||
| Same as that of Qty. 1 | 54.20 | Sqm. | ||||
| Distempering with 1st quality acrylic distemper (ready mixed) having VOC content less than 50 gms/litre, of the approved manufacturer, of required shade and colour complete, as per manufacturer’s specification. | ||||||
| Same as that of Qty. 1 | 54.20 | Sqm. |
Analysis of Rates
Analysis of rate is done to calculate the cost to paint one room and the total quantity of material required to paint one room.
Rate Analysis for Primer Coat.
one coat of primer coat is applied after cleaning the surface. The cost to paint one room includes the cost of applying a primer which is calculated as below:-
| Applying one coat of water thinnable cement primer of approved brand and manufacture on the wall surface | ||||
| Description | Unit | Qty | Rate | Cost |
| Detail of cost for 10 sqm | ||||
| Material | ||||
| Water thinnable cement primer for interior wall surface, having VOC content less than 50 gms/lit | Ltr. | 0.7 | 50 | 35 |
| Brushes, putty etc | 7.15 | 2.12 | 15.16 | |
| LABOUR | 0 | |||
| Painter | 0.4 | 714 | 285.6 | |
| Coolie | 0.2 | 645 | 129 | |
| Sundries including carriage | LS | 8.06 | 2.12 | 17.09 |
| TOTAL | 481.85 | |||
| Add 1 % Water charges | 4.82 | |||
| Total | 486.67 | |||
| Add GST (multiplying factor 0.1405) | 68.38 | |||
| TOTAL | 555.05 | |||
| Add 15% CPOH | 83.26 | |||
| Total | 638.31 | |||
| Add Cess @ 1% | 6.38 | |||
| Cost of 10.00 sqm | 644.69 | |||
| Cost of 1.00 sqm | 64.47 | |||
| Say | 64.45 |
For 1 Sq.M cost to apply primer coat is 64.45 if the work is awarded to the contractor. If the labour is employed by the owner himself then the cost to apply a primer coat to a 1 Sqm area will be 481.85/10 = 48.19 (water charges, GST, Contractor profit, and cess is not applied).
Note:- Water charges are applied where the Municipality applies 0.5-1% for water to be used for construction work.
Rate analysis for Putty
Putty is applied after the primer coat in one or two coats. The cost to paint one room also includes the cost to apply putty in one or two coats.
| Providing and applying plaster of Paris putty of 2 mm thickness over the plastered surface to prepare the surface even and smooth complete. | ||||
| Description | Unit | Qty | Rate | Cost |
| Detail of cost for 10 sqm | ||||
| Material | ||||
| Plaster of paris 10×0.002×1121 = 22.42kg | ||||
| Add 2% wastage= 0.45kg | ||||
| Total = 22.87kg. Say23kg | ||||
| Plaster of Paris | Kg | 23 | 5 | 115 |
| Carriage of Plaster of Paris | L.S | 3.9 | 2.12 | 8.27 |
| Labour | 0 | |||
| Mason (for plaster of paris work) 1st class | day | 0.91 | 784 | 713.44 |
| Beldar | day | 0.91 | 645 | 586.95 |
| Scaffolding and sundries | L.S | 83.98 | 2.12 | 178.04 |
| Total | 1601.7 | |||
| Add 1 % Water charges | 16.02 | |||
| Total | 1617.72 | |||
| Add GST (multiplying factor 0.1405) | 227.29 | |||
| TOTAL | 1845.01 | |||
| Add 15% CPOH | 276.75 | |||
| Total | 2121.76 | |||
| Add Cess @ 1% | 21.22 | |||
| Cost of 10.00 sqm | 2142.98 | |||
| Cost of 1.00 sqm | 214.30 | |||
| Say | 214.30 |
Similarly, the cost to apply putty over a 1 Sqm. the area will be 1601.7/10 = 160.17 Rs.
Rate Analysis for Distemper
Here we have chosen distemper as the final coat because it is cheaper and durable. The cost to paint one room includes the cost to apply distemper as well, which is calculated as below:
| Distempering with 1st quality acrylic distemper (ready mixed) having VOC content less than 50 gms/litre, of the approved manufacturer, of required shade and color complete, as per manufacturer’s specification. | ||||
| Description | Unit | Qty | Rate | Cost |
| Detail of cost for 10 sqm | ||||
| Material | ||||
| Acrylic distemper 1st quality , having VOC content less than 50 grams/ litre | Kg | 1.5 | 40 | 60 |
| carriage of material | LS | 4.42 | 2.12 | 9.37 |
| Brushes, putty etc | 11.57 | 2.12 | 24.53 | |
| LABOUR | ||||
| Painter | day | 0.4 | 714 | 285.6 |
| Coolie | day | 0.46 | 645 | 296.7 |
| Sundries including carriage | LS | 8.06 | 2.12 | 17.09 |
| TOTAL | 693.29 | |||
| Add 1 % Water charges | 6.93 | |||
| Total | 700.22 | |||
| Add GST (multiplying factor 0.1405) | 98.38 | |||
| TOTAL | 798.6 | |||
| Add 15% CPOH | 119.79 | |||
| Total | 918.39 | |||
| Add Cess @ 1% | 9.18 | |||
| Cost of 10.00 sqm | 927.57 | |||
| Cost of 1.00 sqm | 92.76 | |||
| Say | 92.75 |
The cost to apply distemper over 1 Sqm area will be 693.29/10= 69.33 Rs.
Also Read:- How to prepare Cement Concrete Road Estimate.
Abstract of Cost to Paint one Room
| Sr. NO. | Description of Item | Unit | Qty. | Rate | Amount |
| 1 | Applying one coat of water thinnable cement primer of approved brand and manufacture on the wall surface | Sqm. | 54.2 | 48.19 | 2612 |
| 2 | Providing and applying plaster of Paris putty of 2 mm thickness over the plastered surface to prepare the surface even and smooth complete. | Sqm. | 54.2 | 160.17 | 8681 |
| 3 | Distempering with 1st quality acrylic distemper (ready mixed) having VOC content less than 50 gms/litre, of the approved manufacturer, of required shade and colour complete, as per manufacturer’s specification. | Sqm. | 54.2 | 69.33 | 3758 |
| Total Amount in Rs. | . | 15051 |
How much does it Cost to Paint a 12 x 12 Room?
From the above example, we can say that cost to paint 12 x 12 Room, will be approximately 15000 Rs. The cost of paint depends on the material cost, labour cost and largely depends on the location of the area. Thus approximately 10,000-25,000 Rs. will be required to paint a 12 x 12 Room.
How much does it Cost to Paint one Room in a House?
We have calculated the cost of paint required for 54.20 Sqm (583.40 Sq. feet ) area which works out to be 15051 Rupees. So, cost per Sq. feet will be 15051/583.40= 25.80 Rs. As we have used distemper paint which is cheaper thus our total cost per Sq. feet is 25.80.
The average cost to paint one room (interior paint) lies anywhere between ₹20 to ₹38 per sq ft in India as suggested by the website livspace. Our approximation of 25.80 is thus correct.
How much does it Cost to Paint a Small Room?
As per the National Building Code of India, the smallest size of the room shall not be less than 9.50 Sqm. For a room of 9.50 Sqm floor area having a height of 3.00 m, the area to be painted works out to be approximately 460 Sq Feet. Taking the average cost to paint per Square foot between 20 and 40, the cost to paint one small room will be approximately 10,000-20,000 Rs.
Also Read:- Classification of Buildings as per NBC.
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