How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Hallway?

In this guide

Average Cost to Paint Hallway per Sq.Ft.

Hallways vary in size, just like any other room in the house. A well thought out house plan uses a smaller hallway to avoid wasted space. For instance, a small hallway, 8 feet long x 12 feet high, might just be a small area where doors or doorways lead to other parts of the house. Larger hallways will be more of an aesthetic aspect of a home. As you may have inferred, a professional painter charges less if you have a short hallway versus a long hallway. Typically, painters charge $2 to $6 per sq.ft. to paint an interior hallway.

Cost per Hour to Paint a Hallway

Because licensing requirements vary widely from state to state, so do the hourly rates of painting companies. While $40 - $60 per hour is the average painter labor cost across all states, you may find that prices are much higher in states with more stringent contractor requirements and more affordable in states with less regulation. Hourly rates may also vary depending on the experience of the contractor. Apprentice painters will charge much less than journeyman and master painters.

Cost to Paint Hallway by Type of Paint

When it is time to choose paint, there is more to think about than color. The type and quality of the paint that you choose affects the cost of your project. Certainly, the higher the quality of paint, the higher the cost.

Your choice of paint depends entirely on your personal preferences. If you are looking for an affordable and quicker-drying product, you might go for water-based paint. These paints tend to be less glossy than other options. You will most likely need to paint two coats for full coverage. They typically come in different sheens, ranging from matte to semi-gloss, to get the right look for your hallway.

If you do not mind a little extra drying time, you may choose an oil-based paint instead. Oil-based paints are very versatile and effectively cover nearly any surface. They tend to be on the glossier side and have a durable finish, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. One of the best paint options for hallways is acrylic latex paints. They provide complete coverage with one coat and are a more eco-friendly option. Chalk paint is another good option for smaller rooms or hallways to give your space more depth and texture. It provides more of a matte finish, so you may have to clean it more often. Depending on which type of paint you choose, you can expect to pay between $15 and $160 per gallon.

Average Cost to Paint a Hallway by Type of Finish

In a high-traffic area like a hallway, where wear and tear occur, the right finish helps hide small imperfections or provides an easier to clean surface. Matte finishes are among the cheapest options for paint finishes. However, they are not the most ideal for hallways, which are high-traffic areas. Flat finishes tend to show dirt and other imperfections very easily. This can be even worse in a hallway where the walls are more likely to get dinged or scraped against regularly.

Eggshell finishes are the sweet spot for hallways. They are not too glossy while still offering enough of a sheen to hide any imperfections. Satin finishes are another great choice. These paints are just slightly more glossy than eggshell paints, making them a good choice for hallways.

Finally, we have semi-gloss and high-gloss paints. These paint finishes are highly reflective and shiny, making them ideal in rooms where you are trying to draw attention to the surroundings. In most cases, your hallway is not one of these spaces. Moreover, glossier paints are more difficult to apply. On the plus side, they are highly durable, which means they are not out of the question for hallways. You can expect to pay between $10 and $80 per gallon of paint finish, depending on which type you choose.

Hallway Primer Cost by Type

Primer ¹ is a coating that prepares and seals the walls for paint, making the surface more uniform. Typically, primer is required if the walls have never been painted or have multiple blemishes or stains. If you are painting a lighter color over a dark color, a primer is very beneficial. Without primer, paint seeps into new drywall ² or wood and requires more coats of paint for good coverage. There are four types of primer. Each has its own characteristics and pros and cons.

Oil-based primers are highly effective at covering stains such as ink, water, or nicotine. This type of primer is very versatile in that it can be used with almost any surface and works with any type of paint. This makes them especially useful for hallways, which are high-traffic areas where the walls are more prone to being scratched. Latex primers are water-based, which makes them easy to clean. They are also useful for covering up stains and imperfections on the walls. Shellac primers cover stains better than any other primer and eliminate smells from stains, such as smoke. On the downside, they emit high levels of fumes. You need to ventilate the hallway you are working in, which can be more difficult than painting a room. You can expect to pay between $15 and $80 per gallon of primer, depending on which type you choose.

How Many Gallons to Paint a Hallway?

One gallon of paint typically covers about 400 square feet of space with one coat applied. As hallways are generally a smaller area, the amount of paint will most likely just be one gallon. This may vary if you have textured walls or are going from a darker color to a lighter color.

Hallway Painting Complementary Projects

Sometimes, you may want to paint more than just the walls in your hallway. When that is the case, it is important to consider the average costs of different projects that you may want to include in your hallway painting job. To calculate the costs of these projects, note that the average cost per sq.ft. to paint interior walls is $2 to $6 per sq.ft. Depending on the project you are considering for your home, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $4,000.

Cost to Paint Hallway With Crown Molding

The cost to paint a hallway with crown molding will be more expensive than painting only the walls of a standard hallway, averaging $250 to $700. This is because crown molding features a much more intricate design and requires special attention. Since this takes longer than painting a basic wall, you can expect labor costs to be higher.

Cost to Paint Hallway and Ceiling

The average cost to paint the hallway and ceiling ranges from $300 to $800. If you are only having the ceiling painted, many painters have a minimum charge. This could be anywhere from $150 to $200. Professional painters use various ways to accomplish this difficult task, including ladders, long-handled rollers, and sprayers. If the entire hallway is being painted, the painter starts with the ceiling to avoid any drips down the wall. Primer is applied first to ensure that the paint adheres quickly and covers any imperfections.

It is slightly less expensive to paint a ceiling if it is part of an entire hallway project. As with any other type of painting, textured ceilings are slightly more expensive as it takes longer to cover the area.

Cost to Paint Hallway and Stairs

Altogether, you can expect to pay between $650 and $1,250 to paint both the hallway and stairs with minimal prep work. While you are painting your hallway, you may want to take care of your staircase at the same time. In many cases, these two projects make sense to do together because you will want to paint them similar colors, if not the exact same.

Cost to Paint Bedroom and Hallway

Typically, the total cost to paint a bedroom and hallway costs between $900 and $2,000. Standard bedrooms range from about 200 to 310 sq.ft. The overall cost to paint a bedroom alone depends on the size of the space you are painting and the complexity of the project overall.

Cost to Paint 2 Rooms and a Hallway

You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 to paint two rooms and the hallway. The cost to paint two rooms varies greatly depending on what two rooms you are painting, which is why this range is so great. For example, a small half bathroom costs much less to paint than a living room or bedroom. Measure your space beforehand to get a better idea of how much paint you need and how expensive the project will be overall.

Hallway Painting Prep-Work

Hiring an experienced professional painter is the best way to ensure that you are satisfied with the project’s result. Here are some prep tasks that you might consider doing yourself before professionals start working on your project:

• Measuring the hallway. Before hiring a painter, you can measure the hallway and estimate the amount of paint needed. A single gallon of paint will supply one coat to 400 square feet of a previously finished wall. New walls, unfinished drywall, or significantly repaired walls require more than one coat. To find the square footage of the walls in your hallway, add the length of the walls and multiply that by the height from floor to ceiling. For each average-sized door in the hallway, you can subtract 20 square feet, and for every average-sized window, you can subtract 25 square feet from your total.

• Move furniture. In all likelihood, your hallway has minimal furniture. It won’t take you or hired painters a significant amount of time to move furniture.

• Use drop cloths to protect flooring. Professional painters lay drop cloths to protect your floors. Doing this yourself will only save a negligible amount of money.

• Unscrewing vent grills and taking down frames. Depending on the number of vent grills and frames lining your hallway, removing them yourself can save your painter some time and you a few dollars.

• Add tape to protect. While taping off the project could save a bit of time and money, you will likely be happier with the project if you leave this to a pro. Also, a pro can have your hallway expertly taped off in half the time of DIY.

• Remove the doors from the hinges ⁴. Removing doors before painting is recommended. While this isn’t necessarily a difficult task, an experienced painter can likely do it in much less time, saving you the hassle. If the doors have been painted before, paint build-up around the hinges makes removal more difficult. The door could be damaged if removal is not done correctly.

• Repairs and sanding ⁵. Walls may need to be sanded ($1.80 per square foot) in addition to being cleaned. In that time, a professional painter should cover your flooring with drop cloths, put plastic over anything that is unmovable and not to be painted, remove vents and outlet covers, tape and edge, apply two coats of satin finish paint, and clean up.

Hallway Painting Designs and Colors

Often, it may not occur to homeowners to turn a hallway into something other than a way to get from one room to another. Bucking the norm, you might consider bringing a hallway to life with a unique design. Two-toned paint creates an illusion of space. Interior hallways painted in light colors leading to a dark accent wall give a small space more depth. Perhaps an interesting pattern, texture, or an artist’s mural ($50 to $70 per hour) would make an otherwise boring space pop. You can consult with an interior designer ($50 to $200 per hour) to bring the most out of this usually overlooked space.

While your hallways should match the rest of your home, you can choose a different color that still allows it to stand out. You can create a space that matches your preferred aesthetic. This includes using neutral colors against an otherwise bold home, bright whites in an otherwise neutral home, or darker colors in a bright home. Whatever the case, just choose colors that make sense with the rest of your home.

Two-Tone Hallway Painting Ideas

Two-tone painting is a technique that allows for two different colors of paint to complement and contrast each other. This could be something as simple as painting the walls one color and the trim and doors another. It can also be various faux finishes that create an interesting textured look on your hallway walls. Faux finishes refer to decorative paint techniques that make a wall look like a different material, such as stone or brick. This can be a less expensive way to create a luxurious look for your home.

Blue Paint Hallway

Blue paint comes in a variety of shades, hues, and saturation. One of the more popular blue paints for hallways is navy or blue-black. To avoid a closed-in feel with a dark painted hallway, add white wainscoting to the halfway point of the wall or stark white trim. Choosing a cape cod blue lends a 20th-century conservative look. A brighter blue is best for a whimsical, fun hallway. Duck egg blue is also very popular. Sometimes it is described as greenish-blue, while others say it is a classic coastal color. If you want a more country look, leaning towards a soft blue with a bit of green mixed in will achieve your goal. Beachy decor calls for a lighter sapphire blue that may also be called duck egg blue.

Neutral Hallway Colors

Painting your hallway a neutral color allows for a myriad of possibilities and for changing up your decor down the road without repainting. Beiges, greys, tans, and shades of white make your hallway versatile for years to come. Add a pop of color through furniture, artwork, wall hangings, and trim.

Gray is versatile with decor and mixes well with other neutral colors like white, black, or navy. To add color, gray is stunning with pink or yellow. White is a nice touch in a hallway as it makes everything appear larger with a light, airy look. It is also a great backdrop for black framed photos or artwork. White paint contrasts well with dark flooring but is often used with lighter wood for a more modern touch. Using white on any wall in the house is a little scary due to fingerprints and stains, but an eggshell or semi-gloss finish fixes that problem.

Warm Hallway Colors

Many hallways are located at the entrance to the home, so making them welcoming is essential. For a warm hallway, choose a sunny yellow or peachy pastel. Complete the look with a welcome sign or wreath, a bench, and a place to hang coats or jackets.

Hallway Accent Wall

A hallway accent wall can be a different color, texture, or pattern. If you have a wall at the end of the hallway, this is the perfect place for an accent wall. The viewer’s eye will be drawn to that wall. With a hall that leads to another room, you may choose to make one wall darker or covered in distressed wood. This wall could feature family photos or art.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Wall Repair Cost

Any necessary plaster or drywall repairs ($60 to $300) need to be completed before a wall can be repainted. Some minor imperfections may be camouflaged by choosing the right paint finish, but cracks in plaster ⁶ and holes in drywall should be repaired and finished before paint can be applied. Costs for these repairs vary depending on the severity of the damage.

Color Consultation

Finding just the right paint color can be tricky. If you are in a store with bright fluorescent lights trying to choose a paint color for your hallway that is flooded with natural light, you may end up disappointed with the result. Many painting companies offer a free color consultation before they begin a job. Others may charge an average of $210.

Decorative Finishes, Textures, Murals

More experienced painters may offer services beyond straightforward painting, such as textures and decorative finishes. Additionally, local artists offer mural design and application. For these more elaborate custom designs, homeowners can expect to pay $70 to $200 an hour.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Primer: Preparatory coat applied to materials (drywall, wood, metal, etc.) before painting to ensure paint adhesion, extend paint durability, and help seal and protect the surface to be painted

² Drywall: Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper

³ Crown molding: A decorative finish that adds interest to the area where the top of a window meets the wall, or lines the area where the wall meets the ceiling

⁴ Hinges: A type of joint that attaches two items together but allows one of them to swing back and forth, such as a door attached to a door frame

⁵ Sanding: Process of removing the top surface of a material, such as wood, using sandpaper and/or a specialized sanding machine (for large surface areas)

⁶ Plaster: A paste composed of sand, water, and either lime, gypsum, or cement, which forms a smooth hard surface on walls, ceilings, and other structures upon drying