Prep & repairs
Filling, sanding, priming, caulking, scraping and washing are most of the labour on many jobs. Walls in good shape cost far less to paint than walls with years of damage.
Ottawa cost guide · 2026
What does painting cost in Ottawa?
A three-bedroom interior usually runs about $4,500–8,500, an exterior $5,500–15,000 and a sprayed kitchen of cabinets $3,500–6,500, and the prep matters more than the size. Here’s what moves the number, with common jobs priced and an estimator you can play with.
Estimator
Price by size
Choose a job and a prep level, then drag to the size for a ballpark range. Prices include labour, paint, prep and cleanup, before HST.
| Job | Rate | Typical job | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior painting | $2.40–6.50 / sq ft | $4,500–8,500 | 4–8 days |
| Exterior painting | $2.20–6.50 / sq ft | $5,500–15,000 | 4–10 days |
| Kitchen cabinets | $90–230 / piece | $3,500–6,500 | 5–10 days |
| Drywall repair | $80–260 / repair | $500–1,600 | 1–3 days |
| Commercial & condo | $1.80–5.85 / sq ft | $4,500–9,000 | 1–3 days |
| Brick & stucco | $2.80–8.45 / sq ft | $5,000–10,000 | 3–7 days |
How each job is measured
Interior painting is priced by the floor area of the rooms being painted, including walls, ceilings and trim. Exterior and masonry are priced by the wall area being coated, cabinets by the number of doors and drawer fronts, and drywall by the number of repairs. Single small rooms cost more per square foot, because setup and cleanup don’t shrink with the room.
Examples
Common jobs, priced.
Ranges before HST for the jobs we’re asked about most. They use the same rates as the estimator, rounded to the nearest $50 under $5,000 and the nearest $500 above.
| Job | Size | Light prep | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main floor · living, dining & hall | 600 sq ft | $1,450–2,400 | $1,800–3,000 | $2,350–3,900 |
| Whole interior · three-bedroom home | 1,500 sq ft | $3,600–6,000 | $4,500–7,500 | $6,000–10,000 |
| Whole interior · larger two-storey | 2,500 sq ft | $6,000–10,000 | $7,500–12,500 | $10,000–16,500 |
| Exterior · bungalow | 2,000 sq ft | $4,400–8,000 | $5,500–10,000 | $7,000–13,000 |
| Exterior · two-storey home | 3,000 sq ft | $6,500–12,000 | $8,500–15,000 | $10,500–19,500 |
| Kitchen cabinets · typical kitchen | 34 pieces | $3,000–4,750 | $3,750–6,000 | $4,850–7,500 |
| Drywall · repairs before a repaint | 8 repairs | $650–1,300 | $800–1,600 | $1,050–2,100 |
| Small office · walls | 2,000 sq ft | $3,600–7,000 | $4,500–9,000 | $6,000–11,500 |
| Brick · front of a house | 800 sq ft | $2,250–4,150 | $2,800–5,000 | $3,650–7,000 |
What changes the price
Six things that move your number
Size is obvious. These six explain most of the gap between two painting quotes for the same house.
Surfaces included
Walls only is the baseline. Ceilings, trim, doors, closets, railings and window frames are brushed by hand and add time, so they’re listed separately.
Height & access
Two-storey foyers, stairwells, vaulted ceilings and second-storey siding need staging, planks or lifts, and take much longer to set up and paint safely.
Paint line
Premium lines cost more per can but cover better and wash without going shiny. Specialty products like cabinet enamel and mineral silicate paint cost more again.
Colour change
Going from navy to white, or adding a deep feature colour, usually means a tinted primer and sometimes a third coat for even colour.
Older surfaces
Old oil-based trim, plaster, lead paint on pre-1960s surfaces and failing exterior paint all add steps. We note them at the visit and price them openly.
Spend smarter
How to get more paint job for your budget
A good paint job doesn’t have to be the most expensive one. These are the trade-offs we talk through with most clients before we quote.
We’d rather tell you at the first visit that the ceilings are fine for another few years than sell you work you don’t need.
Read the full cost article- Paint more at once. Setup, protection and cleanup are shared, so three rooms cost less per room than one.
- Skip what doesn’t need it. Ceilings and closets often last much longer than walls and trim.
- Clear the rooms. Empty or lightly furnished rooms are faster to protect and paint.
- Stay close to the current colour. A similar shade often covers in two coats without a tinted primer.
- Don’t skimp on paint. Premium paint is a small share of the total and lasts years longer.
- Book exteriors early. Planning in winter gets you the best spring and summer dates.
FAQ
Painting cost questions
Want a real number? Call or text 613-806-4000 to book a free visit and an itemized quote.
Is the estimator price a quote?
No. It’s a ballpark based on typical Ottawa jobs. Your exact price comes from a free visit, where we measure, look at the surfaces and repairs, and talk through colours and sheens. You’ll get an itemized quote afterwards.
How much does it cost to paint one room?
A typical bedroom costs about $450–800 for walls only and about $700–1,200 with the ceiling and trim, depending on size, repairs and colour change. Single rooms cost more per square foot than a whole house, because setup and cleanup are the same either way.
Does the price include paint?
Yes. Our quotes include the primer and paint, with the brand, line, sheen and number of coats written down, plus prep materials, protection and cleanup.
Is it cheaper to paint cabinets than replace them?
Usually by a wide margin. A sprayed kitchen typically costs $3,500–6,500, while new cabinets for the same kitchen often cost several times that before counters and installation. Painting only makes sense when the boxes are solid and the layout works. See paint or replace your cabinets.
Do you require a deposit?
For larger jobs, a deposit secures your date and covers materials, with the balance due after the final walkthrough and touch-ups. The exact terms are written into your quote.
Free quote
Call or text for a free quote.
613-806-4000Talk to the painters who’ll actually do the work. Prefer to write? Send the form and we’ll get back to you within one business day.
- Call 613-806-4000
- Text 613-806-4000
- hello@ryanscontracting.com
- Mon–Fri, 7:30 am – 5 pm
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Request a free quote
Tell us a little about the job. Which rooms or surfaces, rough sizes, photos you can text us later and your timing all help.