Cost to Paint Over Oil-Based Paint (2026): $380 to $15,679
Painting over oil-based paint the right way (cleaned, deglossed and primed) costs about $380 to $584 for painting an oil-painted front door up to $10,191 to $15,679 for a lead-safe first floor of oil-painted trim. Twelve jobs priced line by line, from one bedroom's oil-painted trim to a 1950s house exterior: degloss, bonding primer and two coats, peeling paint fixed, doors, cabinets, windows, a porch and lead-safe work. Every line itemized, with crew hours.
Twelve builds, side by side
Twelve jobs on the same researched rates: six inside (trim, a bedroom, doors, cabinets, peeling trim, a lead-safe floor) and six outside (a front door, two-story trim, windows, a porch, peeling siding, a lead-safe house).
| Build | Job cost | Labor | Crew hours | Materials | Illustrative selling price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Oil trim, one bedroom | $605 | $511 | 7 to 12 h | $94 | $787 to $1,210 |
| B. Whole bedroom, oil trim and door | $1,608 | $1,223 | 18 to 25 h | $385 | $2,090 to $3,215 |
| C. Six oil-painted interior doors | $1,220 | $1,020 | 10 to 17 h | $200 | $1,586 to $2,440 |
| D. Kitchen cabinets with oil paint | $2,055 | $1,685 | 24 to 38 h | $370 | $2,672 to $4,110 |
| E. Latex peeling off oil trim | $682 | $595 | 9 to 14 h | $87 | $887 to $1,364 |
| F. 1950s first floor, lead-safe | $7,839 | $6,780 | 85 to 111 h | $609 | $10,191 to $15,679 |
| G. Oil-painted front door | $292 | $215 | 2 to 5 h | $77 | $380 to $584 |
| H. Two-story trim and soffit | $2,453 | $2,202 | 32 to 47 h | $251 | $3,188 to $4,905 |
| I. Ten wood windows, reglazed, lead-safe | $3,180 | $2,905 | 38 to 57 h | $275 | $4,134 to $6,361 |
| J. Porch railings, columns and ceiling | $1,007 | $842 | 10 to 16 h | $165 | $1,309 to $2,013 |
| K. Latex peeling off oil siding | $1,562 | $1,235 | 17 to 27 h | $327 | $2,030 to $3,123 |
| L. 1950s house exterior, lead-safe | $6,993 | $5,912 | 85 to 115 h | $1,081 | $9,091 to $13,987 |
Materials include allowances. Illustrative selling price is the job cost at a 30% to 100% markup; your price depends on your own overhead and profit. Labor hours are a planning range and include setup, daily cleanup and material runs; they are never a charge to the customer. Permit and inspection fees are not included; requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Which price is closer to yours?
- Lean, +30%: A handyman or owner-operator who does the work with a small crew and no office. Usually the lowest quote. The owner handles scheduling, questions and callbacks around the work itself.
- Standard, +50%: A remodeling company with a crew, an office, insurance and someone to answer the phone. Close to the average remodeler's overhead in the National Association of Home Builders cost-of-doing-business survey.
- Full-Service, +100%: A design-build firm with designers, a salesperson and a project manager who runs the job. The extra pays for planning, coordination and one point of contact from design to final inspection.
Higher markup means more business behind the job, not by itself better work, and a lower markup is not by itself a better deal. For contractors: how each markup splits into overhead and profit is in the overhead categories guide.
Each build in detail
A. Oil trim, one bedroom: $605
Sound oil paint on 110 ft of baseboard and casings. Clean, degloss, a bonding primer coat and two coats of latex semi-gloss. Labor is $511 of the $605 job cost, or 84.5%. It is about 7 to 12 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 6 to 10 h | $511 | $664 | $767 | $1,022 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 2 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 7 to 12 h | $511 | $664 | $767 | $1,022 |
Every line item
Labor $511 + materials and allowances $94 + dump fees and other $0 = $605 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 110 | lf | $0 | $24 | $24 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 110 | lf | 1 to 3 h | $138 | $0 | $138 |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 0.35 | gallon | $0 | $17 | $17 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $53 | $53 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 110 | lf | 1 to 3 h | $126 | $0 | $126 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 110 | lf | 2 to 6 h | $247 | $0 | $247 |
| Painting subtotal | 6 to 10 h | $605 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 6 to 10 h | $605 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 7 to 12 h | $605 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 7 to 12 h | $605 | ||||
B. Whole bedroom, oil trim and door: $1,608
Walls and ceiling two coats; the oil-painted trim and door cleaned, deglossed and bonding-primed before two coats of semi-gloss. Labor is $1,223 of the $1,608 job cost, or 76.1%. It is about 18 to 25 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 16 to 22 h | $1,223 | $1,590 | $1,835 | $2,446 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 5 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 18 to 25 h | $1,223 | $1,590 | $1,835 | $2,446 |
Every line item
Labor $1,223 + materials and allowances $385 + dump fees and other $0 = $1,608 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Interior Ceiling Paint Apply Labor | 168 | sf | 1 to 3 h | $161 | $0 | $161 |
| Interior Door Paint (per door) | 1 | ea | 1 to 2 h | $105 | $0 | $105 |
| Interior Paint Apply Labor | 416 | sf | 3 to 8 h | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Oil-Painted Door Clean, Degloss and Bonding Primer (per door) | 1 | ea | under 1 h | $65 | $0 | $65 |
| Bonding Primer and Deglosser (per door) | 1 | ea | $0 | $11 | $11 | |
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 76 | lf | $0 | $17 | $17 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 76 | lf | 1 to 3 h | $95 | $0 | $95 |
| Paint Hardware Removal Labor | 8 | ea | under 1 h | $60 | $0 | $60 |
| Paint Masking Setup Labor | 416 | sf | under 1 h | $25 | $0 | $25 |
| Premium Paint AllowanceLabor on: Interior Paint Apply Labor | 4.19 | gallon | $0 | $201 | $201 | |
| Paint Prep Labor | 584 | sf | 1 to 4 h | $129 | $0 | $129 |
| Paint Primer Application Labor | 62.4 | sf | under 1 h | $25 | $0 | $25 |
| Primer MaterialsLabor on: Paint Primer Application Labor | 0.19 | gallon | $0 | $6 | $6 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 1 | ls | $0 | $150 | $150 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 76 | lf | 1 to 2 h | $87 | $0 | $87 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 76 | lf | 1 to 4 h | $171 | $0 | $171 |
| Painting subtotal | 16 to 22 h | $1,608 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 16 to 22 h | $1,608 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 18 to 25 h | $1,608 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 18 to 25 h | $1,608 | ||||
C. Six oil-painted interior doors: $1,220
Six-panel doors, both sides with jambs and casings, scuff-sanded, bonding-primed and brushed two coats in place. Labor is $1,020 of the $1,220 job cost, or 83.6%. It is about 10 to 17 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 8 to 16 h | $1,020 | $1,326 | $1,530 | $2,040 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 3 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 10 to 17 h | $1,020 | $1,326 | $1,530 | $2,040 |
Every line item
Labor $1,020 + materials and allowances $200 + dump fees and other $0 = $1,220 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Interior Door Paint (per door) | 6 | ea | 4 to 11 h | $630 | $0 | $630 |
| Oil-Painted Door Clean, Degloss and Bonding Primer (per door) | 6 | ea | 2 to 7 h | $390 | $0 | $390 |
| Bonding Primer and Deglosser (per door) | 6 | ea | $0 | $66 | $66 | |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 1.7 | gallon | $0 | $82 | $82 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $52 | $52 | |
| Painting subtotal | 8 to 16 h | $1,220 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 8 to 16 h | $1,220 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 10 to 17 h | $1,220 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 10 to 17 h | $1,220 | ||||
D. Kitchen cabinets with oil paint: $2,055
Twenty doors and drawer fronts plus the boxes: degreased, scuff-sanded, bonding-primed and two coats of waterborne alkyd enamel. Labor is $1,685 of the $2,055 job cost, or 82.0%. It is about 24 to 38 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 2 to 5 h | $300 | $390 | $450 | $600 |
| Painting | 17 to 30 h | $1,385 | $1,801 | $2,078 | $2,770 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 2 to 7 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 24 to 38 h | $1,685 | $2,191 | $2,528 | $3,370 |
Every line item
Labor $1,685 + materials and allowances $370 + dump fees and other $0 = $2,055 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | 2 to 5 h | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | 2 to 5 h | $300 | ||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | 2 to 5 h | $300 | ||||
| Painting | ||||||
| Cabinet Box and Face Frame Refinish (per lf) | 25 | lf | 4 to 11 h | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Cabinet Door/Drawer Front Refinish (per piece) | 20 | ea | 10 to 22 h | $960 | $0 | $960 |
| Cabinet Refinish Materials (per piece)Labor on: Cabinet Door/Drawer Front Refinish (per piece) | 20 | ea | $0 | $370 | $370 | |
| Painting subtotal | 17 to 30 h | $1,755 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 17 to 30 h | $1,755 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 24 to 38 h | $2,055 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 24 to 38 h | $2,055 | ||||
E. Latex peeling off oil trim: $682
The mistake fixed: scrape to sound paint, feather, clean, spot-prime, a full bonding primer coat and two finish coats on 93 ft of trim. Labor is $595 of the $682 job cost, or 87.2%. It is about 9 to 14 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 8 to 12 h | $595 | $774 | $893 | $1,190 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 3 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 9 to 14 h | $595 | $774 | $893 | $1,190 |
Every line item
Labor $595 + materials and allowances $87 + dump fees and other $0 = $682 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Peeling Paint Scrape and Feather-Sand on Trim (per lf) | 93 | lf | 2 to 5 h | $163 | $0 | $163 |
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 93 | lf | $0 | $20 | $20 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 93 | lf | 1 to 3 h | $116 | $0 | $116 |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 0.29 | gallon | $0 | $14 | $14 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $53 | $53 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 93 | lf | 1 to 3 h | $107 | $0 | $107 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 93 | lf | 2 to 5 h | $209 | $0 | $209 |
| Painting subtotal | 8 to 12 h | $682 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 8 to 12 h | $682 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 9 to 14 h | $682 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 9 to 14 h | $682 | ||||
F. 1950s first floor, lead-safe: $7,839
400 ft of oil-painted trim and 10 doors converted, with a lead test and lead-safe containment and cleanup in about four rooms. Labor is $6,780 of the $7,839 job cost, or 86.5%. It is about 85 to 111 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 3 to 7 h | $575 | $748 | $863 | $1,150 |
| Painting | 44 to 61 h | $3,725 | $4,842 | $5,587 | $7,450 |
| Restoration | 21 to 35 h | $2,480 | $3,224 | $3,720 | $4,960 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 6 to 20 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 85 to 111 h | $6,780 | $8,814 | $10,170 | $13,560 |
Every line item
Labor $6,780 + materials and allowances $609 + dump fees and other $450 = $7,839 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Site Protection, Multiple Rooms (per job) | 1 | ea | 3 to 7 h | $575 | $0 | $575 |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | 3 to 7 h | $575 | ||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | 3 to 7 h | $575 | ||||
| Painting | ||||||
| Interior Door Paint (per door) | 10 | ea | 8 to 17 h | $1,050 | $0 | $1,050 |
| Oil-Painted Door Clean, Degloss and Bonding Primer (per door) | 10 | ea | 4 to 11 h | $650 | $0 | $650 |
| Bonding Primer and Deglosser (per door) | 10 | ea | $0 | $110 | $110 | |
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 400 | lf | $0 | $88 | $88 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 400 | lf | 5 to 11 h | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 4.09 | gallon | $0 | $196 | $196 | |
| Furniture Moving and Room Setup | 3 | hr | 1 to 5 h | $165 | $0 | $165 |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 1 | ls | $0 | $150 | $150 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 400 | lf | 4 to 10 h | $460 | $0 | $460 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 400 | lf | 9 to 20 h | $900 | $0 | $900 |
| Painting subtotal | 44 to 61 h | $4,269 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 44 to 61 h | $4,269 | ||||
| Restoration | ||||||
| Lead Paint Test Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $450 | |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Cleaning and Verification, per Work Area | 4 | ea | 7 to 17 h | $780 | $0 | $780 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Containment, per Work Area | 4 | ea | 10 to 22 h | $1,700 | $0 | $1,700 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Waste Handling, per Job | 1 | ea | $0 | $65 | $65 | |
| Restoration subtotal | 21 to 35 h | $2,995 | ||||
| Restoration subtotal | 21 to 35 h | $2,995 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 85 to 111 h | $7,839 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 85 to 111 h | $7,839 | ||||
G. Oil-painted front door: $292
Outside face, edges, jamb and casing: cleaned, deglossed, bonding-primed and two coats of exterior enamel; the door stays hung. Labor is $215 of the $292 job cost, or 73.6%. It is about 2 to 5 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 2 to 5 h | $215 | $280 | $323 | $430 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | under 1 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 2 to 5 h | $215 | $280 | $323 | $430 |
Every line item
Labor $215 + materials and allowances $77 + dump fees and other $0 = $292 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Door Paint (per door) | 1 | ea | 1 to 4 h | $150 | $0 | $150 |
| Exterior Paint (per gallon) | 0.28 | gallon | $0 | $13 | $13 | |
| Oil-Painted Door Clean, Degloss and Bonding Primer (per door) | 1 | ea | under 1 h | $65 | $0 | $65 |
| Bonding Primer and Deglosser (per door) | 1 | ea | $0 | $11 | $11 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $53 | $53 | |
| Painting subtotal | 2 to 5 h | $292 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 2 to 5 h | $292 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 2 to 5 h | $292 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 2 to 5 h | $292 | ||||
H. Two-story trim and soffit: $2,453
300 ft of fascia and casings plus 150 sq ft of soffit from ladders: wash, scrape, sand, a full exterior oil primer coat and two coats. Labor is $2,202 of the $2,453 job cost, or 89.8%. It is about 32 to 47 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 27 to 41 h | $2,202 | $2,863 | $3,303 | $4,404 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 2 to 8 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 32 to 47 h | $2,202 | $2,863 | $3,303 | $4,404 |
Every line item
Labor $2,202 + materials and allowances $251 + dump fees and other $0 = $2,453 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 300 | sf | 1 to 5 h | $204 | $0 | $204 |
| Exterior Paint (per gallon)Labor on: Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 2.03 | gallon | $0 | $98 | $98 | |
| Exterior Paint Pressure Wash Labor | 150 | sf | under 1 h | $33 | $0 | $33 |
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 300 | lf | $0 | $66 | $66 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 300 | lf | 5 to 11 h | $507 | $0 | $507 |
| Paint Primer Application Labor | 150 | sf | under 1 h | $81 | $0 | $81 |
| Primer MaterialsLabor on: Paint Primer Application Labor | 0.38 | gallon | $0 | $12 | $12 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.5 | ls | $0 | $75 | $75 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 300 | lf | 4 to 10 h | $465 | $0 | $465 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 300 | lf | 9 to 20 h | $912 | $0 | $912 |
| Painting subtotal | 27 to 41 h | $2,453 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 27 to 41 h | $2,453 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 32 to 47 h | $2,453 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 32 to 47 h | $2,453 | ||||
I. Ten wood windows, reglazed, lead-safe: $3,180
Sashes, frames, sills and casings scraped, loose putty reglazed, primed and two coats, with exterior lead-safe containment and a return trip to paint the putty. Labor is $2,905 of the $3,180 job cost, or 91.4%. It is about 38 to 57 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 25 to 44 h | $2,285 | $2,971 | $3,428 | $4,570 |
| Restoration | 5 to 9 h | $620 | $806 | $930 | $1,240 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 3 to 10 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 38 to 57 h | $2,905 | $3,777 | $4,358 | $5,810 |
Every line item
Labor $2,905 + materials and allowances $275 + dump fees and other $0 = $3,180 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Paint (per gallon) | 1.1 | gallon | $0 | $53 | $53 | |
| Exterior Window Sash and Frame Paint (per window) | 10 | ea | 14 to 31 h | $1,350 | $0 | $1,350 |
| Return Visit to Paint the Glazing | 1 | ea | 1 to 3 h | $185 | $0 | $185 |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $52 | $52 | |
| Glazing Putty, Points and Primer (per window) | 10 | ea | $0 | $105 | $105 | |
| Window Reglazing, Loose Putty (per window) | 10 | ea | 6 to 14 h | $750 | $0 | $750 |
| Painting subtotal | 25 to 44 h | $2,495 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 25 to 44 h | $2,495 | ||||
| Restoration | ||||||
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Cleaning and Verification, per Work Area | 1 | ea | 1 to 5 h | $195 | $0 | $195 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Containment, per Work Area | 1 | ea | 2 to 6 h | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Waste Handling, per Job | 1 | ea | $0 | $65 | $65 | |
| Restoration subtotal | 5 to 9 h | $685 | ||||
| Restoration subtotal | 5 to 9 h | $685 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 38 to 57 h | $3,180 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 38 to 57 h | $3,180 | ||||
J. Porch railings, columns and ceiling: $1,007
30 ft of railing with spindles, four columns and a 120 sq ft porch ceiling: cleaned, scraped, primed and two coats. Labor is $842 of the $1,007 job cost, or 83.6%. It is about 10 to 16 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 9 to 14 h | $842 | $1,095 | $1,263 | $1,684 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 3 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 10 to 16 h | $842 | $1,095 | $1,263 | $1,684 |
Every line item
Labor $842 + materials and allowances $165 + dump fees and other $0 = $1,007 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 240 | sf | 1 to 3 h | $120 | $0 | $120 |
| Exterior Paint (per gallon)Labor on: Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 2.13 | gallon | $0 | $102 | $102 | |
| Exterior Paint Pressure Wash Labor | 120 | sf | under 1 h | $19 | $0 | $19 |
| Exterior Railing and Spindle Paint (per lf) | 30 | lf | 3 to 7 h | $315 | $0 | $315 |
| Paint Primer Application Labor | 120 | sf | under 1 h | $48 | $0 | $48 |
| Primer MaterialsLabor on: Paint Primer Application Labor | 0.3 | gallon | $0 | $10 | $10 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.35 | ls | $0 | $53 | $53 | |
| Porch Column Paint (per column) | 4 | ea | 2 to 6 h | $340 | $0 | $340 |
| Painting subtotal | 9 to 14 h | $1,007 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 9 to 14 h | $1,007 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 10 to 16 h | $1,007 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 10 to 16 h | $1,007 | ||||
K. Latex peeling off oil siding: $1,562
500 sq ft of clapboard: heavy scraping to sound paint, a full exterior oil primer coat and two coats of acrylic. Labor is $1,235 of the $1,562 job cost, or 79.1%. It is about 17 to 27 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 15 to 24 h | $1,235 | $1,606 | $1,853 | $2,470 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 5 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 17 to 27 h | $1,235 | $1,606 | $1,853 | $2,470 |
Every line item
Labor $1,235 + materials and allowances $327 + dump fees and other $0 = $1,562 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 1000 | sf | 4 to 11 h | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Exterior Paint (per gallon)Labor on: Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 3.38 | gallon | $0 | $162 | $162 | |
| Exterior Paint Pressure Wash Labor | 500 | sf | 1 to 2 h | $80 | $0 | $80 |
| Exterior Scrape and Prep Labor (per sf) | 500 | sf | 5 to 13 h | $455 | $0 | $455 |
| Paint Primer Application Labor | 500 | sf | 1 to 3 h | $200 | $0 | $200 |
| Primer MaterialsLabor on: Paint Primer Application Labor | 1.25 | gallon | $0 | $40 | $40 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 0.83 | ls | $0 | $125 | $125 | |
| Painting subtotal | 15 to 24 h | $1,562 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 15 to 24 h | $1,562 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 17 to 27 h | $1,562 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 17 to 27 h | $1,562 | ||||
L. 1950s house exterior, lead-safe: $6,993
1,800 sq ft of clapboard plus trim, oil paint presumed lead: containment, scrape, a full primer coat and two coats. Labor is $5,912 of the $6,993 job cost, or 84.5%. It is about 85 to 115 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Lean×1.30 | Standard×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 67 to 93 h | $5,292 | $6,880 | $7,938 | $10,584 |
| Restoration | 5 to 9 h | $620 | $806 | $930 | $1,240 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 6 to 20 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 85 to 115 h | $5,912 | $7,686 | $8,868 | $11,824 |
Every line item
Labor $5,912 + materials and allowances $1,081 + dump fees and other $0 = $6,993 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | ||||||
| Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 3600 | sf | 17 to 37 h | $1,800 | $0 | $1,800 |
| Exterior Paint (per gallon)Labor on: Exterior Paint Apply Labor | 13.4 | gallon | $0 | $643 | $643 | |
| Exterior Paint Pressure Wash Labor | 1800 | sf | 2 to 6 h | $288 | $0 | $288 |
| Exterior Scrape and Prep Labor (per sf) | 1800 | sf | 10 to 22 h | $810 | $0 | $810 |
| Bonding Primer, Deglosser and Abrasives (per lf of trim) | 360 | lf | $0 | $79 | $79 | |
| Oil-Painted Trim Clean and Degloss (per lf) | 360 | lf | 4 to 10 h | $450 | $0 | $450 |
| Paint Primer Application Labor | 1800 | sf | 3 to 9 h | $720 | $0 | $720 |
| Primer MaterialsLabor on: Paint Primer Application Labor | 4.5 | gallon | $0 | $144 | $144 | |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 1 | ls | $0 | $150 | $150 | |
| Trim Bonding Primer Coat (per lf) | 360 | lf | 4 to 9 h | $414 | $0 | $414 |
| Trim Paint Apply Labor | 360 | lf | 8 to 18 h | $810 | $0 | $810 |
| Painting subtotal | 67 to 93 h | $6,308 | ||||
| Painting subtotal | 67 to 93 h | $6,308 | ||||
| Restoration | ||||||
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Cleaning and Verification, per Work Area | 1 | ea | 1 to 5 h | $195 | $0 | $195 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Containment, per Work Area | 1 | ea | 2 to 6 h | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Lead-Safe (RRP) Waste Handling, per Job | 1 | ea | $0 | $65 | $65 | |
| Restoration subtotal | 5 to 9 h | $685 | ||||
| Restoration subtotal | 5 to 9 h | $685 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 85 to 115 h | $6,993 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 85 to 115 h | $6,993 | ||||
Methodology & reproducibility
12 snapshots, one per build. Each build is frozen from its own estimate run with the same old work, system type and takeoff pinned, so the builds differ only in what is being built.
Direct cost equals the sum of each row’s rounded quantity × (labor + material + other). Amounts are shown in whole dollars; every column adds to its total.
Scope selection, prose accuracy, arithmetic and provenance mapping reviewed; not independent market-rate verification.
- paint-oil-trim-bedroom/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-whole-bedroom/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-six-doors/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-cabinets/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-peeling-trim/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-floor-lead/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-front-door/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-exterior-trim/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-windows-lead/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-porch/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-peeling-siding/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- paint-oil-house-lead/v2: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
Questions
Can you paint latex over oil-based paint?
Not directly. Latex brushed onto glossy oil paint does not grip and peels, which is the mistake in the video. Clean the oil paint, dull it with a deglosser or sanding, put on a primer its maker approves over alkyd, then two coats of latex. For the trim in one bedroom that is $605 in job cost, $787 to $1,210 from a contractor.
How do I tell if my paint is oil-based?
Rub a cleaned spot with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol. If paint comes off, it is latex; if not, it is likely oil (alkyd). It is a screening test, not proof: latex over old oil can test as latex while the oil underneath causes the failure, and it says nothing about lead.
What does it cost to repaint a bedroom with oil-painted trim?
Walls and ceiling two coats, and the trim and door converted with a bonding primer: $1,608 in job cost, $2,090 to $3,215 from a contractor. HomeGuide puts an ordinary repaint of a 12 by 16 bedroom at $900 to $3,400; the oil conversion adds a cleaning, deglossing and primer pass on the trim and door.
What about doors and kitchen cabinets?
Six oil-painted six-panel doors, both sides with jambs and casings, come to $1,220 in job cost, about $203 a door before markup, because the conversion adds a third coat. Fixr publishes $70 to $200 per door for an ordinary prime and paint. Twenty cabinet doors and drawer fronts plus the boxes come to $2,055 in job cost, inside HomeGuide's $2,000 to $6,500 for an average kitchen.
How do I fix latex that is peeling off oil trim?
Scrape and sand every loose and unsound bit back to sound paint, feather the edges, clean, spot-prime bare wood, then a full bonding primer coat and two finish coats. On one bedroom's trim that is $682 in job cost. Primer cannot glue down paint that has already let go. If the oil underneath is cracked or failing too, the trim needs stripping instead.
Does an older house mean lead-safe work?
On a house built before 1978, presume the oil paint has lead until a test says otherwise. Federal lead-safe rules apply when a contractor disturbs more than 6 sq ft of paint in a room: sanding oil trim usually crosses that line. The lead-safe floor (F) prices a test, containment and cleanup in each of about four rooms as allowances: $7,839 in job cost for 400 ft of trim and 10 doors.
Can you put latex over oil-based paint outside?
Yes, with the right prep and primer. Wash off dirt and chalk, scrape and sand loose paint, dull glossy trim, then prime with an exterior primer its maker approves over alkyd and bare wood before two coats of acrylic. Some bonding primers are not made for whole walls of exterior wood, so check the label. A front door done this way is $292 in job cost, $380 to $584 from a contractor.
What does two-story trim cost?
300 ft of oil-painted fascia and casings plus 150 sq ft of soffit, from ladders, comes to $2,453 in job cost, $3,188 to $4,905 from a contractor. HomeGuide puts an ordinary exterior trim repaint at $1 to $4 per ft; the full primer coat, the degloss pass and second-story work add to that.
What does it cost to restore and paint wood windows?
Ten double-hung windows, outside only, scraped, reglazed where the putty is loose, primed and painted, with lead-safe containment: $3,180 in job cost. Oil glazing putty has to skin over for about 7 to 14 days before it is painted, so the price includes a return trip.
How much does it cost to fix latex peeling off oil siding?
500 sq ft of clapboard, scraped back to sound paint at about twice an ordinary scrape, a full primer coat and two coats: $1,562 in job cost, $2,030 to $3,123 from a contractor. Fixr puts an ordinary wood siding repaint at $3.10 to $5.80 per sq ft and says walls in poor shape can cost over 60% more.
What about a whole house with lead paint?
A one-story 1950s house, 1,800 sq ft of clapboard plus trim, with lead-safe containment, comes to $6,993 in job cost, $9,091 to $13,987 from a contractor. Outside, the lead rules apply above 20 sq ft of disturbed paint, and containment means plastic on the ground 10 ft out and nearby windows and doors closed. The containment, cleanup and waste lines are allowances until your house's containment plan is measured.
Is the markup on top of these numbers?
Yes. Direct job cost is what the work costs a painter to do. The markup table shows what it sells for at illustrative markups of 30% to 100%, from a low-overhead owner-operator to a full-service firm.
Sources & provenance
- Cost to Paint Trim and Baseboards HomeGuide (research)
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room? HomeGuide (research)
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets? HomeGuide (research)
- How much does it cost to paint an interior door? Fixr (research)
- How will EPA interpret the term minor repair and maintenance activities? U.S. EPA (official source)
- How much does it cost to paint a house exterior? Fixr (research)
- Oil trim, one bedroom reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Whole bedroom, oil trim and door reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Six oil-painted interior doors reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Kitchen cabinets with oil paint reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Latex peeling off oil trim reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 1950s first floor, lead-safe reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Oil-painted front door reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Two-story trim and soffit reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Ten wood windows, reglazed, lead-safe reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Porch railings, columns and ceiling reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Latex peeling off oil siding reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 1950s house exterior, lead-safe reviewed snapshot Clamp Research