What a painting proposal is for
Painting customers often do not know what they want until they see the choices. Walls only looks cheap until the white trim looks yellow next to fresh walls. Laying out three levels shows what each adds and lets the customer choose the finish they will be happy with, instead of adding pieces one call at a time.
What to put on a painting proposal
- The same rooms and areas in each option.
- What each level adds: ceilings, trim, doors, cabinets.
- Paint line differences, if any.
- Prep included in each.
- A single deposit rule, whichever level they pick, and a line to mark it.
A worked example
The same main floor. Walls and ceilings use the calculator's typical prices; trim, doors and cabinets are lines you price.
Option 1: Good: walls. Two coats on all walls, with patching.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint walls * | 1,017 | sq ft | $1.50 | $1,525.50 |
| Patch nail holes and sand | 3 | hour | Your price |
Option 2: Better: walls, ceilings and trim. A full room refresh so nothing looks dingy next to new walls.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint walls * | 1,017 | sq ft | $1.50 | $1,525.50 |
| Paint ceilings * | 432 | sq ft | $1.75 | $756.00 |
| Paint baseboards and casings | 260 | ft | Your price | |
| Patch nail holes and sand | 3 | hour | Your price |
Option 3: Best: add doors and kitchen cabinets. Everything painted, including doors and cabinet fronts.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint walls * | 1,017 | sq ft | $1.50 | $1,525.50 |
| Paint ceilings * | 432 | sq ft | $1.75 | $756.00 |
| Paint baseboards and casings | 260 | ft | Your price | |
| Paint interior doors and frames | 6 | each | Your price | |
| Paint kitchen cabinet doors and drawers | 24 | each | Your price | |
| Patch nail holes and sand | 3 | hour | Your price |
Prep appears in every option because it is not optional. The difference between options is surfaces, not shortcuts.
* Typical price from our free painting cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items painters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Paint walls, two coats | sq ft | Wall area, not floor area; say the paint line and sheen. |
| Paint ceilings | sq ft | Flat ceiling paint unless the customer asks otherwise. |
| Paint trim and baseboards | ft | By the foot, or per room if you prefer. |
| Paint doors and frames | each | Both sides and the frame, or say otherwise. |
| Paint cabinets | each | Per door and drawer front; say whether boxes are included. |
| Drywall patching and sanding | hour | Nail pops, dents and small holes before paint. |
| Prime stains or new drywall | sq ft | Stain-blocking primer where water or smoke marks are. |
| Caulk gaps at trim | ft | Where trim meets wall. |
| Exterior siding, wash, scrape and paint | sq ft | Prep matters most outside; describe it. |
| Scrape and prime bare wood | hour | Exterior prep that varies by condition. |
| Move and cover furniture | room | Say whether you move it or the customer does. |
| Wallpaper removal | sq ft | Price separately; condition varies. |
| Lead-safe work practices | each | For homes built before 1978, where federal rules apply to disturbing paint. |
Terms and deposit language for painting
- Deposit. A deposit at signing reserves the dates and covers the paint order. On short interior jobs some painters take none. Check your state's rules on home improvement deposits.
- Payment. Balance due when the walk-through is done and touch-ups are finished. Larger exterior jobs can split payment at the halfway point.
- Warranty. State how long you cover peeling or flaking from your workmanship, and that it does not cover damage, moisture problems or surfaces you advised against painting.
- Colors are confirmed in writing before paint is bought; changing a color after purchase is a change order.
- Exterior work depends on weather; say how a rain day moves the schedule.
- Furniture moving, wall hangings and outlet covers: say who handles each.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for painting
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for painters: how painters run on Koira.