For painting contractors
How much to charge for painting in 2026
Two numbers to set your price: what an employed painter earns in your province, which is your labour cost, and the price homeowners in your city are told before they call you. We do not publish a “market rate”: no official source gives one.
Painter hourly wages by province
Painters and decorators (NOC 73112), reference period 2023-2024. These are wages paid to employees, not prices billed to clients.
| Province | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $20.00 | $28.00 | $40.99 |
| Quebec | $24.00 | $34.98 | $41.83 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $25.00 | $34.80 |
| British Columbia | $21.00 | $28.00 | $35.00 |
| Alberta | $20.00 | $26.00 | $34.82 |
| Manitoba | $17.00 | $24.00 | $30.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $18.00 | $23.00 | $30.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.00 | $23.00 | $33.24 |
| New Brunswick | $18.00 | $22.00 | $29.12 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 | $25.00 | $38.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $18.50 | $22.00 | $26.00 |
Example: two painters for three 8-hour days is 48 hours. At the Quebec median wage ($34.98/h), that is $1,679.04 in wages alone, before payroll costs, paint, insurance, travel and your margin.
The price your clients have in mind
RenoCalc’s estimate for standard-quality interior painting (paint, primer, trim, ceilings, prep and labour), before tax. It is the number a homeowner sees on our calculator before asking for a quote.
| City | One room | Whole house |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | $1,009 – $2,442 | $5,766 – $13,950 |
| Toronto | $1,161 – $2,810 | $6,634 – $16,050 |
| Edmonton | $1,226 – $2,965 | $7,006 – $16,950 |
| Vancouver | $1,346 – $3,255 | $7,688 – $18,600 |
| Halifax | $999 – $2,415 | $5,704 – $13,800 |
| Winnipeg | $1,205 – $2,915 | $6,882 – $16,650 |
| Calgary | $1,249 – $3,018 | $7,130 – $17,250 |
| Quebec City | $912 – $2,205 | $5,208 – $12,600 |
| Ottawa | $1,041 – $2,520 | $5,952 – $14,400 |
| Hamilton | $1,021 – $2,466 | $5,828 – $14,100 |
These are RenoCalc’s estimates, not an average of real quotes. The calculator offers three quality levels; see the methodology for how they are built.
Get painting requests in your city
Homeowners who price a painting job on RenoCalc can ask to be put in touch with a contractor. You receive their name, phone, estimated budget and project scope. RenoCalc will become a paid service for contractors; you will be told the price before anything is billed.
Apply to the Waitlist
We vet every contractor before onboarding. Expect a reply within 2 business days.
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