When it Comes Down to Cost: High End vs “Budget” Painters
The cost of painting services can vary wildly depending on the company. But not all painting quotes are created equally - and here’s why.
When I first got into the painting and home renovation industry a few years ago, I took a year-long professional training program. And let me tell you, some of the stories I heard about paint jobs gone bad from my colleagues around the country, were pretty not okay. I’m talking paint guns exploding onto neighbors’ houses, property getting ruined, and perhaps my favorite - showing up and painting the wrong home!
That’s not how we do things here. New York is a different beast - and to be fair to my colleagues, they are much more experienced these days and share my own personal commitment to transforming the painting and home services space through elevated client experience.
But one thing that remains consistent across any market is the variance in pricing and service that you’ll see from painting companies - whether they’re new the market, industry veterans, or high-end contractors with broad (or niche) service offerings.
Why the Variance in Pricing?
Simply put, it often comes down to “you get what you pay for”, and that can be in the form of material quality, attention to detail, availability, or customer service.
High-end painters typically:
Use top-tier paints and materials with superior coverage, durability, and finishes.
Provide detailed surface preparation (e.g., extensive patching, sanding, caulking, priming) to ensure a flawless, long-lasting result.
Include custom color consultations, design expertise, and personalized project planning.
Have experienced, well-trained crews with strong reputations and professional certifications.
Offer comprehensive warranties, insurance coverage, and cleanup, ensuring peace of mind.
Maintain higher operational standards, punctuality, and premium customer service.
In contrast, lower-end or cheaper painting services often compete on price by reducing labor costs or cutting corners. These companies may:
Use lower-quality paints and materials that fade, chip, or require repainting sooner.
Spend less time on preparation, leading to uneven coverage or shorter paint life.
Hire less experienced painters or subcontractors with minimal oversight.
Provide minimal project management and customer communication.
Offer limited or no warranty and basic cleanup at project completion.
Ultimately, the cost difference reflects the quality of the finished job, the level of service, and the long-term performance of the paint work. High-end companies invest more in every step of the process, and cheaper options focus primarily on the lowest upfront price.
How to Get the Best Value from Painters
It’s also important to understand how the painting (and many home services) industry works. Ultimately, the cost of labor makes up the largest operational expense for most painting companies, and this factors into their pricing. A company that hires lower-tier painters can charge less, while a more experienced and highly trained painter comes at a higher price.
If budget is your top priority and your project isn’t very complex, you may not need a top-tier contractor. But if your home requires extensive repair, special materials, or you’ve been burned in the past, it might be worth doing your due diligence and investing in a pro who’s more suited for the level of work and craftsmanship you need.
Pro Tip: Do some price comparison and request in-home estimates from 2 or 3 painters. Note the differences in customer service, attention to detail, materials they recommend, and how they explain their process to you.
How to Hire a Great Painter Without Overpaying
1. Compare detailed estimates, not just price
Get 2–4 written quotes and look for clear scope: prep work, number of coats, paint products, timeline, and cleanup. Avoid vague lump-sum bids.
2. Ask about materials
Good painters specify brands and product lines. Transparency usually signals quality; vague answers often don’t.
3. Prep work matters most
Quality comes from thorough patching, sanding, priming, and protection—not speed. Ask how they handle these steps.
4. Check reviews for patterns
Look for consistency around reliability, cleanliness, and communication—not just star ratings.
5. Confirm insurance and professionalism
They should carry insurance, provide a written contract, and communicate clearly.
6. Be cautious of unusually low prices
Rock-bottom bids often mean corners will be cut.
7. Ask how they handle touch-ups
Reliable pros stand behind their work.
Bottom line: Look for transparency, professionalism, strong prep standards, and fair (not lowest) pricing —that’s where you’ll find the real value.
How We Come Up With Our Pricing
Check out the video below to see how we go about determining project pricing. Using industry standard production rates, our clients can be confident that they’re getting the best quality at the right price.