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How much does interior painting cost in San Francisco, CA?

US national rangeUpdated Prices checked October 20261 source

Interior painting costs $965 to $3,089 nationally, typical $2,022. We have no documented price index for San Francisco for this job, so this is the US national range from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

US national range, not adjusted for this city

Low
$965
Typical
$2,022
High
$3,089

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Interior painting cost in San Francisco, CA

We have no documented price index for San Francisco for this job, so the table shows the US national range.

Interior painting cost in San Francisco, CA
EstimateLowTypicalHighBasisChecked
US national range$965$2,022$3,089Per project: typical range of customer-reported jobs (about $2 to $6 per sq ft of floor area) (HomeAdvisor)October 2026

What drives the cost of interior painting

  1. Square footage

    The area to paint is the biggest factor, at about $2 to $6 per sq ft.

  2. Walls only or walls, trim and ceilings

    Walls average about $2.75 per sq ft; walls, trim and ceilings about $4.70.

  3. Texture and finish

    Textured walls can raise painting fees by up to 50%.

  4. Accent walls and murals

    Accent walls add 20% to 30%; murals run $1,000 to $2,000.

  5. Labor

    Labor is 75% to 95% of the total.

Permits and what's included in San Francisco

Permit note

Interior painting does not normally need a permit.

Rules are set locally; confirm with San Francisco’s building department.

What’s usually included

  • Paint and primer
  • Surface prep such as patching and taping
  • Labor and cleanup

Scopes vary. Get the scope in writing on every quote.

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Top-ranked painters in San Francisco

The top 3 of 252 painters we rank for San Francisco, CA, by CR Score. Paid placement never changes rank.

  1. #1
    SF House Painting
    CR Score 634.8from 97 Google reviews
  2. #2
    Smart & Beyond painting inc
    CR Score 625.0from 24 Google reviews
  3. #3
    Paint Studio SF
    CR Score 624.9from 25 Google reviews

See all ranked painters in San Francisco

Interior painting cost in San Francisco: questions

How much does interior painting cost in San Francisco, CA?

Interior painting costs $965 to $3,089 nationally, typical $2,022. We have no documented price index for San Francisco for this job, so this is the US national range from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

Do I need a permit for interior painting in San Francisco?

Interior painting does not normally need a permit. Rules are set locally, so confirm with San Francisco’s building department.

What affects the cost of interior painting?

Square footage: the area to paint is the biggest factor, at about $2 to $6 per sq ft. Walls only or walls, trim and ceilings: walls average about $2.75 per sq ft; walls, trim and ceilings about $4.70. Texture and finish: textured walls can raise painting fees by up to 50%. Accent walls and murals: accent walls add 20% to 30%; murals run $1,000 to $2,000.

How many painters serve San Francisco?

We rank 252 painters for San Francisco, CA by CR Score. Get at least three written quotes for the same scope.

What is usually included in the price?

Paint and primer; Surface prep such as patching and taping; Labor and cleanup. Always get the scope in writing on the quote.

Sources

Checked October 2026. Figures are estimates, not quotes.

  1. HomeAdvisor: Interior painting cost · page updated June 17, 2026 · checked October 2026Primary source. Used for: Low, typical and high; drivers.
These are published estimates, checked October 2026. They are not quotes. Typical range shown: $965 to $3,089. Editorial policy

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