How much does full interior painting cost in New Brunswick?

Full interior painting in New Brunswick typically runs $3,000–$8,000 for an average-sized home (1,200–1,800 sq ft), with most homeowners landing in the $4,500–$6,500 range when hiring a professional crew.

The spread is wide because so many variables come into play. A freshly drywalled new build in Dieppe with clean, smooth surfaces is a very different job than a 1960s bungalow in Riverview with textured ceilings, original trim, and walls that haven't seen a brush in 20 years. Prep work — patching holes, sanding, priming stained surfaces, caulking trim gaps — often accounts for 30–40% of the total labour cost, and it's where quality painters earn their money.

Breaking it down by scope, most painters price by the room or by square footage of paintable surface (walls + ceilings, not floor area). Rough New Brunswick market ranges:

• Average bedroom: $300–$600
• Living/dining room: $500–$900
• Kitchen (with cabinets excluded): $400–$700
• Full bathroom: $250–$450
• Basement open area: $600–$1,200
• Trim and doors throughout a full home: $800–$1,800 added to wall pricing

What drives the price up in a hurry: cathedral or vaulted ceilings (scaffolding time), dark existing colours requiring 3 coats to cover, oil-based paint on trim that needs shellac primer before repainting, and homes with extensive crown moulding or detailed millwork. Older homes in Fredericton's north side or Saint John's South End with original plaster walls often need skim-coating before paint, which can add $500–$2,000 to the job.

Materials are a real cost factor right now. Premium interior paints (Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams) run $70–$100+ per 3.78L can in NB. A full home can easily consume 15–25 cans. Some painters include paint in their quote; others charge labour only and have you supply materials — clarify this upfront.

For a motivated DIYer, interior painting is one of the few home improvement projects that's genuinely within reach without any licensing or permits. A weekend warrior can realistically paint 2–3 rooms over a weekend with proper prep. The honest trade-off: a professional crew of 2–3 painters will do in 3–4 days what takes a homeowner 3–4 weekends, and the cut lines, roller texture, and finish quality are usually noticeably better. If you're selling the home or doing a full renovation reveal, hiring out is usually worth it.

One practical tip before you get quotes: decide on your colours first and have them picked when painters come to estimate. Colour changes (especially going light over dark) affect how many coats are needed and will change your price. Also ask specifically whether the quote includes ceilings, closets, and trim — these are the three items most commonly excluded from a base quote and then added back as surprises.

Browse painting contractors in the New Brunswick Construction Network directory to compare local professionals across the province.