How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?

Introduction

Painting a room can transform the look and feel of your home, but before you start, you may be wondering: how long does it take to paint a room? The answer depends on a variety of factors, including room size, surface complexity, prep work, drying time, number of coats, and whether you’re hiring a professional or doing it yourself.

For some, painting is a weekend project, while for others, it may take multiple days to complete. If you’re looking for a quick timeline, we’ve got you covered. Below, we provide a TLDR summary, followed by an in-depth breakdown of all the factors that influence how long it takes to complete a paint job.

TLDR: How Long Would It Take to Paint a Room?

For a standard 12x12 bedroom with 8-foot ceilings, the painting process typically takes 6-10 hours for a professional and 10-16 hours for a DIY painter. This includes prep work (2-3 hours), cutting in (1-2 hours), rolling (2-4 hours), drying between coats (2-4 hours), and clean-up (1-2 hours).

The timeline increases for larger rooms, high ceilings, intricate mouldings, multiple colour changes, or additional coats of paint. Small touch-ups and painting an accent wall may take just a few hours, while complex spaces or textured walls may require a couple of days.

For a full interior house painting project, expect 3-7 days of work. Professionals can cut this time in half, especially with a painting crew.

how long does it take to paint a room

Factors That Determine How Long It Takes to Paint a Room

1. Room Size and Layout

The size of the room is the most obvious factor that affects painting time. The larger the surface area, the more time it takes to prep, cut in, roll, and apply multiple coats.

General Time Estimates Based on Room Size

  • Small Room (6x6 ft): 3-6 hours
  • Standard Bedroom (12x12 ft): 6-12 hours
  • Large Living Room (20x20 ft): 8-14 hours
  • Open-Concept Space (Multiple Rooms): 1-3 days

Other Size-Related Considerations

  • High ceilings (9+ ft): Requires ladders, slowing down rolling and cutting in.
  • Irregular shapes & alcoves: More cutting-in time needed.
  • Multiple doors and windows: More taping and precise brushwork.

The bigger the room, the longer the painting process. A standard 12x12 bedroom takes an estimated 6-12 hours, while larger spaces like living rooms (20x20 ft) can take up to 14 hours or more. Ceiling height also plays a role, as higher walls require ladders and extension rollers, which slow down the painting process.

Additionally, the layout and features of the room impact how long it takes. A simple square-shaped room is easy to paint quickly, while rooms with alcoves, bay windows, or intricate trim work require more time for cutting in and detail work. More windows and doors mean less wall space, but they also require extra taping and careful brushwork.

Summary: Room size and layout play a major role in painting time. A 12x12 room typically takes 6-12 hours, but larger or more complex rooms can take 1-2 full days. Higher ceilings and intricate layouts add extra time due to detailed brushwork and ladder work.

2. Prep Work: The Hidden Time Consumer

Preparation is often overlooked but is one of the most time-consuming steps in painting.

Prep Work Tasks & Time Estimates

  • Moving furniture & covering surfaces: 30-60 minutes
  • Cleaning walls (dust, grease, dirt removal): 15-45 minutes
  • Taping trim, baseboards, and outlets: 30-90 minutes
  • Repairing holes, sanding rough spots, and patching drywall: 1-3 hours
  • Priming (if needed): 1-2 hours per coat

When Prep Work Takes Longer

  • Older homes: Cracks, uneven walls, or peeling paint require additional repair.
  • Painting over a dark color: A primer coat is required, adding extra drying time.
  • Textured walls: Take longer to patch and sand.

Before you start painting, preparing the space is crucial. This process includes moving furniture, cleaning walls, repairing damage, applying primer, and taping edges. While many DIY painters rush this step, skipping proper prep work can lead to uneven finishes, paint drips, and the need for extra coats.

The condition of the walls also impacts prep time. If walls have cracks, holes, or peeling paint, you’ll need extra time for patching, sanding, and priming. Additionally, painting over a dark color or glossy surface requires a primer coat, which adds 1-2 extra hours to the project.

Summary: Prep work can take 2-4 hours or longer, depending on the room’s condition and how much taping or repair work is needed. Older homes, textured walls, and dark-to-light color changes require additional prep time, making this a crucial factor in the total painting time.

how long does it take to paint a room

3. Painting Process: Cutting In, Rolling, and Drying

Once prep work is done, the actual painting process begins. This consists of cutting in, rolling the walls, and allowing time for drying between coats.

Cutting In (Edges, Corners, & Trim)

  • Cutting in refers to painting edges, trim, and corners with a brush before rolling.
  • Requires a steady hand and can be time-consuming for beginners.

Time Estimates:

  • DIY Painter: 1.5-3 hours
  • Professional Painter: 45 minutes - 1.5 hours

Rolling the Walls

  • Rolling covers large surfaces quickly, but still requires multiple passes for full coverage.
  • Using a 14-18 inch roller speeds up the process.

Time Estimates:

  • DIY Painter: 2-4 hours per coat
  • Professional Painter: 1-2 hours per coat

The actual painting process consists of cutting in, rolling the walls, and allowing for drying time between coats. Cutting in refers to painting the edges of the room first, which requires precision and patience. For DIYers, this step can take up to 3 hours, while professionals complete it in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Rolling the paint onto large surfaces is the fastest step but still requires multiple passes for even coverage. Professionals can complete one coat in 1-2 hours, while DIYers might take 2-4 hours per coat. Drying time between coats is critical, with latex paint needing 2-4 hours and oil-based paint requiring up to 24 hours before applying another coat.

Summary: Painting itself takes anywhere from 4 to 10 hours, depending on the number of coats and the painter’s experience. Cutting in takes 1-3 hours, rolling takes 2-4 hours per coat, and drying time can add an extra 2-8 hours to the process. If multiple coats or specialty finishes are needed, the total time can increase significantly.

4. Number of Coats and Drying Time

Most walls require two coats for full coverage. Some situations may demand a third coat.

When Two Coats Are Needed

  • Most standard walls with light color changes.
  • Refreshing a previously painted room with the same or similar color.

When Three Coats or More Are Needed

  • Dramatic color changes (e.g., dark-to-light or light-to-dark).
  • Low-quality or budget paint brands.
  • High-traffic rooms that need extra durability.

Drying Time Between Coats

  • Latex Paint: 2-4 hours between coats
  • Oil-Based Paint: 6-24 hours between coats

Most rooms require two coats of paint for a smooth, even finish. However, some situations require additional coats, such as painting over a dark color, using lower-quality paint, or covering textured walls.

Drying time between coats is often underestimated but essential for a professional-looking finish. Latex paint dries in 2-4 hours, while oil-based paint can take up to 24 hours. If you're painting in humid or cold conditions, drying time may be even longer.

Summary: Plan for at least two coats, which adds 4-8 hours of drying time to the project. If you’re making a dramatic color change or working with tricky surfaces, three or more coats may be needed, extending the project by another day or more.

how long does it take to paint a room

5. Custom Features & Complexity

Some rooms have architectural details that can slow down the painting process.

Factors That Increase Painting Time

  • Crown Moulding & Baseboards: More taping & brushwork required.
  • Textured Walls or Ceilings: Requires more paint and longer drying time.
  • Accent Walls or Custom Designs: Need precise measurements & painter’s tape.

Rooms with crown molding, wainscoting, chair rails, or built-in shelving take considerably longer to paint. These details require precision brushwork, which slows down the process compared to painting flat walls.

Additionally, textured walls or ceilings (such as popcorn ceilings) absorb more paint and require extra coats, extending both painting and drying time. If you're adding custom patterns, stripes, or accent walls, expect significantly longer painting times due to extra taping and careful application.

Summary: Rooms with custom trim, built-ins, or textured walls require 1-3 extra hours of painting time. If applying special designs or multiple colors, this can double the painting time compared to a standard room.

6. How Many People Are Painting the Room?

One of the biggest factors that directly affects painting speed is the number of people working on the project.

How Extra Painters Speed Up the Process:

  • 1 Painter (DIY): Expect the job to take 8-12 hours for a full room, including prep.
  • 2 Painters: Can cut painting time in half (4-6 hours), as one person preps while the other paints.
  • 3+ Painters: With an assembly-line approach (one cuts in, another rolls), a room can be painted in 2-4 hours.

Summary: More Hands = Faster PaintingIf you’re painting alone, expect it to take significantly longer. Having at least two painters can cut project time in half, while a team of three or more can finish a room in just a few hours.

how long does it take to paint a room

7. DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

The skill level of the painter has a major impact on how long it takes to paint a room.

DIY Painting Timeline

  • Beginner DIYer: 10-16 hours per room
  • Experienced DIYer: 6-12 hours per room

Professional Painter Timeline

  • Single Pro Painter: 4-6 hours per room
  • Two-Person Crew: 2-4 hours per room
  • Full Crew (for whole home): 1-3 days

Summary:A professional can finish a room in 4-6 hours, while a DIYer may take 10-16 hours.For larger projects, a professional team can complete an entire house in just a few days, cutting the DIY timeline in half or more.

Final Conclusion: How Long Does Painting a Room Take?

So, how long to paint a bedroom or any other room? It depends on room size, prep work, drying time, complexity, and experience. Here’s a quick recap:

  • Small rooms (6x6 ft): 3-6 hours
  • Standard bedroom (12x12 ft): 6-12 hours
  • Large rooms (20x20 ft): 8-14 hours
  • Full interior home (1,500-2,500 sq ft): 3-7 days
  • DIY painting: 10-16 hours per room
  • Professional painter: 4-6 hours per room