Why do painting quotes for the same room differ so much?

Almost always scope and preparation rather than the paint. Walls only is a different job from walls, ceiling, trim and doors, and filling nail holes is a different job from skim-coating a wall that has had wallpaper stripped off it. Ask any quote to list the surfaces included, the number of coats, and what preparation is priced. Two quotes that look $700 apart are often the same rate for different work.

Is painting worth doing myself?

It is one of the few renovation jobs where DIY genuinely pencils out, because most of the cost is labour and the skill ceiling for a plain wall is low. Materials for one bedroom typically run $150 to $300. The jobs worth handing over are stairwells, ceilings above nine feet, spray finishes, and anything needing real wall repair first, because a bad patch shows through paint permanently.

How much paint will the job need?

Roughly one gallon per 350 to 400 square feet of surface per coat, and paintable surface is usually 2.5 to 3 times the floor area once ceilings and trim are counted. A 150 square foot bedroom needs about 3 gallons for two coats on walls and ceiling. Buy slightly over and keep the remainder for touch-ups.

Do I need a permit to paint?

No. Painting has never required a building permit anywhere in Canada, which is why the permit line in the estimate above is zero. The one thing to check first is whether a textured ceiling or old paint layer predates 1990, because disturbing asbestos-containing material is regulated and is not a painting job.

Southwestern Ontario · Q3 2026

Painting renovation cost in London and southwestern Ontario

Walls, ceilings, trim, and the prep that decides the finish. The figures below are modelled for Southwestern Ontario using our 0.98× regional cost multiplier, on a detached home built 1960-1989 at a mid-range finish.

Typical planning budget

$3,650 to $5,850

Typical $4,300 · includes 10% contingency

Before contingency

$3,300$3,900$5,300

LowTypicalHigh

Price your own painting All projects in London and southwestern Ontario

Why London and southwestern Ontario differs

London and southwestern Ontario prices about 2% below Ottawa, which is the baseline our regional model is anchored to.

Regional multiplier: 0.98×
Versus Ottawa: -2%
Province: Ontario
Sales tax on services: HST (13%)

Regional multipliers are anchored to Ottawa at 1.00 and scaled using Statistics Canada's Residential Renovation Price Index and Building Construction Price Index movements by census metropolitan area, then cross-checked against published contractor rate ranges. They are planning-level adjustments, not surveyed local quotes.

Areas this covers

Southwestern Ontario is modelled as a single labour market, so these municipalities share the same cost multiplier:

London
Windsor
Kitchener
Waterloo
Guelph
Cambridge

Somewhere else in Ontario? Compare every Ontario region.

Cost by finish level in London and southwestern Ontario

Finish level moves the number more than almost anything else you control. All three rows use the same London and southwestern Ontario multiplier and the same scope.

Finish	Low	Typical	High
BudgetStock materials, simple details, value fixtures	$2,550	$3,100	$4,200
Mid-rangeCommon homeowner choice: durable materials, better fixtures	$3,650	$4,300	$5,850
PremiumHigh-end materials, custom detailing, designer fixtures	$5,300	$6,350	$8,550

Cost by size in London and southwestern Ontario

Typical all-in planning budgets at three representative sizes, mid-range finish.

Size	Low	Typical	High
150 sq ft	$900	$1,100	$1,500
1,000 sq ft	$3,650	$4,300	$5,850
2,000 sq ft	$6,700	$8,150	$10,850

Where the money goes

The $4,300 typical figure for London and southwestern Ontario, broken into the lines a contractor quote should also separate.

Renovation budget breakdown by category with low, typical, and high planning values in Canadian dollars
Category	Low	Typical	High
Materials	$700	$800	$1,100
Labour	$2,300	$2,750	$3,700
Demolition and disposal	$300	$350	$500
Permit and design allowance	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal	$3,300	$3,900	$5,300
Contingency (10%)	$350	$400	$550
Total planning budget	$3,650	$4,300	$5,850

Compared with the rest of Ontario

Same project, same scope and finish, priced against every other Ontario region we model.

Region	Multiplier	Typical	vs London and southwestern Ontario
London and southwestern Ontario (this page)	0.98×	$4,300	—
Toronto	1.15×	$5,050	+17%
GTA (outside Toronto)	1.10×	$4,850	+13%
Hamilton and Niagara	1.05×	$4,600	+7%
Ottawa	1.00×	$4,400	+2%
Northern Ontario	0.97×	$4,250	-1%
Other Ontario	0.95×	$4,200	-2%

Permits in Ontario

Building permits are issued by your municipality under the Ontario Building Code. Requirements and fees differ from one city to the next.

At this scope our model does not flag a permit trigger, but that is not a ruling. Only your municipality can confirm what applies to your property.

Ontario permit information

Hiring in Ontario

Ontario does not license general contractors or renovators. Anyone can advertise renovation work, so the paperwork you check matters more than any claimed credential.

Trades that must be certified

Electrical: Only a licensed electrical contractor may do electrical work for hire. The licence number starts with ECRA/ESA and is searchable.
Gas and propane: Gas lines, furnaces, fireplaces, and water heaters must be handled by a TSSA-certified gas technician.
Plumbing: Plumbing is a compulsory trade in Ontario. Ask for a Certificate of Qualification from Skilled Trades Ontario.
New homes and substantial additions: Building or selling a new home in Ontario requires an HCRA licence. Ordinary renovations do not.

How to verify a contractor

Costs people forget on this project

Included as allowances above. Check any quote covers them too.

Skim-coating walls after wallpaper removal
Primer on bare drywall, patches, and water stains
Trim, door, and closet-interior painting quoted separately
Textured ceiling removal, and asbestos testing on pre-1990 texture
Extra coats for a strong colour change
Staging for stairwells and high ceilings
Furniture moving and floor protection

Typical schedule: 1 day for a single room, 3 to 7 days for a main floor.

Questions homeowners ask

Why do painting quotes for the same room differ so much?: Almost always scope and preparation rather than the paint. Walls only is a different job from walls, ceiling, trim and doors, and filling nail holes is a different job from skim-coating a wall that has had wallpaper stripped off it. Ask any quote to list the surfaces included, the number of coats, and what preparation is priced. Two quotes that look $700 apart are often the same rate for different work.
Is painting worth doing myself?: It is one of the few renovation jobs where DIY genuinely pencils out, because most of the cost is labour and the skill ceiling for a plain wall is low. Materials for one bedroom typically run $150 to $300. The jobs worth handing over are stairwells, ceilings above nine feet, spray finishes, and anything needing real wall repair first, because a bad patch shows through paint permanently.
How much paint will the job need?: Roughly one gallon per 350 to 400 square feet of surface per coat, and paintable surface is usually 2.5 to 3 times the floor area once ceilings and trim are counted. A 150 square foot bedroom needs about 3 gallons for two coats on walls and ceiling. Buy slightly over and keep the remainder for touch-ups.
Do I need a permit to paint?: No. Painting has never required a building permit anywhere in Canada, which is why the permit line in the estimate above is zero. The one thing to check first is whether a textured ceiling or old paint layer predates 1990, because disturbing asbestos-containing material is regulated and is not a painting job.

Other projects in London and southwestern Ontario

Planning estimate only. Not a contractor quote, permit approval, or financial advice. Figures are modelled for Southwestern Ontario from Q3 2026 data, last reviewed August 28, 2026. Read the full disclaimer and the methodology.