quoting
How to write a painting quote that wins the job
Two painters walk through the same house. They measure the same rooms and price the same job within a few hundred dollars of each other. One wins it, and it’s often not the cheaper one.
The difference is usually the quote. Here’s what to put in a painting quote so the homeowner can see why you’re worth booking.
Why most painting quotes lose on price
Most quotes are one page: the address, a line that says “Interior repaint, walls and ceilings, 2 coats”, and a total.
When all three quotes look like that, the customer has only one thing to compare. So they pick the lowest number, or they ring you and ask if you can “sharpen the pencil”.
A detailed quote changes the comparison. It shows the prep you’ll do, the products you’ll use and what’s excluded. Now the cheaper quote looks like it might be leaving something out, because it probably is.
1. Scope it room by room
List every area and every surface you’re painting:
| Area | Surfaces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living and dining | Walls, ceiling, skirting, 2 doors and frames | Patch and sand cracks above doorways |
| Bedrooms 1 to 3 | Walls, ceilings, built-in robe doors | Robe interiors excluded |
| Hallway | Walls, ceiling, cornice | Stain block over water mark |
This does two things. It proves you actually looked at the house, and it gives the customer a checklist to hold the other quotes against.
2. Spell out the preparation
Preparation is where good painters spend most of their time, and it’s the part customers can’t see in a total price. Write it down:
- Wash down and sugar soap
- Fill cracks and nail holes, sand smooth
- Spot prime repairs and bare timber
- Mask floors, fixtures and furniture
- Remove and replace switch plates
If you’re allowing for anything specific, like scraping flaking paint on the eaves or stain-blocking a water mark, name it.
3. Name the products and the coats
“Two coats of quality paint” means nothing. “Dulux Wash&Wear Low Sheen, two coats, over one coat of sealer on patched areas” means something. It also stops another painter winning on price by quietly using a cheaper product.
If the customer hasn’t chosen colours yet, say how colour selection works and whether a colour consult is included.
4. Say what’s not included
Exclusions protect you and build trust. Common ones:
- Moving heavy furniture
- Repairs beyond minor patching (rotten timber, plaster replacement)
- Areas not listed in the scope
- Colour changes after work has started
Customers are far less likely to argue about extras when they were written down before the job started.
5. Warranty, licence and insurance
Put your licence number, your public liability cover and your workmanship warranty on the quote. It’s reassuring, and a lot of quotes leave it off.
6. Make the next step obvious
End with the price, how long it’s valid and a real start date:
“We can start the week of 14 October. To lock it in, reply to this email or call 0400 000 000, and we’ll send through the booking confirmation.”
A quote with no next step is just information. A quote with a start date is a decision.
7. Send it the same day
Speed is part of the quote. The first clear, detailed quote to arrive becomes the benchmark the others get compared against. A quote that arrives a week later often arrives after the customer has booked someone else.
See what this looks like
We’ve put together a real, anonymised five-page painting proposal that follows this structure: scope by room, coat system, prep, exclusions, warranty and terms.
See the five-page proposal and compare it with your own. Then read how to follow up a painting quote, because a great quote still needs a follow-up.
If you’d rather not write quotes at night
Writing a proper proposal after a full day on the tools is where most painters cut corners. It’s also what we do every day: we book the measure-up, you send us the notes and photos, and a detailed proposal goes out under your business name the same day.
Common questions
What should a painting quote include?
The customer's details and address, a room-by-room or surface-by-surface scope, the preparation for each area, the paint brand, product and number of coats, exclusions, the warranty, payment terms, how long the price is valid, and your licence and insurance details.
Should a painting quote be one page or several pages?
For a full interior or exterior repaint, a few pages usually win more jobs than one. The extra detail shows the customer what they're paying for and makes it hard for a cheaper, vaguer quote to look like the same job.
How fast should you send a painting quote?
The same day you measure up if you can, and within 24 hours at the latest. Homeowners usually get two or three quotes, and the first clear one sets the standard the others get compared against.
Should you show a price breakdown in a painting quote?
Break the job into sections (for example, interior walls and ceilings, trim and doors, exterior) so the customer can see where the money goes and trim scope if they need to, instead of asking you to drop the whole price.