Time is money, they say. And for most people, time and money are the two main factors on their mind when planning a painting project. You don’t want to go over your budget, and you certainly don’t want to spend days on end painting your home. Or, if you’re hiring professional painters, you probably want them to work quickly so you can enjoy your privacy.

With these things in mind, “How long does it take to paint a room?” is a common question. Unfortunately, it’s a question without a straight answer. Not every room is the same, after all. And how long it takes depends on a number of additional factors. Let’s dive into each of these components so you can get a better idea of how long it takes to paint a room in various circumstances.

Keep in Mind Preparation Time

Interior painting shouldn’t begin without first performing proper preparation. You’ll need to move furniture, lay down drop cloths, tape off and cover certain areas, etc. Neglecting this step will leave you with a mess, at best, or result in a faulty, ugly paint job, at worst. This prep work can take some time – and it should if you want the best outcome. If you include this time in the overall time it takes to paint a room, you’re probably looking at an extra 30-60 minutes right off the bat.

How Big is the Room?

Of course, preparing and painting a room will take more or less time depending on how much you need to cover. Larger rooms take longer to paint, and smaller rooms take less time, naturally. The average bedroom, according to the National Home Builder Association, is about 432 square feet. For the average painter and a room this size, the whole job should take about 4-6 hours from preparation to cleanup. Cut this time in half when hiring experts.

The Whole Room, or Part of it?

The room’s size matters, but the overall surface you’re actually painting matters more. In other words, you may only be painting part of a room as opposed to the whole thing. If you’re not painting the ceiling or a certain wall, for instance, this will cut down your residential painting time considerably.

Application Method Matters

The tools you use to paint can play a role in determining how long it takes to paint a room as well. The three main application methods are brushing, rolling, and spraying. Spraying, while perhaps the fastest method, is usually done for exteriors and industrial surfaces, not interior rooms. Most home painting jobs utilize brushes and rollers. The most efficient way to paint a room is typically to use brushes to cut in the edges of walls and trim, and use rollers to quickly cover the large open surfaces.

How Many Coats?

Unless you’re just touching up a room’s existing paint job, painting a new room often requires multiple coats. The first coat will take longer to apply, while the second coat will help saturate the color and fully cover the surface and any imperfections. For the average room and average painter, it might take about 45 minutes to an hour to paint the walls and ceilings with the initial coat, and maybe half that time to apply the second one. Pro painters can usually do this even quicker.

Cleaning and Touching Up, Too

Just like preparation, cleaning and touching up are important, and should be factored into the total time to paint a room. If you’re on your own, this final step can take another hour or so. With a crew, it might take half the time. Professional painting services have their process down pat, so cleaning up for them usually leaves a minimal mark on the clock.

DIY or Hiring Professional Painters?

Experience really does make a difference when it comes to painting a room in record time. The pros at All American Painting Plus work carefully and don’t cut corners (figuratively), but we honor the customer’s needs and time constraints, always making sure to get the job done quickly. Our experience allows us to do this naturally, so you don’t have to spend hours doing it yourself or deal with workers in your home for longer than expected.

How long does it take to paint a room for professionals, then? Well, about two hours for the standard room, which includes preparation and cleanup time. But as always, it depends. Let All American Painting Plus help you paint your home in a timely fashion. To learn more about all that we do, give us a call at (703)-620-5563!