How Much DO painters Charge Per Hour In NYC?
- Christopher Heart
- Sep 6
- 3 min read
If you hire a painter who works by the hour, a NYC painter's hourly rate is between $50-$100 per hour, per painter. You'll see lower or higher rates per hour depending on the painter's experience and the difficulty of the task, but ~$50-$60/hr is a common rate for independent painting contractors. If you have a small apartment in New York, hiring an independent painter who charges per hour might work, but service quality may vary with a one-off painter.
Important Note:
Most professional painting companies in New York do not charge an hourly rate. Instead, they charge an average of $2-$6 per square foot. This is because painting a large house or apartment can take several days, so charging by the hour is not ideal since it is hard to determine how long the project will take.
How Much Do Painters Charge Per Hour In NYC?
Hourly pricing can feel simple, but big city jobs can take 20-40 hours to complete. This will make it hard for an estimator to provide you with an accurate quote if they charge you per hour, rather than a rate per square footage. A painting company charging per hour may also lead to billing disputes with the consumer if they feel the job is taking longer than anticipated.
To avoid these common issues mentioned above, professional painters are leaning towards flat rate square footage pricing.
Why Painting Can Take Several Hours.
Apartments and homes in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a unique layout and can be very large. The time it takes to prep the home may take several hours before the painters even begin painting:
1). Protecting Your Floors and Walkways.
We lay canvas drop cloths where we’re working—they don’t slip like thin plastic, are not as messy, and are easy to work with. For heavy traffic or pristine hardwoods, we add heavy‑duty floor protection board (e.g., Ram Board) over entry paths and staging areas. It’s tough, reusable, and resists spills.
2). Masking And Covering.
Baseboards, door casings, and window trim are taped and masked for sharp lines and easier cleanup.
Furniture is grouped and covered with plastic or clean drop cloths; large pieces are wrapped and sealed so that dust and fine spray don’t reach them.
3). Furniture Handling.
In furnished apartments, we reposition furniture to the center of the room, protect it, and create safe walk paths. Very heavy or built‑in items may require extra hands or a mover; the owner should pack fragile decor before we arrive. This step alone can add meaningful time—but it prevents damage and lets us prep every surface properly.
4). Cleaning & de‑glossing.
Walls are dusted/vacuumed first, then cleaned where needed (warm water and a mild degreaser for kitchens and high‑touch areas). On glossy or previously oil-based coatings, we scuff-sand or use a bonding primer to ensure the new paint adheres.
5). Repair.
We patch holes and cracks, caulk at the trim, spot-prime stains, and skim-coat uneven areas as needed—so the finish looks smooth and even
Quick Way To See Hourly Rate On A Price Per Sqft.
If you still want an hourly sense, ask the painting company:
How many painters?
How many days?
Then:
Multiply the number of painters × days × ~8 hours to get the total painter-hours, then divide by the project price.
Example:
$4,000 for a 1-bedroom with two painters for 2 days → 2 × 2 × 8 = 32 painter-hours → $3,800 ÷ 32 ≈ $119 per painter-hour (effective). That number will vary depending on the prep, ceilings, trim, closets, and building rules, which is exactly why most NYC firms price the entire job.
Painters Generally Charge Per Sqft, Not Per Hour.
In NYC (and across the industry), pros rarely bill hourly—most quotes are per project or per square foot because real jobs take multiple days and include prep, protection, and building coordination. If you want a predictable total, ask for a per‑project/per‑sq‑ft price. At My NYC Painters, we publish flat-rate ranges and provide a binding written quote after a quick walkthrough.
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