Paint pricing held roughly flat in 2026 after the 2022-2023 spikes. Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Sherwin-Williams Duration still lead the premium tier at $65-$85/gallon; Behr Ultra and Sherwin ProClassic hold the mid-tier at $42-$58; contractor-grade lines (Valspar Reserve, Glidden Premium) sit at $28-$38/gallon. Coverage is 350-400 sq ft per gallon on smooth surfaces, 250-325 on textured.
How much paint do you actually need
Standard rule: interior walls need 1 gallon per 350 sq ft on smooth drywall, 1 per 300 on textured or previously unpainted, and always plan for two coats on any color change. Ceilings need a separate flat paint rated for low-sheen. Trim, doors, and windows typically consume 1 gallon per 200-250 linear feet of trim at 2 coats.
Primer — when it matters
Prime always: new drywall, patched areas larger than a fist, stains (water, smoke, marker), tannin-heavy woods (oak, cedar), glossy surfaces being painted over with flat, and any surface going from dark to light color. Skip primer only when repainting same color over same sheen with paint-and-primer-in-one products (which work fine for light color-to-color refreshes but fail at dramatic changes).
Hiring a painter vs DIY
DIY saves 60-70% of total cost but triples time. Pro painters charge $40-$80 per hour or $3-$7 per sq ft of wall surface. A typical 12x14 bedroom (walls + ceiling + trim) runs $500-$900 to hire out, $150-$300 to DIY over a weekend. Hire pros for ceilings (hardest DIY), trim (hardest to make look good), and any room with 12+ foot ceilings that need ladders.