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How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Door (& How to Estimate It)?

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Painting is a great way to improve the durability, and beauty of any surface be it wood, metal, or concrete. For the doors in your home, a fresh coat of paint will not just beautify the door but will also protect it.

There is always a lot of grime and dirt on doors and this is as a result of dirty fingerprints, constant friction, and dust that the door is exposed to. Painting the door will help keep the grime at bay and make the door last longer.

But before you can enjoy the perks of a new paint job on your door, you need to paint the door. Though painting a door is relatively easier than painting most other wooden surfaces, it would still cost you a bit of cash. So, how much does it cost to paint a door?

On average, it costs between $30 to $100 to fully paint a door yourself and between $50 to $200 to hire a professional painter. Additionally, the total price will also depend on several factors such as the type of paint used, the condition of the door, and the method used to paint the door.

It is vital to know the estimated cost of painting a door so you can make better financial decisions without spending over your set budget.

So how do you estimate the cost of painting your door? What type of paint is used to paint doors? And how can you minimize the overall cost of painting your door? You see there is more to know about the total cost of painting a door. So, let’s get on with it.

Related Read— Best Paint Sprayers for Doors

What Are the Factors That Influence the Total Cost of Painting a Door?

When it comes to painting a door, the total cost is determined by several factors including:

The Type of Door

The type of door is a primary determinant of the total cost of painting the door because it also influences other factors such as the type of paint you will need and the primer to use.

Painting a wooden door will cost you a bit more than painting a metal door especially if you have to deal with repairs. Wooden doors are more prone to damage than metal doors.

It also matters if you are painting an interior door like the door to your room or an exterior door such as your front door. By contrast, exterior doors cost a bit more than interior doors.

Related Read— How to Paint a Door?

The Cost of the Primer

Priming a door before painting is usually advised. As stated earlier, there is always a lot of grime on doors. A primer will help to remove all the hardware on the door. If you want to use a different color from the previous one on the door, priming is necessary.

The primer you will use will depend on the material of the door. The primer used on metallic doors is different from the one used on wooden doors. A can of primer would cost you a bit less than the price of the paint, somewhere between $7 and $15.

The Cost of the Supplies Needed

You will need some basic supplies to paint. These supplies will help to prepare and paint the door. To paint a door, you will need a pair of gloves, sandpaper, a drop cloth, a respirator mask, and duct tape, among other items.

The Cost of Repairs

If you are painting an old door, then you might need to repair the door. For a wooden door, pests like termites and rodents may have damaged the lower part of the door and if it’s a metallic door, it could have gotten chipped or rusted.

Related Read— Best Sprayers for Decks

The Cost and Type of Paint Used

Professional painters usually advise DIYers to pick a strong and durable paint or finish for doors. This is because doors are used and touched a lot so you need paint or a finish that can cope with dust and friction.

For wooden doors, a gloss or semi-gloss finish will suffice. Gloss and semi-gloss make cleaning easier, is dust-resistant, and the paint also outlines the design on the door making it more appealing.

For metallic doors, a semi-gloss finish can also work or you can go for water-based latex paint. Glossy paints are a tad more expensive than normal flat paints.

You can get a bucket of semi-gloss paint for a price tag between $10 and $20 depending on where you live.

The Method Used for Painting

The method used to apply the paint also influences the total cost. The price of a paintbrush is less than that of a roller and the price of a roller will be lower than the price of a paint sprayer.

For instance, if you used a paint sprayer to paint your front door and your friend used a paintbrush to paint the same front door using the same paint, the resulting prices will vary.

The Labor Method Used

Generally, hiring a professional painter to paint your door will cost you more than if you DIY. The painter will charge you for all the materials needed and for the time and effort he or she will use.

Though hiring a professional is more assuring and convenient, it can cost you over $200 depending on the other factors listed above.

Should You Paint Your Door Yourself or Hire a Professional Painter?

Either you paint yourself or hire a professional, the ultimate goal is to have a perfectly executed task. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and you have the time, I would recommend painting the door yourself.

If you want to paint your doors then you have two choices -- do it yourself or hire a professional. So, should you paint your door yourself or hire a professional painter? It depends, if you have a lot of free time then doing it yourself is better. But, if you have zero experience, and not a lot of free time then hiring a professional is a better idea.

You will take pride in the task when you complete it. However, if you aren’t experienced with such tasks, I would recommend hiring a professional painter. With a professional, you are guaranteed professionalism and a good paint job.

Overall, the final decision rests on a few factors such as:

  • Your budget – If your budget is under $100, then you should DIY. If you don’t mind spending extra, you can hire a painter.
  • The time – Painting a door sometimes is not a day’s job and it’s also not a task you want to rush. So if you know you don’t have the time, you should hire a painter.
  • Your level of experience –  If this is your first time undertaking such a task, you should hire a professional to help you out. You can assist and watch the painter while he or she works. This will help you gain valuable knowledge to execute the task yourself next time.
  • The size of the task – If it’s just one door you want to paint, you can DIY but if it’s a big task, you should hire help even if you are experienced. Getting help will make your work easier and faster.

How to Estimate the Cost of Painting a Door?

It is rather difficult to estimate the exact amount it will cost you to paint a door. This is because of unforeseen circumstances like a sudden spike in the price of an item, an item you forgot to add to your list or the scarcity of an item.

Though estimating the exact amount seems impossible, you can still round up the figures to a close estimate. So how do you do that? Well, let’s find out.

There are two ways to paint a door and thus two possible prices. You can either paint the door by yourself or hire a professional. The estimated cost for painting the same door will vary if you do it yourself or hire help.

Related Read— Paint Sprayers for Beginners Review

How to Estimate the Cost of Hiring a Professional to Paint a Door?

Hiring a professional painter to paint your door will cost more than doing it yourself. A painter will most likely charge you per hour.

Let’s assume he or she uses 5 hours on the door and charges you $20 per hour used. That’s already a total price of $100 for labor. Not to mention the cost of buying the required materials which can also be up to $100. At the end of the day, you are looking at a possible $200 in total cost.

When you compare that to the $60 estimated cost of painting the door yourself, you can see why many homeowners will prefer to take on their painting tasks by themselves.

Disclaimer: You should note that these are rough estimates. You shouldn’t use the above estimate for the total cost of painting your door. You should only use it as a guide for how to calculate yours.

Related Read— How To Calculate The Cost To Spray Paint Your Wheels?

How Can You Reduce the Total Cost of Painting a Door?

We all want a nice paint job at a reasonable price. So how can you reduce the total cost of painting a door?

Do It by Yourself

If you paint the door yourself, you are removing a large chunk of the total price it will cost to hire a painter. Based on experience, 60% to 70% of the estimated cost you will be charged by a painter can be avoided if you do the task yourself.

Look for Cheaper Products

This doesn’t mean you should sacrifice quality for the price. Different cheaper products will do a hell of a good job on your door.

Buy Used Tools

If you are so interested in cutting down the total cost, you can buy used tools. Used tools like hammers, paint sprayers, scrapers, and the lot are always cheaper than brand new ones.

Just ensure the tool you buy is still in good condition. Also, buy the tools in hardware stores where you get a warranty and a receipt.

Related Read— How to Remove Spray Paint From Vinyl Siding

Final Words

So there you have it. Now you know how to calculate the estimated cost of painting a door. Just calculate the cost of the items that you will need to paint the door and you are good to go.

If you have any questions or comments, kindly leave them below and I’ll attend to them as soon as possible. Have a terrific painting experience.

Related Read— How to Calculate the Cost of Painting a Truck by Yourself?

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We’re a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

The Tool Geeks Team

We're a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

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