Quote templates for painters
Practical painting quote examples with materials, price per square metre, and detailed labour in rand.
Interior flat painting quote
Interior painting is the bread and butter for any painter in South Africa. Here's an example for a 2-bedroom flat:
- Surface preparation (filling, sanding, masking), 65 m² at R25/m²
- Wall painting, 2 coats white matte, 65 m² at R95/m²
- Ceiling painting, 2 coats matte white, 28 m² at R105/m²
- Crack repair and filling, 4 hrs at R350/hr
- Matte white paint 20L, 3 tins at R1,450 each
- Ceiling white paint 20L, 1 tin at R1,350
- Rollers, brushes, tape, and sandpaper, 1 set at R280
- Floor and furniture protection (plastic and tape), 1 set at R180
Materials total: R5,780 | Labour (per m²): R9,215 | Total: R14,995
With Prummo, dictate: "living room 28 square metres at 95 rand a metre, bedroom 18 metres at 95, ceilings 14 metres at 105, 3 tins of paint at 1,450 each..." and it's done.
Exterior house repaint quote
Exterior repaints need weather-resistant materials and often scaffolding or ladder access. Example for a single-storey house:
- Scaffold or ladder access setup, 1 service at R2,200
- High-pressure wash, 120 m² at R18/m²
- Crack repair and filling (exterior), 15 lm at R95/lm
- Exterior primer application, 120 m² at R38/m²
- Exterior painting, 2 coats, 120 m² at R125/m²
- Exterior paint 20L, 4 tins at R1,850 each
- Exterior primer 20L, 2 tins at R1,250
- Exterior filler and crack sealant, 1 set at R650
Materials total: R12,300 | Labour (per m²): R19,560 | Access setup: R2,200 | Total: R34,060
On jobs above R15,000, request a deposit via PayShap to lock in the date and buy materials, then request the balance on completion. It's an easier yes than one number all at once.
Repair and touch-up quote
Smaller jobs that keep the diary full between bigger repaints:
- Damp ceiling repair (scrape, treat, fill), 4 m² at R120/m²
- Ceiling repaint after repair, 4 m² at R105/m²
- Wall touch-up over damage (fill + 2 coats), 6 m² at R135/m²
- Matte white paint 5L, 1 tin at R480
- Damp-proofing treatment 1L, 1 unit at R220
- Filler, sandpaper, and brushes, 1 set at R150
Total: R2,865
Even small touch-ups deserve a proper quote. A professional document with your details sets you apart from the guy who quotes on a WhatsApp voice note without any breakdown.
Tips for painting quotes
Always quote by the square metre. It's transparent and lets the customer compare against other painters fairly.
Separate surface prep from the actual painting. Filling and sanding takes real time; if it's buried in one price, the customer doesn't value that part of the job.
Never forget ceilings. Many painters only quote walls and the argument happens later. Ceilings usually cost more per m² because the work is physically harder.
Before the rainy season sets in, exterior work is in high demand. Homeowners want the house painted before summer storms. Getting your quote out first, ideally the same day as the site visit, is what wins the job.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge per square metre?
For interior painting (labour only), R70 to R110 per square metre is typical. Exterior work with access equipment runs R100 to R160 per square metre. These vary by region and finish quality.
Should I include paint in the per-m² price or separately?
Separately, always. The customer understands the cost better, and you're not caught out if paint prices go up mid-job. It also makes it easy to swap brand or colour without redoing the whole quote.
How do I handle jobs that need scaffolding or access equipment?
Include it as its own line in the quote. If you're hiring it in, quote the real cost. If you own scaffolding or a ladder rig, charge a fair setup and dismantling fee.
How do my customers pay once they accept the quote?
Most pay by PayShap, a request goes straight to their banking app and it's usually confirmed within minutes. EFT with proof of payment works too, and cash is still common for smaller jobs. There's no card checkout or financing plan for South Africa.
Do I need to charge VAT on painting quotes?
Only if you're registered for VAT with SARS, in which case add it as a separate 15% line so the customer can see the base price and the tax clearly. If you're not VAT registered, leave it off the quote entirely.
Is there a licence required to work as a painter in South Africa?
No mandatory licence exists for painting work. That means a clean, itemised quote is often the clearest signal of professionalism a customer sees before choosing between you and someone scribbling a number on a notepad.