How we build our cost estimates
Every cost number on this site — city guides, blog posts, calculator defaults — is built from three sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics painter wage data (updated annually, broken down by MSA)
- Manufacturer coverage specs from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Dunn-Edwards product data sheets
- Field experience from John Miller's 15 years quoting residential jobs, plus anonymized aggregate data from PaintPricing calculator users
We update regional ranges quarterly. When labor rates shift or paint manufacturers change coverage specs, the numbers on this site change too.
Editorial note: We do not accept paid placements from paint manufacturers, contractors, or supply retailers. Product mentions (e.g., Sherwin-Williams Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura) reflect what John actually uses on job sites.