Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, apartment painting typically runs $300 to $700 per room, with small-unit bids often priced by room rather than square foot. TurnOver LA paints at Repainting per room: $395 / room, with Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 and Paint touch-up only: $200. Drywall fixes run Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch or Medium drywall repair: $240 / patch. Every job turns in 48 hours.
Apartment painting in Los Angeles is usually priced per room for rentals and turnovers. Market bids land around $300 to $700 per room. TurnOver LA is simple and fast: Repainting per room: $395 / room, Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125, and Paint touch-up only: $200, with optional drywall repairs at $150 to $240 per patch. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What does apartment painting usually cost in Los Angeles?
Across LA, apartment painting for rentals is often scoped per room. Typical market pricing is $300 to $700 per room, depending on wall condition, ceiling height, and how much prep is needed. Some vendors quote per square foot for larger interiors, usually in the $1.50 to $3.50 range for lived-in apartments. TurnOver LA keeps it predictable for turnovers. Our catalog is clear: Repainting per room: $395 / room for standard walls, Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 if you want those included, and Paint touch-up only: $200 for light refreshes where full repaint is not necessary. If there is wall damage, Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch and Medium drywall repair: $240 / patch bring the surface back to paint-ready. If cabinets or shelving need refinishing, Sand + repaint cabinets/shelving: $135 is available as an add-on.
How much does it cost to paint a two bedroom apartment in Los Angeles?
Market rates for repainting a basic 2 bedroom in LA typically total $900 to $2,000 once you factor bedrooms, living room, and basic prep. With TurnOver LA, you can plan it by scope. Many 2 bedrooms have three paintable rooms at turnover time, often the living room and two bedrooms. That pencils to Repainting per room: $395 / room, so $1,185 for three rooms, plus Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 when you want those included. If walls are clean and you only need a refresh in one room, Paint touch-up only: $200 may be enough there. Add Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch or Medium drywall repair: $240 / patch wherever needed. Units in Koreatown or Mid-City with textured plaster and picture molding can still fit this scope, but count on at least one or two patches. We finish in 48 hours, which often beats vacancy loss in the $80 to $200 per day range.
How much does it cost to paint a 500 square foot apartment?
A 500 square foot LA apartment is usually a large studio or compact 1 bedroom. Market pricing per square foot is not used as often for rentals this size, but if you convert it, you will see $750 to $1,750 using the $1.50 to $3.50 range. TurnOver LA recommends scoping by room. A typical 500 square foot layout has a living room and either an alcove or bedroom. Two rooms at Repainting per room: $395 / room totals $790. If the space is in good shape and you only need select areas blended, Paint touch-up only: $200 can be a better fit. Add Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 if you want those painted, and include Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch where needed. For cabinets or built-ins, Sand + repaint cabinets/shelving: $135 is available. This approach matches how LA landlords actually scope between-tenancy work.
How much can a landlord charge to repaint in California?
California allows legitimate repaint charges when they are beyond normal wear and tear and properly documented. Security deposit deductions must follow California Civil Code §1950.5, including itemized statements and receipts. You cannot charge for ordinary aging or routine cleaning paint. See the statute here: California Civil Code §1950.5 and the plain-language California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. LA operators on rent-stabilized units also watch repaint cycles under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. For timelines and deposit return rules, review our guide, including photos and itemization tips, at /guides/california-21-day-deposit-return and see what qualifies as damage in /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california. Document rooms, note dates, and keep the invoice aligned to real work performed.
Do you need drywall repair before repainting?
Paint only looks as good as the surface. Across LA, drywall patching is often needed at turnovers after TV mounts, floating shelves, or large wall anchors. Market pricing for patches ranges widely, but the more important point is to get the size right. TurnOver LA prices are fixed so you can plan. Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch covers minor holes and dings. Medium drywall repair: $240 / patch covers larger cut-outs or soft spots that need reinforcement and texture. If you have cabinet or shelf faces that are worn but usable, Sand + repaint cabinets/shelving: $135 brings them back in line with fresh walls. Ordering our combined painting and drywall service keeps scheduling tight under one ticket. We complete the repair, let it set, then repaint within the same 48-hour window, which limits downtime and keeps vacancy loss in check.
What factors change your painting price the most?
Seven operational items move the number on LA apartment painting more than anything else:
- Room count actually being painted, not unit size on the lease.
- Ceiling height above 9 feet or stairwells that need ladders and staging.
- Surface condition, number of drywall patches, and texture matching.
- Color changes that require extra coats or primer to cover bold walls.
- Trim and ceiling inclusion, which adds time for cutting lines and masking.
- Cabinets, shelving, and built-ins that need sanding and repaint.
- Access, elevator reservations, parking, and quiet hours in dense areas like West Hollywood.
Market vendors will price these the same way, whether they publish it or not. Our catalog lines show the impact plainly. Repainting per room: $395 / room is the base. Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 adds detailing. Paint touch-up only: $200 is the lightest scope. Patches are $150 or $240 each depending on size. That is the whole math.
How fast can TurnOver LA paint my unit and what access do you need?
We book, schedule, and complete within 48 hours on every job without a rush fee. For occupied or post-move-out turnovers, we just need key access and a clear path to walls. In tight buildings in Hollywood or Silver Lake, reserve loading zones if your HOA requires it, and confirm quiet hours. If the unit needs cleaning first, pair painting with Make Ready cleaning so we can prep walls against clean baseboards and get better lines. If there is a punch list of minor repairs, a Half-day handyman punch list: $230 or Full-day handyman punch list: $425 can run in parallel where practical. Booking both under one ticket avoids dead days between trades. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What is the best way to scope rooms in older LA buildings?
Prewar and 1950s LA apartments were built with odd room breaks, soffits, and built-ins. That can make counting rooms feel fuzzy. Scope by paintable spaces that need full wall coverage. A typical 1 bedroom is two spaces, the living room and the bedroom. Galley kitchens and baths are often touch-up only unless there is moisture damage. Do a quick wall-walk. Note any bold accent walls that need primer and any hairline cracks in lath and plaster. If your unit has wainscotting, beam details, or picture rails in areas like Larchmont Village or Miracle Mile, include Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 so cut lines are clean. Our handyman team can secure loose rails or casing before paint starts, which saves having to cut back and revisit.
Can painting be bundled to cut vacancy loss in LA?
Yes. Vacancy loss in LA runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. Bundling reduces idle time. A common stack for a 1 bedroom after a long tenancy is Make Ready (deep clean + 12-pt photo report): 1 Bedroom $255 plus Repainting per room: $395 / room for two rooms. Add Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 if you want ceilings and trim covered, and Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch as needed. If cabinets are worn, Sand + repaint cabinets/shelving: $135 keeps the kitchen presentable without a remodel. Once paint dries, add the TLA Launch Pad Media Package: $399 so leasing can list the next morning. You can book painting, cleaning, handyman, and media in one pass, hold the 48-hour window, and relist faster. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Should you repaint between every tenant in LA?
Not always. California limits deposit deductions to damage and necessary work, not routine refresh for minor scuffs. See our primers on /guides/normal-wear-and-tear-california and /guides/apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles for context. For rent-stabilized stock, repaint cycles are often three to five years, depending on wear. LA does not require a set repaint interval under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, but good records matter. If a full repaint is not warranted, Paint touch-up only: $200 can bridge one tenancy. For new deposit rules on maximum amounts a landlord can hold, see AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap, then decide if a lighter scope is the better business call.
When should you choose touch-up over a full repaint?
Choose Paint touch-up only: $200 when walls have light scuffs, one-off nail holes, or a few blendable areas that do not cross high-visibility walls. Hallways and bedrooms with neutral paint often qualify. If you can stand in the living room and see more than three mismatched spots on the major wall planes, a full room repaint at Repainting per room: $395 / room usually reads cleaner in photos and showings. Use Small drywall patch + texture: $150 / patch for TV-mount holes or loosened anchors, and Medium drywall repair: $240 / patch for larger cut-outs. For a cohesive look in classic white or soft gray, include Ceilings and baseboard/trim: $125 where cut lines have yellowed or stained.
If you want a scoped proposal with photos, we can package painting with our 12-point report inside Make Ready service. It documents conditions you can use for fair billing, deposit accounting, and leasing collateral.