How much do painters charge for apartments in Los Angeles?

Quick answer: Across LA, interior apartment painting typically runs $2 to $5 per interior square foot, so a 1BR often lands $1,200 to $3,000 depending on rooms and prep. TurnOver LA prices by scope: $395 per room for repainting, $200 for paint touch-up, $125 for ceilings and trim, and $150 to $240 per drywall patch. We deliver a flat 48-hour turnaround.

Painters charge apartments in Los Angeles using either square foot rates, per-room pricing, or a flat by-scope estimate. Citywide, you will hear $2 to $5 per interior square foot for full repaints. TurnOver LA posts exact line items instead: $395 per room for repainting, $200 for touch-up, $125 for ceilings and baseboard or trim, and $150 to $240 per drywall patch, all with a 48-hour turnaround. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What do LA painters usually charge for apartment interiors?

Across LA, interior unit repaints usually price at $2 to $5 per interior square foot, or $300 to $700 per room when painters quote by room. Quotes swing with wall condition, number of colors, and ceiling or trim scope. TurnOver LA prices are posted: repainting per room is $395 per room, paint touch-up only is $200, ceilings and baseboard or trim are $125, and small or medium drywall repairs are $150 per patch or $240 per patch. That gives you a predictable cart instead of a fuzzy square foot range.

How much does it cost to paint a 1,000 square foot apartment in LA?

Market-wide, a 1,000 square foot interior typically prices at $2,000 to $5,000 in Los Angeles. With TurnOver LA, you map the space to rooms and add any needed add-ons. Example scenarios:

• Two-bedroom with living room and hallway: 4 rooms x $395 equals $1,580 for walls. If you add ceilings and trim in those rooms, add 4 x $125 equals $500. Any drywall repair would add $150 per small patch or $240 per medium patch.
• Large one-bedroom with living room and dining area counted as separate rooms: 3 rooms x $395 equals $1,185 for walls, plus any ceilings/trim at $125 per room if needed.

This room-based approach fits most 1,000 square foot units across Downtown LA and Westlake and keeps scope honest without ballooning on square foot multipliers.

What does TurnOver LA count as a room for the $395 per-room repaint?

A room is a standard, enclosed space with four paintable walls, like a bedroom, living room, dining room, or office. Kitchens and bathrooms are often smaller and heavy on cabinets or tile, so we scope them case by case as either a room at $395 or as targeted touch-up at $200 if walls are minimal. Ceilings and baseboard or trim are not part of the per-room wall repaint, they are a separate $125 line item when you want them refreshed to match.

How much to charge to paint a 200 square foot room?

Across LA, painters commonly quote a single room at $300 to $700 depending on prep and the amount of cut work. TurnOver LA posts a flat repainting per room at $395 per room for walls. If you also want the ceiling and baseboard or trim in that same room, add $125. Light touch-up, like rolling out scuffs and a few spot repairs without full coverage, is $200.

Is touch-up worth it or should I do a full repaint?

Touch-up is efficient when color and sheen are current, paint is on site or readily matchable, and wall damage is limited. Across LA, touch-up quotes usually run $150 to $400. TurnOver LA’s paint touch-up only is $200. It is the right call when you are between tenants and you only need to erase handprints, a few nail holes, and minor scuffs. If you can see flashing, color mismatch, or coverage gaps after a few test areas, step up to $395 per room for a clean, even reset.

How much do landlords pay for drywall repair before painting in LA?

Small drywall patches and texture blending in Los Angeles commonly price at $125 to $250 each, while medium repairs land $200 to $450 each. TurnOver LA posts both in the painting and drywall menu: small drywall patch and texture is $150 per patch, and a medium drywall repair is $240 per patch. Repair first, then paint. If you are placing the charge against a tenant deposit, confirm it is damage beyond normal wear, and document with photos.

Are ceilings, trim, and cabinets priced separately?

Yes. Across LA, painters typically break these items out because they add ladder time and detail work. Market quotes often add $100 to $250 per room for ceilings and trim. TurnOver LA lists ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125. Cabinet or shelving refreshes that need a sand and repaint are $135. For a consistent look in West Hollywood and Santa Monica stock, we often see clients do walls plus ceilings and trim in high-traffic rooms and just walls in bedrooms.

What does a realistic LA apartment painting cart look like?

Here is a side by side of typical market ranges versus posted TurnOver LA pricing, so you can build an apples to apples scope.

If you also need a turnover clean, pair your paint scope with our Make Ready base package, which includes a deep clean and 12 point photo report. See the service details here: Make Ready cleaning. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

What actually drives apartment painting costs in LA?

Several predictable factors push costs up or down. Use this list to scope before you invite bids.

1. Number of rooms to be fully repainted versus touched up.
2. Wall condition and drywall repair count, small or medium patches add cost per patch.
3. Ceilings and trim included or not, they are a separate line item.
4. Number of colors and sheen changes that require full coverage.
5. Access and protection in older buildings with tight hallways in Koreatown or Downtown LA.
6. Vacancy timeline, every day empty is $80 to $200 in lost rent, so predictable 48 hour turnaround matters.

Will painting costs be deductible from the tenant’s security deposit?

Under California rules, routine painting at normal turnover can be normal wear and tear, which is not deductible. Damage, heavy nicotine or crayon coverage, or unauthorized color changes can be deducted with documentation. See the rules in California Civil Code §1950.5 and the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. Also note the current statewide cap under AB 12. Keep invoices and before or after photos in your file.

• Reference: California Civil Code §1950.5
• Reference: California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide
• Reference: AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap

For LA rent stabilized units, confirm any paint obligations or frequency norms with the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

Do you paint exteriors of apartment complexes?

Exterior painting has a different cost structure, often priced by elevation and substrate, and can run $2.50 to $6 per exterior square foot across Los Angeles depending on height, stucco condition, and safety planning. TurnOver LA focuses on interior unit turnover scopes. If you need fast interior painting tied to a vacancy in Downtown LA or West Hollywood, we can quote and complete in 48 hours. For exteriors, use a specialty exterior firm.

What about the question “How much should I charge for a 24x36 painting”?

That query is about selling a canvas or fine art piece, not painting apartment walls. It does not apply to turnover work. If you are scoping unit interiors, stick to rooms, ceilings and trim, cabinet refreshes, and any drywall repair. Those are the controllable drivers for vacancy-ready make ready work.

Example pricing maps for common LA layouts

• Studio in Koreatown, walls only: 1 main room plus a small kitchen wall touch-up, 1 room at $395 plus touch-up $200 equals $595. Optional ceilings and trim add $125.
• 1BR in Echo Park, walls and ceilings in living and bedroom: 2 rooms x $395 equals $790 for walls, 2 x $125 equals $250 for ceilings and trim, total line items $1,040. Add any drywall patches as needed at $150 to $240 per patch.
• 2BR in Westwood, full walls, ceilings and trim throughout: 4 rooms x $395 equals $1,580 for walls, 4 x $125 equals $500 for ceilings and trim, plus cabinet shelf refresh in a closet at $135 if desired.

If you prefer to bundle painting with cleaning and punch, add our painting and drywall to a Make Ready and, if needed, a handyman punch list style visit. Keeping it on one 48 hour clock reduces vacancy loss. For more context on vacancy math, see our guide: property-managers-vacancy-loss-los-angeles.

How to avoid repaint surprises during a turnover in LA

• Use one neutral color and one sheen across the unit to keep touch-up viable next tenancy.
• Replace heavily damaged walls with a small or medium patch rather than feathering spackle across an entire face.
• Decide early if ceilings and trim are in or out. The $125 line item per room keeps this controllable.
• Lock colors and sheen before the crew arrives. Color changes can force full coverage.
• Add a Make Ready clean to close out dust before photos. Our base package includes a 12 point photo report.

For deeper planning on turnover scope in Los Angeles, see our guides on apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles and apartment-turnover-checklist. If you are sorting tenant chargebacks, you may also want normal-wear-and-tear-california and california-21-day-deposit-return.

We work across the Basin, including Downtown LA and West Hollywood. You can see posted rates and book in under a minute. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

Why use TurnOver LA for apartment painting instead of a square foot bid?

• Posted line items match common turnover scopes, so you can budget without a site visit.
• 48 hour turnaround without a rush fee reduces vacancy loss in high demand pockets like Santa Monica and Koreatown.
• Room based pricing fits LA stock with variable room sizes better than blanket square foot rates.
• Separate ceilings and trim at $125 lets you choose where finish upgrades matter most.
• Documented photo reporting through our Make Ready helps you support deposit charges under California Civil Code §1950.5.

In short, align scope with rooms and add-ons, then execute in 48 hours. That is the cleanest way to turn keys in LA.