Quick answer
Painter labour charges in India are ₹700–₹1,800 per day for one painter in 2026 — ₹1,400–₹3,200 for a painter and helper team. Metros run 20–30% higher. Per-sqft labour-only rate is ₹18–₹35 depending on paint type (distemper vs emulsion vs texture).
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Painter labour charges per day in India are ₹700–₹1,800 in 2026 for one experienced painter, and ₹1,400–₹3,200 for a painter working with a helper (which is the norm for house painting). This is labour-only — paint, primer, putty, and sandpaper are billed separately. Metros (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi) run 20–30% above the base rate; tier-2 cities like Jaipur or Kanpur are 5–15% below.
Most 2026 house painting quotes come in three formats — per day, per square foot (of wall area), and per painted room. Per-day works when you have 3+ days of continuous work and can be on site. Per-sqft is the industry default for full-house repaints — labour-only rate is ₹18–₹35 per sqft of wall area, or ₹35–₹70 per sqft if paint is included. Per-room is quoted for touch-ups (₹800–₹2,000 per standard room).
A standard day means 8 hours on site. Most painters start at 9am and finish by 6pm with a lunch break. One painter + one helper can prep and paint 400–600 sqft of wall area (~1 standard bedroom) per day for a single-coat emulsion job. Full-house 2-coat interior repaint of a 2BHK takes 4–6 working days for a team of two.
The biggest variables in the day rate are paint type and surface prep. Rolling on plain distemper over an existing painted wall is fast — you get to ₹700–₹900 daily. Emulsion with sanding, putty, primer, and two coats is 40–60% slower — that pushes daily labour to ₹1,200–₹1,600. Texture painting or Asian Paints Royale Aspira / Lustre finish demands specialist skill and runs ₹1,800–₹2,500 per day per painter.
Ask for an itemised quote separating labour and material. A typical 2BHK repaint in a metro breaks down as: labour ₹18,000–₹28,000, paint ₹12,000–₹22,000, misc (masking, plastic sheets, minor putty) ₹1,500–₹3,000. Total ₹32,000–₹53,000. If a single lump-sum quote comes in above ₹60,000 for a 2BHK repaint without texture, you are being overcharged. Verified painters on Solve24 quote both formats upfront so you can pick the one that fits.
Painter labour per day by city, India (2026)
| City | Per day 1 painter (₹) | Painter + helper (₹) | Per sqft labour (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹975–₹2,080 | ₹1,950–₹3,900 | ₹23–₹42 |
| Delhi | ₹938–₹2,000 | ₹1,875–₹3,750 | ₹23–₹40 |
| Bangalore | ₹975–₹2,080 | ₹1,950–₹3,900 | ₹23–₹42 |
| Hyderabad | ₹862–₹1,840 | ₹1,725–₹3,450 | ₹21–₹37 |
| Chennai | ₹862–₹1,840 | ₹1,725–₹3,450 | ₹21–₹37 |
| Pune | ₹900–₹1,920 | ₹1,800–₹3,600 | ₹22–₹38 |
| Kolkata | ₹750–₹1,600 | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | ₹18–₹32 |
| Ahmedabad | ₹788–₹1,680 | ₹1,575–₹3,150 | ₹19–₹34 |
| Jaipur | ₹713–₹1,520 | ₹1,425–₹2,850 | ₹17–₹30 |
| Lucknow | ₹675–₹1,440 | ₹1,350–₹2,700 | ₹16–₹29 |
| Chandigarh | ₹788–₹1,680 | ₹1,575–₹3,150 | ₹19–₹34 |
| Indore | ₹675–₹1,440 | ₹1,350–₹2,700 | ₹16–₹29 |
Painter charges by paint type & finish (2026)
| Paint / finish | Labour per day (₹) | Per sqft labour (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distemper (single coat) | 700–900 | 10–15 | Fastest; matte finish, budget option |
| Distemper (two coat) | 800–1,100 | 14–20 | Standard for rentals |
| Emulsion — matte finish | 1,000–1,400 | 18–25 | Wipeable, mid-tier |
| Emulsion — Lustre / satin | 1,200–1,600 | 22–32 | Common for living rooms |
| Emulsion — Royale / premium | 1,400–1,800 | 28–40 | Kids room / master bed |
| Texture / stencil work | 1,800–2,500 | 45–120 | One feature wall usually |
| Exterior weatherproof | 1,200–1,800 | 25–40 | Includes crack-fill + primer |
Frequently asked
How many rooms can one painter finish in a day?+
One experienced painter working alone finishes 200–350 sqft of wall per day for a two-coat emulsion job — that is roughly half a standard bedroom. With a helper, the pair covers 400–600 sqft per day, or about one full bedroom. A 2BHK full repaint takes 4–6 working days for a two-person team.
Is painter labour cheaper per-day or per-sqft?+
For jobs over 3 days, per-day works out 10–20% cheaper — you avoid the material-margin markup that sneaks into per-sqft quotes. For jobs under 2 days (single wall, one room), per-sqft or lump-sum is cleaner. Ask the painter to quote both formats and compare.
Do painters supply their own tools and paint?+
Tools yes (rollers, brushes, ladders, drop sheets). Paint no — that's always the customer's account, either bought directly from Asian Paints / Berger / Nerolac dealer or with the painter as procurer at 5–10% handling. Always insist on paint tin serial numbers on the invoice so you know it's real.
What is the fair labour rate for a 2BHK repaint?+
A 2BHK 2-coat interior emulsion repaint (~1,000–1,300 sqft carpet, ~2,800–3,600 sqft wall area) has labour of ₹22,000–₹36,000 in metros in 2026. Add paint at ₹12,000–₹22,000 for a total of ₹34,000–₹58,000. Anything under ₹28,000 total is either sub-standard prep or fake paint.
Why is emulsion labour more than distemper?+
Emulsion needs proper surface prep — sanding, filling cracks, applying putty in 1–2 coats, primer, then 2 coats of paint. Distemper skips putty and primer for many walls. So emulsion is 3–5× the prep time; that shows up as 40–60% higher labour, even before the paint cost difference.
Should I pay the painter daily or at the end?+
For under-a-week jobs pay at the end after inspecting all rooms in daylight. For longer jobs (full house exterior + interior), pay in 3 milestones: 25% start, 50% at midway (after wall prep + first coat complete), 25% on final walkthrough. Never pay 100% upfront.
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