Painting Cost in Chennai in 2025

It's no secret that Chennai is South India's fastest-growing city in terms of culture, business, and education. Chennai is located on India's southern coast and is the most popular tourist destination for visitors from outside the country. It is India's safest metropolis, which also stands out for its kind welcome and is one of the world's best cities. As a result of its low cost of living and abundance of large corporations, Chennai is a popular destination for visitors, students, and job-seekers. Naturally, as the need for real estate grows, so does the need for painting services. Read on to know more about the painting cost in Chennai.

The cost of living in Chennai is lower than in other major cities. The same applies to the house painting charges in Chennai. However, owing to the complexities of painting, homeowners often make mistakes in picking the kind of paint, application technique, and, most significantly, the vendor hired to do this vital operation. Several aspects go into the cost of painting a home, including the kind of paint you choose, how much money you have to spend, and how these elements affect the overall house painting sq. ft rate in Chennai

Things to Consider Before Painting Your Home

Prime The Walls

Some paints have a primer; some do not. So before purchasing paint, ask your paint store whether it's pre-mixed or not. If the paint is not pre-mixed with a primer, prime the walls to cover existing stains, chips, holes, cracks, and colours. That will provide a faultless finish with the topcoat.

Go For Latex Paints

These are Water-based paints and can be used on external walls but are best used indoors. Their superior colour retention, quick-drying, and eco-friendliness make them ideal for interior painting. They can endure the moist environment of the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Oil-based paints generate more scents than latex paints.

Preparing The Space Helps

A good time to do this is if you haven't moved into your house yet or haven't begun any interior design work. If you have, it is best to have everything done before starting the house painting process. Get rid of all the furniture and cover the walls with plastic sheets or old newspapers with masking tape. Fill any gaps in the wall using putty. 

More Is Better for Consistency

When a painter paints the same colour on the walls, the colour intensity varies. Most of the time, this is due to paint containers that have been poorly mixed. The painter should incorporate all the paint into one giant bucket and stir it well before painting each tin or can. Make sure the bucket can is be sealed to keep paint fresh for days.

But is it all just about colours?

Types of Interior and Exterior Paint

There's more to consider than simply the colour when choosing paint for your house. It also protects your walls while providing a variety of effects. This list to start with is ideal for exploring all the choices.

Distemper

Best suited for a textured look. It's a cheap whitewashing paint used in Indian houses. Simple to use but quickly marked or discoloured. Not suitable for family dwellings.

Emulsion

It has a rich look and is quite durable. Stains may be readily removed with a soapy cloth. Ideal for families with kids and pets.

Enamel

Exceptional durability and glossy effects. Enamel is one of the priciest house paints in India. It resists stains and water and may be used on metal and wood.

Finishes For Interior Paint

All paints have a different finishing result on the walls. Knowing about them aids decision-making:

Matte

This non-reflective coating hides blemishes on walls and ceilings and has the lowest gloss. In addition, the texture is tough to clean and retouch.

Eggshell and Satin

This finish has a smooth, delicate shine between matte and gloss. It's hardy and used to decorate bathrooms and kitchens. But it can't disguise flaws. Even though satin is smoother, eggshell is simpler to work with but doesn't have the same sheen.

Glossy

The most durable and most reflecting of the three finishes, this one will endure a long time. It may also be cleaned repeatedly. Creating a smooth finish requires many paint coats.

You may also combine several kinds of paint to get the desired look.

Difference Between 1 BHK, 2 BHK 3 BHK & 4 BHK (0.5 BHK): Flat Layout & Painting Cost

Apartment Type	Typical Floor Size (sq ft)	Painting Cost (approx.)
1BHK	600 - 800	Rs 15,000 - Rs 20,000
2BHK	650 - 1,000	Rs 20,000 - Rs 30,000
3BHK	1,000 - 1,500	Rs 30,000 - Rs 40,000
4BHK	1,500 - 2,000+	Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000+

Note: The painting cost is approximate and may vary depending on factors like carpet area, built-up area, type of paint, labor cost, and other specific requirements. Larger properties with higher square footage may have additional painting expenses. For accurate estimates, it is advisable to consult professionals based on individual property needs.

House Painting Cost for 1BHK, 2BHK and 3BHK Homes

1BHK House Painting Cost: Emulsion painting cost in Chennai starts at about Rs. 12000.

2BHK House Painting Cost: Emulsion painting cost in Chennai starts at about Rs. 20000.

3BHK House Painting Cost: Emulsion painting cost in Chennai starts at about Rs. 30000.

House Painting Cost in Chennai Per Square Foot: Interior vs Exterior

What is the nature of the surface to be painted? This is the most crucial question to be addressed when you are calculating home painting costs in Chennai. Exterior paint is less expensive than inside paint. However, outside painting is a time-consuming procedure requiring a ladder pulley system or scaffolding. In addition, exteriors, according to our services specialists, need more layers of paint and a complete sanding/levelling procedure since they are frequently more weather-beaten.

Interior painting prices range from Rs 12 to Rs 35 per square foot.

Exterior painting prices start at Rs 13-16 per square foot plus painter cost per day in Chennai.

House Painting Cost in Chennai Per Square Foot: Fresh vs Repaint

The second item to consider is the state of the walls. 1-2 coats of putty, primer, and at least 2-3 coats of paint are required for a new coat of paint. On the other hand, repainting necessitates touch-up putty and primer, as well as 1-2 coats of paint. Wall punning is suggested for higher-end (luxury) paints because it improves the aesthetic by concealing wall undulations. Naturally, a new painting is more expensive than repainting a property.

Fresh painting cost per square foot in Chennai: Rs 20 to Rs 40. 

Cost of repainting: Rs 12 to Rs 32 per square foot.

House Painting Cost in Chennai Per Square Foot: Paint Type

The most evident aspect influencing the painting cost is the kind of paint used. The prices of various types of paints vary significantly. For example, water-soluble distemper paints are the least expensive and least long-lasting; they also have a strong odour.

Emulsion paints may be water-based or oil-based, and they are currently the standard quality for painting. These paints are long-lasting and, in many cases, washable, and some of them even have anti-fungal or mildew characteristics.

In truth, the price of emulsion paint varies greatly depending on the finish, such as matte, glossy, or pearl. Texture paint is the costliest choice, and it is often used for accent walls. However, these paints need particular foundation preparation, equipment, and extra labour expenses for the desired look.

Paint Rate in Chennai

Here is a breakdown of the painting cost per sq. ft in Chennai -

• Distemper costs as little as Rs 8 per square foot.
• Emulsion pricing starts at Rs 12 per square foot.
• Texture paint prices start at Rs 80 per square foot.

Compare costs with local contractors and branded online services before selecting any particular service!

House Painting Cost in Chennai Per Square Foot: Number of Colours Used

Using a single colour to paint your whole house will always be less expensive than doing it in different colours. This is due to simple economies of scale. The more shades you use, the more expensive it becomes. Furthermore, the likelihood of waste increases when various colours are used. If you choose a deeper colour for your walls, the painting cost will be higher, but light colours are less expensive to paint.

Single-colour interior painting costs as little as Rs 20 per square foot.

House Painting Labour Cost Per Square Foot in Chennai  

Depending on the cost of living, labour prices in Chennai vary significantly from one area to the next. While low key areas might have a lower labour cost, higher rates are sure to prevail in affluent areas. However, in most circumstances, the amount of expertise necessary dictates the labour cost. Furthermore, branded painting services charge more but, in most cases, provide superior results than private contractors.

The labour cost is more for exterior painting and textured paints. Therefore, the most crucial thing in this situation is identifying the proper resource with the necessary abilities to execute the task. As a result, you should always choose organised players over inexperienced contractors since it is a safer investment.

Labour prices start at Rs. 10-14 per square foot.

House Painting Cost in Chennai Per Square Foot: Putty Price

Putty is a kind of filler used to fix cracks and holes in walls. Before painting, a coat of putty is usually used to ensure that the wall has a smooth and uniform surface. It is also used to extend the life of the paint. Therefore, 1-2 layers of putty are required for a new coat of paint. On the other hand, repainting merely necessitates the use of some touch-up putty.

Putty prices start at Rs 4-5 per square foot.

Cost of House Wall Painting Based on Square Footage

Painting costs in Chennai often start at-

Square Footage(in sq.ft)	Distemper Paint Cost(in Rs.)	Emulsion Paint Cost(in Rs.)	Lustre Paint Cost(in Rs.)	Textured Paint Cost(in Rs.)
600	4800	7200	18000	48000
1000	8000	12000	30000	80000
1100	8800	13200	33000	88000
1200	9600	14400	36000	96000
1300	10400	15600	39000	104000
1400	11200	16800	42000	112000
1700	13600	20400	51000	136000
‘1800	14400	21600	54000	144000
2000	16000	24000	60000	160000
2200	17600	26400	66000	176000
3000	24000	36000	90000	240000
4000	32000	48000	120000	320000

Tips To Choose Paint and Finishes for Different BHKs

Whether you own a 1 BHK or a 4 BHK, you will have a living room. In a BHK, the H is generally the most oversized room. You will also be entertaining visitors here. This room determines your home's identity and how guests see it. So, pick an acrylic paint, preferably latex acrylic. Most finishes work well; however, most people prefer eggshell; while satin brings out the colours finest, you must avoid glossy surfaces.

Living Room/Hall: Indian cooking produces a lot of greasy vapours that no exhaust fan can remove. There will also be spills, which may cause damage to the surrounding walls. Choose latex enamel for easy cleaning kitchen walls. However, latex acrylic paints can be rinsed and may provide additional alternatives. Semi-gloss or gloss coatings are preferable for washing.

Bathrooms: Most people choose tiles, although others prefer to paint. Your walls must be water-resistant and robust. So, use latex enamel or washable acrylic paint: gloss or semi-gloss finish. Then there's satin, but it's too extravagant for a bathroom.

Bedrooms: Less traffic than the rest of the house. You also want glare-free walls if you prefer to read, watch TV, or work on your laptop in bed. These are also desirable features in a guestroom. So, choose an acrylic latex paint with matte emulsions for trimmings. Less is more in this case.

Children's Rooms: This particular section is usually absent in 1BHK residences. In a 2 BHK, you may designate one of the bedrooms as a child's room. Use the same colour as your bedroom or guest room for older kids. The walls are sometimes used as a chalkboard by young children. Keeping this in mind, choose a low-VOC acrylic latex or latex enamel paint (Low-VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds). Satin or higher sheen paints make it easy to clean.

Hallways and Corridors: The best decision for paint depends on the traffic at a particular area of a house. To paint heavy traffic areas, use semi- or gloss. Flat and matte might well be in low traffic locations. In low light, satin or eggshell may be preferable.

Ceilings: It isn't easy to smooth out tops. Thus, they usually contain various irregularities. Hence, the correct paint may disguise these flaws. Now we all know the ceiling cannot be washed now and then. So, 100% acrylic or water-based distemper is excellent ceiling paint. The optimum finish is flat or matte. However, the eggshell finish may also be used to reflect light. But the latter will reveal flaws.

A better understanding of a house painting cost in Chennai would make your financial planning a lot more manageable. The size of your home, the painting cost in Chennai per square foot and the painting labour cost in Chennai all play a role. 

Not sure yet? Do you have a question? You may get a free estimate and inspection from NoBroker painting services by calling them. Count on our experts to guarantee that you have access to only the finest paints and services available. To learn more about interior design concepts, drop a comment below. In addition, our blog is a great place to acquire ideas.

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