Commercial painting costs $2 to $6 per square foot of painted surface, by national figures published for 2026. For a business or a landlord, the price is only half the question. The other half is how the work fits around customers, staff and tenants.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint an office or commercial space?
The national cost to paint an office or other commercial interior is $2 to $6 per square foot. HomeGuide gives one figure for commercial work and no separate numbers for offices, shops or warehouses.
| Paintable area | National range |
|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | $3,000 to $7,200 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $6,000 to $18,000 |
The same source lists commercial labor at $60 to $100 per hour and exterior work that needs scaffolding at $5 to $10 or more per square foot. Detroit's older commercial buildings often have plaster, steel windows, painted block and high ceilings, and each affects the price.
Can painters work nights or weekends so the business stays open?
Many commercial painters do work nights or weekends, and it is the usual way to paint a shop, office or restaurant without closing it. Whether it is possible for your job depends on the painter, the building and its rules.
Tell us your opening hours and any limits set by your landlord or building manager when we walk the space. We will tell you what schedule we can offer and write it into the quote. Ask whether work outside normal hours changes the price.
How much does it cost to repaint a rental apartment between tenants?
No published figure exists for a repaint between tenants as such. The nearest national figures are for apartment painting in general: $2 to $6 per square foot of floor area.
| Apartment | National range |
|---|---|
| Studio, 400 to 600 sq ft | $800 to $3,600 |
| 1 bedroom, 600 to 800 sq ft | $1,200 to $4,800 |
| 2 bedrooms, 800 to 1,200 sq ft | $1,600 to $7,200 |
| 3 bedrooms, 1,200 to 1,500 sq ft or more | $2,400 to $9,000 |
A turnover repaint in the same color on sound walls sits toward the low end. Smoke, heavy wear, color changes and repairs push it up. We price each unit after a look.
How often should a rental be repainted?
How often a rental needs repainting depends on wear, not on a fixed number of years. Many landlords repaint, or at least touch up, at each change of tenant, and repaint fully when touch-ups no longer blend.
The general published figure for repainting is every 5 to 10 years. Using one color and one sheen across all your units makes touch-ups between tenants quick. In Detroit, peeling paint in a rental built before 1978 is also a lead issue under the city's rental rules, so do not leave it.
Can an apartment be painted while tenants are living there?
Yes, an occupied apartment can be painted, with notice and planning. The tenant needs to know the dates, move small items and give access, and the work goes room by room so they keep a place to sleep and cook.
Check your lease and Michigan law on notice before entering. In a building from before 1978, any work that disturbs old paint in an occupied unit must follow the federal lead-safe rules, with the work area closed off and cleaned before the tenant uses it again.
How long does it take to paint a 10-unit apartment building or an office?
It depends on the scope, so we can give a real answer only after a walk-through. For a 10-unit building, the question is whether you mean the common halls and stairs, the exterior or every unit.
No published figure exists for a whole building. An empty apartment is a matter of days, so ten units done one after another are a matter of weeks. A small office is usually painted in sections so part of it stays in use. Empty spaces go much faster than occupied ones.
Who pays for painting when a tenant moves out?
In most cases the landlord pays. Under Michigan's security deposit law, a deposit may be used for actual damage that is the direct result of conduct not reasonably expected in the normal course of living there. Ordinary wear, such as faded paint and a few nail holes, is the landlord's cost.
A tenant can be charged for damage beyond that, such as large holes, crayon and smoke staining, or walls painted a color the lease did not allow. The law also sets steps and deadlines for the move-out checklist and the itemized list of damages. This is general information. For a dispute, read the statute or ask a lawyer.
Do commercial painters price large jobs differently?
Yes. Large jobs are usually priced by measured surface area and production rates, not by the room, and the price per square foot tends to fall as the job gets bigger.
A large job also carries costs a house does not: lifts or scaffolding, which HomeGuide lists at $500 to $1,500 or more per day, work in phases, and insurance paperwork for the building owner. Ask for a quote broken down by area so you can phase the work to fit your budget.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (313) 209-8467.