How much does it cost to paint a single room in Ottawa including materials and labour?

Painting a single room in Ottawa — including both materials and labour — typically costs between $350 and $750 for a standard-sized room. Here's a detailed breakdown so you know exactly where your money goes.

For a standard 12x12 bedroom with 8-foot ceilings, one door, one window, and walls in reasonable shape:

Labour: $250 to $500
This covers approximately 4–8 hours of work for one painter: moving/covering furniture, masking trim and floors, patching minor holes, priming spots, cutting in edges, rolling two coats, and cleanup. Most Ottawa painters charge $45 to $65 per hour, though many quote flat rates per room rather than hourly.

Materials: $100 to $250
This includes:

• Paint: 2–3 gallons at $45 to $80 per gallon depending on the product line (about $90 to $240)


• Primer (if needed): 1 gallon at $30 to $50


• Supplies: Painter's tape, drop cloths, patching compound, sandpaper, caulking — roughly $20 to $40 per room (painters buy these in bulk, so per-room cost is low)

Most professional quotes are all-inclusive — you don't buy the paint separately. The painter provides everything. If you want to supply your own paint, most painters will discount their quote by the material cost, but some prefer to supply their own so they can guarantee the product quality.

Here's what different room scenarios cost in Ottawa:

• Basic bedroom, walls only, same light colour: $300 to $450
• Bedroom with ceiling: $450 to $650
• Bedroom with ceiling + trim/baseboards: $550 to $800
• Bathroom (smaller but more cutting-in): $250 to $450
• Large living room (14x18 or open plan): $600 to $1,000
• Hallway + stairwell: $400 to $800 (height and awkward access)

Ottawa's rates are 10–15% below Toronto and the GTA for the same quality of work. A $500 room here would typically quote $575–$625 in Mississauga or Scarborough.

A few factors affect single-room pricing:

Wall condition is the biggest variable. A freshly drywalled room in a new build in Kanata or Barrhaven paints quickly — prime and two coats, done. An older room in Centretown or Sandy Hill with plaster walls, multiple layers of old paint, nail pops, and hairline cracks needs significantly more prep. Extensive repair can add $200 to $500 to a single room.

Paint quality makes a real difference. There are three general tiers:

• Builder grade ($30–$40/gal): Fine for ceilings or rental turnover. Thin, less durable.


• Mid-range ($45–$60/gal): Products like Benjamin Moore Ben or Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200. Good coverage, decent durability. This is what most painters include in standard quotes.


• Premium ($65–$85/gal): Benjamin Moore Regal/Aura, Sherwin-Williams Emerald/Duration. Superior coverage, washability, and colour richness. Upgrading adds $30 to $75 per room in material cost.

Accent walls or bold colours take extra work. A deep red, navy, or charcoal feature wall needs tinted primer and often a third coat to achieve even coverage.

For a single room, some homeowners consider DIY. That's entirely reasonable for a simple bedroom repaint if you have the time and patience. But if you value your weekends, or if the room has any complexity (high ceilings, lots of trim, repair needs), hiring a professional is usually well worth the cost. A skilled painter does in one day what takes most homeowners an entire weekend, and the finish quality is noticeably better.

Make sure any painter you hire carries WSIB coverage and commercial liability insurance — this is standard for professional painters in Ontario.

You can compare quotes from local pros by browsing Ottawa Paint Contractors on the Ottawa Construction Network directory. Even for a single room, getting two or three quotes ensures you're paying a fair price.