Free painter template
Painter estimate template: popcorn ceiling removal
An estimate template for scraping textured ceilings and finishing smooth: mask, scrape, skim, and prime, with the labor rate prefilled from real painter wage data.
The labor rate, with the math shown
Median painter wage (national)
$23.75/hr
Derived from the $49,400 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025) at 2,080 hours a year.
Prefilled billing rate
$50 to $60/hr
The wage times a 2 to 2.5x rule of thumb for overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit. The download prefills $55/hr. A starting point, not market data: set your own rate.
Download the templates
Free, no signup. The CSVs open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers with the line items and the labor rate already in place.
What's on the estimate
Hours are typical ranges to edit, not measurements. Material quantities and prices stay open because only you know your suppliers.
| Line item | Typical hrs | Rate | Prefilled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mask walls and floors fully (per room) | 1 to 1.5 | $55/hr | $71.50 |
| Wet and scrape texture | 2 to 4 | $55/hr | $165.00 |
| Skim coat and sand smooth | 3 to 5 | $55/hr | $220.00 |
| Prime and paint ceiling | 1.5 to 2.5 | $55/hr | $110.00 |
| Masking film and tape | your quantity and price | ||
| Skim compound | your quantity and price | ||
| Ceiling primer and paint | your quantity and price | ||
| Sanding supplies | your quantity and price | ||
Scope notes printed on the estimate
- Pre-1980 texture is not disturbed without an asbestos test result in hand; the test is a named line item, not a surprise.
- Painted-over texture scrapes slow; the test patch sets which price band applies.
Adjust the rate for your state
Painter pay is not one number. These are the highest-paying states TradesPays tracks; the hourly figure is the state median derived the same way (annual over 2,080 hours).
| State | Median (annual) | Derived hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $61,260 | $29.45/hr |
| Washington | $59,650 | $28.68/hr |
| New York | $59,570 | $28.64/hr |
| New Jersey | $59,250 | $28.49/hr |
| California | $59,020 | $28.38/hr |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | $27.65/hr |
Full state-by-state pay: painter salary by state.
The painter bundle: $24 one time. Checkout opens soon.
- Every estimate and invoice template for your trade, current and future job types included
- Editable spreadsheet versions of each template, not just the free CSV
- Labor rates refreshed with each new BLS wage release, so your numbers never go stale
- A one-page guide to setting your hourly rate from the median wage, with the math shown
No payment today. Leave your email to lock the $24 launch price and get first access when checkout opens. You also get pay-data updates for your trade; one click stops them.
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Painter rates and estimates: FAQ
- What should painters charge per hour in 2026?
- The national median painter wage is about $23.75 an hour, derived from the $49,400 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025). A common rule of thumb for painters billing customers is 2 to 2.5 times the wage to cover overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit: roughly $50 to $60 an hour. That range is a starting point, not market data; set your own rate.
- What goes into a popcorn ceiling removal estimate?
- This template breaks the job into 4 labor lines, from "mask walls and floors fully (per room)" through "prime and paint ceiling", lists the usual materials with quantities left open, and prints 2 scope notes so assumptions and exclusions are in writing before work starts.
- Is the template really free?
- Yes. The estimate and invoice CSVs download free with no signup. The $24 per-trade bundle adds editable spreadsheet versions, every job type for your trade, and labor rates refreshed with each BLS release.
More painter templates
Wage source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), national median for painters, 2026 site data. Hourly figures are derived (annual over 2,080 hours) and labeled as such. Billing-rate ranges are rule-of-thumb starting points, not market data.