Quick answer
In 2026, interior painting in Madison, WI costs $2.50–$5.00 per square foot of floor area for walls only, and $4.00–$7.50 per square foot when trim, doors and ceilings are included. Per-square-foot pricing is a sanity check, not a quote — every home varies based on prep, ceiling height and color changes.
Most online "painter cost per square foot" answers cite wall surface, which homeowners can't easily measure. We price against floor area instead because that's the number on your tax assessment and Zillow listing.
| Project / Scope | Typical Madison Price |
|---|---|
| Walls only | $2.50 – $5.00 / sq ft floor |
| Walls + ceilings | $3.50 – $6.00 / sq ft floor |
| Walls + trim + doors | $3.50 – $6.50 / sq ft floor |
| Full scope (walls, ceilings, trim, doors) | $4.00 – $7.50 / sq ft floor |
| New construction / drywall (clean) | $1.75 – $3.50 / sq ft floor |
| Repaint with heavy repair | $5.00 – $9.00 / sq ft floor |
Madison & Dane County, 2026. Multiply by your home's floor square footage for a rough budget — see the cost calculator for room-by-room detail.
What's included in the per-sq-ft rate
- Two finish coats of premium Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore paint
- Tinted primer when changing color significantly
- Drop cloths, plastic, masking and surface protection
- Furniture moved and returned, final cleanup
- Minor patching, caulking and nail-hole fills
What's NOT included
- Major drywall repair or water-damage restoration (priced separately under drywall repair)
- Cabinet refinishing (see the cabinet painting cost guide)
- Wallpaper removal
- Lead paint abatement on pre-1978 homes