Offices, shops and institutions
What decides the cost of a commercial painting project.
A commercial quotation is shaped by two things a residential one rarely faces: how much of your operating hours you can give up, and how many separate zones the site has to be split into.
Reviewed 6 September 2026.
At a glance
Why do commercial painting quotations vary more than residential ones?
Because the constraint usually isn't the painting, it's the operation around it. Working outside trading hours, phasing by zone, protecting stock or equipment and coordinating access all add labour a residential job never sees. Two sites of identical area can cost very differently depending on how much they can be shut down.
Measured by zone, not by floor area alone
Wall, ceiling and soffit area is measured per zone, because each zone carries its own containment, masking and handback, and that overhead doesn't shrink just because the zone is small. A floor split into six zones costs more to coordinate than the same area in one open block.
In order of impact
What moves the number.
Listed largest first. If a quotation is silent on the ones near the top, that silence is itself the answer.
How much of the work runs outside trading hours
Evening, night or weekend working changes labour cost and how the job is staffed, without changing the specification.
Number of zones the site has to be split into
Each zone needs its own barrier, protection and handback, which adds overhead independent of area.
Condition of the existing surfaces
Anchor holes, partition scars and a previous tenant's finish are usually the largest single variable.
Finish and coat count for each area type
A washable emulsion for a customer-facing wall costs differently from a standard finish for a back office.
Access equipment for height
Atriums, double-height reception areas and roof steel need lifts or scaffolding that a normal office ceiling doesn't.
Coordination with your facilities or IT team
Permits, service lift slots and equipment sheeting all take planning time that shows up in the quotation.
Method
How we build the quotation.
There are no figures here because none has been approved for publication. What follows is the sequence, so you can check anyone's quotation against it.
- Site survey carried out in trading conditions and again when the space is quiet.
- The floor or unit divided into zones, with the phasing and shift pattern agreed.
- Each zone's surfaces assessed and its preparation priced on its own terms.
- Finish and coat count specified per area type.
- Access equipment and out-of-hours working costed as their own lines.
- Exclusions listed: signage, shopfitting, IT and electrical work, flooring.
Commercial Painting Cost — your questions.
Is it cheaper to close for a few days than to phase the work?
Sometimes, for a small unit. Closing removes the zoning overhead, but it costs you trading days, which is usually the bigger number. We'll give you both options at the survey so you can weigh them properly rather than guess.
Does night work cost more than weekend work?
It can, depending on the trade and how easily your team can staff a night shift. Neither is automatically cheaper. Tell us your constraints early and we'll build the schedule and the quotation around whichever suits you.
Why does a small office cost more per square foot than a warehouse?
Because a fitted-out office has far more detail per square foot: partitions, corners, switch plates, doors and cutting-in around fixed furniture. A warehouse is mostly open wall, which is faster per metre even though the total area is larger.
A measured quotation costs nothing.
We measure the property, assess the surfaces and issue an itemised quotation you can hold us to. There is no charge and no obligation.
- We call you back the same day to get a picture of the property and the surfaces.
- We agree a time and come out for the free inspection.
- You get the written scope and itemised quotation.
- Nothing starts until you approve it.