Painting a garage floor is becoming a popular way to dress up an area traditionally used for storage or as a workspace. It costs between $2.80 and $4.80 per square foot, with labor and materials included.
For a standard 300-square-foot garage floor, the total average cost ranges from $840 to $1,440. At the lower end, a simple, two-coat paint job may cost as little as $300. At the higher end, an extensive project, including repair and restoration work, costs as much as $3,000.
Our price estimates are based on average labor and material costs in both metropolitan and rural areas across the U.S. However, the final cost will depend on several factors, including floor preparation, the job’s size, and the type of paint you pick.
Cost By Location
The cost of a paint won’t vary much from place to place, but labor is another story. Hourly labor rates are higher in populated, big cities than in smaller towns and cities. Higher labor costs will increase the overall cost of your project.
Additionally, the local climate can influence how long it takes to complete the project. High temperatures, humidity, and strong winds can complicate painting efforts, making the task more difficult. As a result, not only does the time to do the job increase but so do labor costs, similar to the effect of higher hourly rates.
The table below shows the average costs for painting one-car (approx. 240 sq. ft.) garages to big, three-car (approx. 800 sq. ft.) garages across the U.S.
| City | Cost per Square Foot (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2.90 – $5.00 |
| Seattle, WA | $3.20 – $5.50 |
| New York, NY | $3.40 – $6.00 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Orlando, FL | $2.50 – $4.20 |
| Nashville, TN | $2.52 – $4.20 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| Indianapolis, IN | $2.70 – $4.50 |
| Dayton, OH | $2.70 – $4.50 |
| Chicago, IL | $3.10 – $5.30 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Corvallis, OR | $2.70 – $4.50 |
| Seattle, WA | $3.20 – $5.50 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Houston, TX | $2.50 – $4.10 |
| Roswell, NM | $2.50 – $4.20 |
| San Diego, CA | $2.90 – $5.00 |
Cost by Garage Size
The size of your garage affects the final price of your painting project. The larger your garage, the more material and labor it needs, and the higher your price tag will be. The average cost per square foot to paint a garage floor is $3.80, with a typical range between $2.80 and $4.80.
Garages in the U.S. typically range from 240 square feet to 800 square feet to accommodate one or multiple vehicles. You can easily calculate and estimate what it would cost to paint their garage using a per-square-foot average of $3.80.
Some common garage sizes and their costs are:
| Garage Size | Average Cost |
| 240 sq. ft. or one-car garage | $672 – $1,152 |
| 500 sq. ft. or two-car garage | $1,400 – $2,400 |
| 800 sq. ft. or three-car garage | $2,240 – $3,840 |
Cost by Paint Type
There is a wide variety of paints and coatings available. The total price of your paint job may vary based on the type of paint you choose.
Some popular paint choices and their costs include:
| Paint Type | Description | Average Cost per Can (one gallon) |
| One-part Epoxy Paint | Acrylic or latex based with epoxy resins – dries fast, tough to apply but more durable than standard acrylic or latex paint. | $35 |
| Two-part, Water-based Epoxy Paint | Self-priming, non-porous, and offers the best impact, chemical, and stain resistance. | $140 |
| Polyurethane Paint | Opaque, heavy, flexible, and highly adhesive. Oil, grease, weathering, and chemical resistant. | $90 – $220 |
| Oil-based Enamels | Easy to apply and gives a naturally fine finish. Not very long-lasting; ideal for concrete garages. | $50 – $75 |
| Latex Paint | Contains a small amount of acrylic resin, easy to work with but not very durable. | $42 |
| Acrylic Paint | Has a high acrylic resin content, is durable, and weather-resistant but may fade over time. | $84 |
On average, a one-car garage uses 3 gallons of paint, a two-car garage needs 4.5 gallons, and a three-car garage requires 6 gallons of paint. You will need two coats of paint for a solid, durable finish.
Cost of Labor
Labor mobilization, setup time, and minimum hourly charges vary depending on your location. The pros will plan and bring in the required tools and equipment to prep the area, apply paint, and clean up after the work is done.
It typically takes 5 to 8 hours to paint a 300-square-foot garage. The larger your garage, the higher the cost. On average, expect to pay between $27 and $80 per hour when you hire someone to paint your garage.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
You can save 10 to 30% of the costs to paint your garage if you do it yourself. You will, however, need a range of tools to do the job. They include:
- Protective gear
- Cleaning supplies (broom, mop, detergent to clean the grease)
- Concrete filler to repair cracks
- Spatula to apply and smooth the filler in cracks
- Concrete etcher to prepare the floor
- Primer
- Masking tape
- Nylon brush
- Roller cover
This project can take five to 15 hours to complete, depending on your experience, the number of coats you’re applying, and, of course, the square footage of your garage. But, you can save money by painting it yourself. The only cost you’ll bear is the paint and supplies, which can range from $70 to $320.
A pro will cost more, but they will get the job done much quicker. The job will also last longer since they have advanced equipment, more experience, and better application techniques. The cost to professionally paint your garage floor runs from $2.80 to $4.80 per square foot.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
The overall cost of garage floor painting may vary slightly depending on a few factors:
Surface Preparation
Before the pros can paint your garage floor, they may need to do some work to prepare it. The floor must be clean of dirt, dust, or debris, free from stains, and treated for cracks. If your garage floor has cracks, gaps, potholes, stains, or lots of dust, and you make the mistake of painting it as is, the paint will crack and peel soon.
Your garage floor might also need to be primed and sanded, which adds to the overall costs. All the extra work the contractors do to prepare the floor surface adds more time to the job, increasing the cost.
However, homeowners can save this cost by doing most of this prep work themselves. This usually includes easy, doable tasks such as power washing, taping, or fixing cracks.
Sealing or Resurfacing
Sealing a garage floor means applying a protective coating such as epoxy, acrylic, or polyurethane sealer. It protects the floor from stains, moisture, dust, and chemicals. The cost to seal a garage floor typically runs from $3,675 to $7,760 for a two-car garage, or $7 to $13.50 per square foot.
If your worn or damaged garage floor needs renewal, expect to pay around $2.5 to $7 per square foot to get it professionally resurfaced.
FAQ
If the job is done by professionals, it should last 15 to 20 years. The longevity depends on the number of coats applied, the quality and type of paint used, and how well the surface was prepped before application.
The best color options for garage floors include grey, beige, tan, almond, or amber. They aren’t too light, appear clean, and are easy to manage.
Wait for at least 16 hours before you walk into a freshly painted garage floor. However, you should follow the advice of your pros because different types of paint take varying amounts of time to dry.
Still Not Confident in Your Skills? Call A Pro
Painting a garage floor can be a tough job. It involves a lot of extensive labor, from clearing out all your belongings and cleaning the surface of the tiniest dust particles to priming the surface. And finally, then, you can paint.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled handymen and handywomen in seconds and leave the rest to us.
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