Painter Budapest – Painting Prices & Costs
Itemised painting labour rates, an interactive cost calculator and real before-and-after project photos. Clear Budapest pricing with the main cost factors explained.
- White paint 2 coats: 1,400 HUF/m² labour
- Deep primer: 450 HUF/m² labour (always recommended before painting)
- Covering (floor/furniture): 600 HUF/m² labour – calculated on floor area
- Skim coating 2 layers: 1,700 HUF/m² labour
- Wallpaper removal: 1,000 HUF/m² labour
- Average room (14–18 m²): 86,100–110,700 HUF labour without skim coating
- Free on-site survey → itemised, written quote
The prices below are CityTint's own itemised labour rates – the base rates used when preparing quotes. The final amount can change with the surface condition and the preparation required.
Interactive Painting Cost Calculator – Budapest
Set the room parameters to estimate the labour cost for a room or an entire apartment. The calculator is for planning; the final quote reflects the actual property and required preparation.
Our work – before and after
Before
After
↔ Drag to compare
District II apartment renovation – room-by-room painting and wall repair
Room-by-room apartment renovation with wallpaper removal, skim coating, custom colours and water-damage repairs.
Before
After
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District II apartment refresh painting – cracked, holed and stained walls repaired
Full refresh painting with cracks, old wall-plug holes and stained surfaces repaired across several rooms.
CityTint Painting – Itemised Labour Rates Budapest
The labour rates below are CityTint's own pricing – these are the figures that appear in our quotes. Material costs are additional and are listed separately in the quote.
Preparation Work
| Work phase | Labour rate | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Protection (Floors & Furniture) | 600 HUF/m² | m² (floor area) | Floor area × 600 HUF |
| Wallpaper removal | 1,000 HUF/m² | m² | Based on paintable surface |
| Wall scraping | 1,500 HUF/m² | m² | Removing loose, flaking layers |
| Deep primer | 450 HUF/m² | m² | Always recommended before painting |
Painting
| Work phase | Labour rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| White paint – 1 coat | 900 HUF/m² | m² |
| White paint – 2 coats | 1,400 HUF/m² | m² |
| White paint – 3 coats | 1,990 HUF/m² | m² |
| Colour paint – 1 coat | 1,000 HUF/m² | m² |
| Colour paint – 2 coats | 1,500 HUF/m² | m² |
| Colour paint – 3 coats | 2,490 HUF/m² | m² |
| Touch-up painting (white) | 1,000 HUF/m² | m² |
| Touch-up painting (colour) | 1,500 HUF/m² | m² |
| Tile painting | 3,000 HUF/m² | m² |
| Lime wash – 3 coats | 1,900 HUF/m² | m² |
Skim Coating & Wall Repair
| Work phase | Labour rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Skim coating – 1 layer | 1,100 HUF/m² | m² |
| Skim coating – 2 layers | 1,700 HUF/m² | m² |
| Skim coating – 3 layers | 2,300 HUF/m² | m² |
| Sanding | 450 HUF/m² | m² |
| Drywall finishing Q1 quality | 900 HUF/m² | m² |
| Drywall finishing Q2 quality | 1,400 HUF/m² | m² |
| Drywall finishing Q3 quality | 1,800 HUF/m² | m² |
| Drywall finishing Q4 quality | 2,400 HUF/m² | m² |
| Drywall tape & jointing | 890 HUF/m² | m² |
Other Work
| Work phase | Labour rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Groove plastering | 1,500 HUF | lin. m |
| Door/window frame repair – plastering | 3,900 HUF | lin. m |
| Door/window frame repair – skim coating | 2,900 HUF | lin. m |
| Colour border edging | 300 HUF | lin. m |
| Mesh corner bead | 500 HUF | lin. m |
| Metal surface painting | 7,000 HUF | m² |
| Pipe painting | 1,200 HUF | lin. m |
| Radiator painting | Individual quote based on size and condition | |
| Waste removal | 1,000 HUF | /bag |
| On-site survey – Budapest | Free | |
| Travel outside Budapest | 15,000 HUF | |
Painting labour rates by number of coats – visualised
All prices are labour costs. Material costs are additional and are listed separately in every quote. A complete painting job typically consists of surface protection (floors & furniture), deep primer and the actual painting – the final total depends on the wall condition and the work required.
Want an exact price for your own apartment?
Use the calculator as a planning estimate; the final quote is based on the actual surface condition and the work required.
👉 Request a free surveyWhat Affects Painting Prices in Budapest?
Equal-sized apartments can cost different amounts to paint because wall condition, preparation, coat count, furniture and material choices differ.
Is skim coating needed?
Skimming is a separate operation: 1 layer 1,100 HUF/m², 2 layers 1,700 HUF/m², 3 layers 2,300 HUF/m². Sanding adds 450 HUF/m².
How many coats of paint are needed?
In most cases 2 coats are sufficient. White 2 coats: 1,400 HUF/m². Painting white over a dark base requires 3 coats and a higher labour rate. More info: How many coats does a wall need? (Hungarian)
Wallpaper removal, wall scraping
Wallpaper removal 1,000 HUF/m², wall scraping 1,500 HUF/m² – these are significant line items on their own. Deep primer is mandatory after scraping.
Empty vs. furnished apartment
Furniture can require more covering and slow access to the walls. Covering costs 600 HUF/m² of floor area.
White vs. colour
Colour paint has higher material costs. White 2 coats labour: 1,400 HUF/m², colour 2 coats: 1,500 HUF/m². Over a dark base, 3 coats may be necessary.
Small room ≠ cheap room
A small, complex or heavily furnished room requires a higher proportion of hand-cutting relative to rollable surface – it can be proportionally more expensive than a large, simple space.
Most price-related misunderstandings come from customers not knowing in advance what preparation work precedes the painting. This is why we don't commit to a final price over the phone – but the on-site survey is free and comes with no obligation. If you decide not to book after the survey, there is nothing to pay.
How Does CityTint Painter Work in Budapest?
Two rooms of the same size can require different labour costs if one needs only repainting while the other needs scraping, filling or priming first. The next section shows the typical workflow from first contact to handover.
Send us a message with the apartment's condition and your requirements. We'll arrange the on-site survey.
We inspect the wall condition, measure all paintable surfaces for the itemised quote. We determine whether skim coating is needed and discuss paint selection.
Labour costs, work phases – everything itemised. Materials listed separately. Nothing beyond the quote will be charged.
Contract signing on the morning work starts, then the job begins – floors and furniture are covered, defects repaired.
Skim coating and wall repair if needed, deep primer, then painting.
Clean-up and key handover on the day of completion. No unreachable phone number in case of issues – the warranty is guaranteed by contract and by law.
Cheap vs. Reliable Painter – What to Look For in Budapest
When comparing painting quotes, check which preparation and painting stages are included rather than comparing only the headline price.
| ✅ Signs of a reliable painter | ❌ Warning signs |
|---|---|
Offers an on-site survey before quoting
|
Quotes a final price over the phone, without a survey
|
Provides a written, itemised quote – labour and materials listed separately
|
No written quote, verbal agreement only
|
Issues an invoice for the work
|
"Refusal to provide a formal invoice"
|
Specifies work phases and materials used
|
Quote does not list material costs separately
|
Provides a warranty on the completed work
|
No warranty, unreachable if problems arise
|
Finishes on time and the result matches the promise
|
Unrealistically low price – quality suffers
|
More on the professional vs. DIY decision: Painting: hire a professional or do it yourself? (Hungarian)
Useful Reading About Painting
If you'd like to understand what lies behind the prices – or simply want to be better prepared – these articles will help:
CityTint Painter Budapest – Our Services
We provide itemised quotes and warranties for every work phase. Click the service for details:
Painter Budapest – All Districts
CityTint painter works in all districts of Budapest. Select your district for local availability:
FAQ – Painter Budapest Prices
How much does painting cost in Budapest?
White paint in 2 coats costs 1,400 HUF/m²; one primer application costs 450 HUF/m². Example: 60 m² floor area, a 2.6 m ceiling and an estimated 240 m² paintable surface give 444,000 HUF for painting and priming plus 36,000 HUF for covering: 480,000 HUF labour in total. Skimming and materials are excluded.
What factors affect painting prices in Budapest the most?
The main factors are wall condition, coat count and preparation. Skimming costs 1,100 HUF/m² for 1 layer or 1,700 HUF/m² for 2 layers; sanding adds 450 HUF/m². White painting costs 900 HUF/m² for 1 coat or 1,400 HUF/m² for 2 coats. Wallpaper removal costs 1,000 HUF/m²; covering costs 600 HUF/m² of floor area.
Are material costs included in the painting labour price?
No – the website and calculator show labour costs only. Material costs are additional. In every written quote, labour and material costs are listed separately as individual line items.
Is skim coating necessary before painting?
Not always. On smooth, even walls a deep primer + 2 coats of paint is sufficient. If the wall is cracked, uneven, wavy, or the surface is rough from previous wallpaper, skim coating is required. This can only be determined with certainty during an on-site survey – which is free with us.
How much does it cost to paint a room in Budapest?
For 14–18 m² of floor area and a measured 42–54 m² paintable surface, two coats of white paint, one primer application and covering cost 86,100–110,700 HUF in labour. Two skim layers and sanding over the entire paintable surface add 90,300–116,100 HUF. Materials and any additional primer before skimming are separate.
How much does covering (floor and furniture protection) cost?
Covering costs 600 HUF/m², calculated on the floor area of the apartment (not wall area, but the room's floor space). For example, a 60 m² apartment: 36,000 HUF labour.
How do I get an accurate painting quote in Budapest?
A free on-site survey is the most accurate method: the painter inspects the walls in person, measures the exact m², and provides a written, itemised quote – which will not be changed afterwards. Online quotes are available. Please email us photos, a floor plan with dimensions, or the length, width, and ceiling height of the rooms to be painted."
Request a Free Painting Quote in Budapest
Free on-site survey → itemised written quote → confirmation of the agreed work phases → painting and handover. Invoiced, warranted work across Budapest.