Painting a flat costs between €4 and €12 per m² with standard white emulsion, and the usual figure in 2026 is €10–12/m² with labour and paint included. In hard cash: an 80 m² flat normally comes to €800–1,000.
Cost to paint a flat in Spain in 2026 (summary)
These are the market ranges according to the guides from Cronoshare and Habitissimo, built from real quotes:
| Item | Price range | Typical figure |
|---|---|---|
| Price per m² (white emulsion, walls) | €4–12/m² | €10–12/m² |
| Ceilings | from €8/m² | — |
| With colour or special finishes | ~€15/m² (decorative €12–45/m²) | ~€15/m² |
| Whole 60 m² flat | €260–910 | €600–800 |
| Whole 80 m² flat | €320–1,120 | €800–1,000 |
| Whole 100 m² flat | €400–1,400 | ~€1,100 |
| Removing textured coating and skimming | €7–30/m² | ~€15/m² |
| Surcharge for a furnished home | +€1–3/m² or up to +20% | +10–20% |
And if you are only painting one room, these are the prices per room, painting only:
| Room | Painting only |
|---|---|
| 10 m² | €100–220 |
| 15 m² | €180–300 |
| 20 m² | €240–380 |
Prices "from €4/m²" cover painting walls only, with no ceilings and no preparation. And as in every trade, they vary with the province and the state of the property: take them as a reference for comparing quotes, not as a fixed price.
One useful note before we go on: these ranges include labour and standard emulsion, with the walls in reasonable condition. Anything outside that — skimming, filling cracks, deep colours, high ceilings — is quoted separately, and that is why the same 80 m² flat can cost €320 or top €1,100. In the sections that follow we take each of those extras apart so you know exactly what you are being charged for.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
Between €100 and €380 depending on size, painting only: €100–220 for a 10 m² room, €180–300 for a 15 m² room and €240–380 for a 20 m² room.
If you are not painting the whole flat, the useful reference is the price per room. It is the typical format for a one-day job: the baby's room before the baby arrives, the living room after taking down a shelving unit, or the bedroom left half-done in the last move. According to Cronoshare's guide to painting rooms, painting a 10–20 m² room costs between €80 and €600 depending on how much preparation the walls need. For painting alone, with no prior repairs, you stay within the ranges above.
Why such a wide spread once preparation comes in? Because filling cracks, patching holes or sanding walls in poor condition takes more hours than the painting itself. If the walls are sound, painting a room is a one-day job; if they have to be skimmed smooth first, the quote can triple.
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What changes the cost of painting a flat
Two flats with the same floor area can get quotes hundreds of euros apart. These are the four variables that explain it.
Is it more expensive to paint with the furniture in?
Yes. Painting a furnished home costs more: Cronoshare puts it at +€1–3/m² and Habitissimo raises it to +20% of the quote. Moving, covering and protecting furniture takes time, and time is billed. If you can empty the rooms (or at least group everything in the middle), tell the painter before they price the job.
How much does it cost to paint with colour or decorative paint?
White emulsion is the basis of the usual €10–12/m². With colour, the price rises to around €15/m², and decorative finishes (effects, plaster finishes, special enamels) run between €12 and €45/m². Ceilings, incidentally, start at €8/m²: they are harder to work and splash more.
How much does it cost to remove gotelé (textured coating)?
If your flat has gotelé — the sprayed textured coating common in Spanish homes — and you want smooth walls, that is the expensive chapter of the quote. Removing it and skimming costs between €7 and €30/m² (around €15/m² on average) according to Habitissimo's guide. The type matters a great deal: distemper-based texture is removed for €10–13/m², while the plastic kind starts at €15/m², 30–50% dearer, because water does not soften it.
To give you a sense of the total: in a 90 m² flat, removing the texture, skimming and painting comes to around €2,400; the removal alone accounts for €900–1,300.
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko · Pexels
How much does an extra coat of paint cost?
Standard quotes normally include two coats. If the original colour is dark or you are making a radical colour change, each additional coat adds +€2–4/m². Another reason for the painter to see the walls (even in photos) before pricing.
How to ask for a painting quote with no surprises
A serious painter's quote fits on one page, but it has to answer these questions before you sign anything:
- How many coats does it include? Two is standard. If your wall is going to need more, better to know now that each extra coat is +€2–4/m².
- Which paint, exactly? Type and quality. "White paint" on its own is not an answer: the difference in price and in result between ranges is real.
- Does it include wall preparation? Filling, sanding, cracks. This is the item that inflates most quotes mid-job when it is not spelled out in writing.
- Who protects floors and furniture? If the home is furnished, confirm the surcharge (that +10–20%) is already in the total.
- Fixed price or per m²? Both are valid, but always ask for the final total including VAT so you can compare between professionals.
With two or three quotes at that level of detail, comparing is trivial and the surprises disappear.
When to paint: the timing matters (and saves money)
Painting is almost always the last item in any job, and it is worth treating it that way. If you are in the middle of a bigger renovation, get the "dirty" trades finished first and leave the painting for the end: you will save on touch-ups. The full numbers are in our guides to how much a kitchen renovation costs and how much a bathroom renovation costs.
And one rule that applies to painters and to any trade: get at least two or three written quotes, detailing the number of coats, the wall preparation and the paint brand included. In how to compare renovation quotes we set out what to look at so the cheap option does not end up expensive.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint an 80 m² flat?
Between €320 and €1,120, and the usual figure is €800–1,000 with white emulsion, labour and materials included. With walls in poor condition or a furnished home, the price rises.
What is the price per m² to paint a flat?
Between €4 and €12/m² with white emulsion; the usual figure is €10–12/m². With colour it rises to around €15/m², decorative paint runs €12 to €45/m² and ceilings start at €8/m².
How much does it cost to paint a single room?
Painting only: €100–220 for a 10 m² room, €180–300 for a 15 m² one and €240–380 for a 20 m² one. If the walls need preparation (cracks, sanding, filling), the total can reach €600.
How much does it cost to remove textured wall coating?
Between €7 and €30/m² (around €15/m² on average) to remove it and skim. Distemper-based texture is cheaper (€10–13/m²) than the plastic kind (from €15/m², 30–50% dearer). In a 90 m² flat, removing it, skimming and painting comes to around €2,400.
Is it more expensive to paint a furnished flat?
Yes. The usual surcharge for a furnished home is +€1–3/m² or up to +20% of the quote, because protecting and moving furniture adds hours of work. Emptying the rooms beforehand is the easiest way to bring the quote down.
🛟 Want the flat painted before you move in? On Freeday you can find painters with free days near you and talk to them directly. Download it free — App Store · Google Play