Step-by-step method
- Get areas
- Ceiling area (C) ≈ built-up area.
- Wall area (W) = (Perimeter × height) − openings.
• Quick thumb rule if you don’t want to measure: W ≈ 2.5 × built-up area for typical 9.5–10 ft height.
- Pick paint category rate (₹/sq ft) for walls and ceiling.
- Add prep (putty + primer) if not in the rate: +10–15%.
- Add accent/texture only for the selected wall area.
- Add GST + contingencies (5–10%).
Worked example (typical 2BHK)
Assumptions: built-up 900 sq ft, wall height 10 ft, W ≈ 2.5× → 2250 sq ft walls, 900 sq ft ceilings, 1 accent wall 120 sq ft.
Common rates (material + labour, 2025)
- Distemper (interior basic): ₹10/sq ft
- Interior emulsion (standard): ₹20/sq ft
- Premium emulsion (washable): ₹35/sq ft
- Luxury/royal emulsion: ₹50/sq ft
- Texture/designer (accent only): ₹120/sq ft
- Prep (if separate): add 12% to subtotal
A) Budget (Distemper walls + distemper ceilings)
- Walls: 2250 × 10 = ₹22,500
- Ceilings: 900 × 10 = ₹9,000
- Subtotal = ₹31,500 → +12% prep = ₹35,280 → +5% buffer ≈ ₹37,000
B) Standard (Interior emulsion everywhere)
- Walls: 2250 × 20 = ₹45,000
- Ceilings: 900 × 20 = ₹18,000
- Subtotal = ₹63,000 → +12% = ₹70,560 → +5% ≈ ₹74,000
C) Premium mix (Premium emulsion walls, standard emulsion ceilings)
- Walls: 2250 × 35 = ₹78,750
- Ceilings: 900 × 20 = ₹18,000
- Subtotal = ₹96,750 → +12% = ₹108,360 → +5% ≈ ₹1,14,000
D) Premium + 1 texture accent (120 sq ft @ ₹120)
- From (C): ₹96,750
- Replace 120 sq ft of wall paint:
• Less premium paint on that area: 120 × 35 = − ₹4,200
• Add texture: 120 × 120 = ₹14,400 - New subtotal = ₹106,950 → +12% = ₹119,784 → +5% ≈ ₹1,26,000
E) Luxury (Luxury emulsion everywhere)
- Walls: 2250 × 50 = ₹1,12,500
- Ceilings: 900 × 50 = ₹45,000
- Subtotal = ₹1,57,500 → +12% = ₹1,76,400 → +5% ≈ ₹1,85,000
Quick formula (plug your numbers)
Total ≈ (W × wall_rate) + (C × ceiling_rate)
− (accent_area × wall_rate) + (accent_area × texture_rate)
× 1.12 [prep] × 1.05 [buffer]
Notes
- For tier-1 cities, bump rates +10–20%.
- Repainting in good condition: reduce prep to 5–8%.
- Multiple colours, stencils, high ceilings, or heavy repair raise cost.
Want this turned into a Google Sheet calculator with your exact carpet/built-up and city factor?
Here’s another quick calculator—this time comparing Fresh Paint vs Repaint for a 2BHK.
Assumptions
- Built-up: 1,000 sq ft
- Wall area (W) ≈ 2.5 × built-up = 2,500 sq ft
- Ceiling area (C) ≈ 1,000 sq ft
- One accent wall 120 sq ft
- City factor: 0% (add +15% for Delhi NCR/Mumbai/Bengaluru)
2025 all-in rates (₹/sq ft)
- Distemper: 10
- Interior Emulsion (Std): 20
- Premium Emulsion (Washable): 35
- Luxury Emulsion: 50
- Texture/Designer (accent): 120
Prep adders
- Fresh paint: +12% (putty+primer)
- Repaint (good walls): +6%
A) Fresh Paint totals
Budget (Distemper walls+ceilings)
- Walls: 2,500×10 = 25,000
- Ceilings: 1,000×10 = 10,000
- Subtotal: 35,000 → +12% = 39,200
Standard (All Interior Emulsion)
- Walls: 2,500×20 = 50,000
- Ceilings: 1,000×20 = 20,000
- Subtotal: 70,000 → +12% = 78,400
Premium Mix (Premium walls, Std ceiling)
- Walls: 2,500×35 = 87,500
- Ceilings: 1,000×20 = 20,000
- Subtotal: 107,500 → +12% = 120,400
Premium + Texture Accent (120 sq ft)
- Replace premium on 120 sq ft: −(120×35)= −4,200
- Add texture: +(120×120)= +14,400
- New subtotal: 107,500 − 4,200 + 14,400 = 117,700
- +12% = 131,824
Luxury (All Luxury Emulsion)
- Walls: 2,500×50 = 125,000
- Ceilings: 1,000×50 = 50,000
- Subtotal: 175,000 → +12% = 196,000
B) Repaint totals (same schemes, +6% prep)
- Budget: 35,000 → 37,100
- Standard: 70,000 → 74,200
- Premium Mix: 107,500 → 113,950
- Premium + Texture Accent: 117,700 → 124,762
- Luxury: 175,000 → 185,500
Fast formula
Total ≈ (W×wall_rate + C×ceiling_rate
− A×wall_rate + A×texture_rate) × (1 + prep%)
Where: prep% = 0.12 (fresh) or 0.06 (repaint)
Want me to convert this into a one-click Google Sheet with city multipliers and GST toggles?
