Painting a business or a rental is mostly a scheduling problem. The work has to fit around customers, staff or tenants, and the finish has to stand up to heavy use.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint an office or commercial space?
Commercial painting costs $2 to $6 per square foot by the national figures, or $5,000 to $15,000 for 2,500 square feet. No separate figures are published for offices, shops or warehouses.
| Paintable area | National range |
|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | $3,000 to $7,200 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $6,000 to $18,000 |
Commercial labor is listed at $60 to $100 per hour, and scaffolding or lifts at $500 to $1,500 or more per day. Exterior commercial work that needs scaffolding is listed at $5 to $10 or more per square foot. Detroit's older brick storefronts and high-ceilinged industrial spaces often need that kind of access.
Can painters work nights or weekends so the business stays open?
Many commercial painters do work nights or weekends, and it is the usual way to paint a shop, restaurant or office without closing. Whether it is possible for your job depends on the building, the schedule and the crew.
Tell us your opening hours and which areas can be closed and when. We will say plainly what schedule we can offer for your job. Phasing the work area by area is another way to keep a business running.
How much does it cost to repaint a rental apartment between tenants?
No national figure is published for a repaint between tenants. The nearest are HomeGuide's apartment figures: $2 to $6 per square foot, or $1,200 to $4,800 for a one-bedroom and $1,600 to $7,200 for a two-bedroom.
A turnover repaint usually costs less than a first-time job when the same color and sheen are reused and the walls only need light patching. Smoke, heavy stains, color changes and wall damage raise the price. We quote turnovers after seeing the unit, and can price several units together.
How often should a rental be repainted?
There is no fixed rule for how often a rental should be repainted. Most landlords repaint or touch up at each turnover, and do a full repaint every few years depending on wear.
Using the same durable, washable paint in every unit makes touch-ups quick and can stretch the time between full repaints. In Detroit, rentals built before 1978 also have to meet the city's lead rules, and peeling or chipping paint has to be dealt with using lead-safe methods.
Can an apartment be painted while tenants are living there?
Yes, an occupied apartment can be painted, with notice and planning. The tenants need to know the dates, clear small items and agree to access.
The usual plan is a room or two at a time, with furniture covered and the unit left usable each evening. Landlords should follow the lease and Michigan law on notice before entry. In a pre-1978 building, federal lead rules require that tenants get the Renovate Right booklet before work that disturbs old paint.
How long does it take to paint a 10-unit apartment building or an office?
It depends on the scope, so there is no honest single number for how long an office or a 10-unit building takes. An empty one-bedroom apartment is usually a one to two day job. An occupied one takes longer.
For a 10-unit building, the time depends on how many units are empty at once, whether halls and stairwells are included and how big the crew is. A small office can often be done over a weekend or a few evenings. We give a schedule with the quote.
Who pays for painting when a tenant moves out?
The landlord normally pays for repainting when a tenant moves out, because paint wearing out is part of normal use. The tenant can be charged for damage beyond that.
Under Michigan's security deposit law, MCL 554.607, a deposit may be used for actual damages that are the direct result of conduct not reasonably expected in the normal course of habitation. Faded or scuffed paint after a long tenancy is ordinary use. Unapproved dark colors, crayon, smoke damage or large holes may be chargeable. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do commercial painters price large jobs differently?
Yes. Large jobs are usually priced per square foot or as a fixed bid from plans and a site visit, not room by room.
The rate per square foot often falls as the area grows, because set-up, masking and travel are spread over more work. Bids on large jobs also carry items a house quote does not: lifts, work outside normal hours, phasing, safety requirements and insurance certificates for the building owner. Ask for those to be listed separately.
For a site visit and a written quote, call or text (313) 251-3869.