Top Painting Contractors in Chicago

Pro Chicago Painters

Pro Chicago Painters stands out as one of Chicago’s most trusted painting service companies. They offer comprehensive services for both residential and commercial properties with a team of licensed and insured professionals specializing in interior and exterior painting throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

What sets them apart is their commitment to customer convenience, featuring a 24/7 call center at (872) 259-4500 and a quick response system providing free virtual estimates within 5 minutes of contact. Their focus on quality, affordability, and customer satisfaction makes them a standout option for Chicago property owners.

Marc Poulos Painting

Operating since 1996, Marc Poulos Painting has established itself as a premier painting contractor in the Chicago area. Their longevity in the market reflects their consistent quality and customer satisfaction.

The company extends its services throughout greater Chicagoland, including Arlington Heights, Glenview, and Prospect Heights. Beyond standard painting services, they offer specialized options such as cabinet painting, limewashing, and whitewashing brick. Their diverse service portfolio and emphasis on trustworthiness position them as a reliable choice for both residential and commercial projects.

Peralta Painters

Peralta Painters has built an impressive reputation through strong customer testimonials highlighting their professionalism and attention to detail. Led by Gil Peralta, this company offers painting services alongside drywall repairs, patching, and staining.

What sets Peralta Painters apart is their reliability and transparency in the bidding process, with clients specifically mentioning that projects are completed on time and within budget. Their comprehensive approach to preparation and clean-up makes them particularly suitable for occupied homes and sensitive environments.

Chicago Painters, Inc.

Chicago Painters, Inc. presents itself as a full-service painting company serving Chicago and surrounding communities. Their service portfolio extends beyond basic painting to include wallpaper removal, drywall repairs, deck sealing, power washing, and even hardwood floor services.

This comprehensive approach provides a significant advantage for homeowners looking to consolidate multiple renovation services with one contractor. The company emphasizes proper surface preparation as crucial for achieving long-lasting results, particularly for exterior painting projects.

Improovy Painters Chicago

Improovy Painters represents a more modern approach to painting services in Chicago, focusing on streamlining the often difficult process of hiring professional painters. They position themselves as an alternative to both DIY painting and traditional contractor-finding platforms.

Their business model appears designed to make professional painting services more accessible and transparent for homeowners. Improovy also maintains a specialized division serving Chicago’s North Shore suburbs. Their detailed cost breakdowns and educational content demonstrate a commitment to transparency in pricing and customer education.

A Clean Look

A Clean Look has quickly emerged as one of Chicago’s best painting contractors, offering exceptional service at value-conscious prices. Their team brings extensive experience to both residential and commercial projects throughout the Chicago area.

What distinguishes A Clean Look is their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to using premium materials without the premium price tag. They specialize in both interior and exterior painting, with particular expertise in historic home restoration and modern finishes. Their responsive customer service and commitment to staying on schedule and budget have earned them stellar reviews from Chicago homeowners.

For free estimates and more information about their services, visit A Clean Look.

Types of Painting Services Available in Chicago

Interior Painting Services

Interior painting represents the core service offered by Chicago painting contractors. This service typically includes wall and ceiling painting, trim work, and door painting. Chicago painting professionals emphasize proper preparation, which includes:

• Moving and covering furniture
• Taping off fixtures
• Patching holes
• Caulking gaps
• Sanding surfaces

Most contractors note that preparation work accounts for approximately 80% of the total project effort and cost. Interior painting may also extend to closets, cabinets, and specialty surfaces requiring unique preparation techniques or specialty paints.

Exterior Painting Services

Exterior painting services focus on protecting and beautifying the outside of buildings, which is particularly important in Chicago’s variable climate with harsh winters and hot summers. This service typically encompasses:

• Siding
• Trim
• Doors
• Windows
• Decks or porches

Professional exterior painting in Chicago often includes power washing, scraping, sanding, priming, and caulking before the actual painting begins. Some contractors offer specialized services for different exterior materials like brick, vinyl siding, aluminum siding, or stucco, each requiring specific preparation techniques and paint formulations.

Specialty Painting Services

Beyond standard painting, many Chicago contractors offer specialized decorative and functional painting services:

• Cabinet Painting: Requires specific techniques and finishes compared to wall painting
• Limewashing and Whitewashing Brick: Creates unique textural and aesthetic effects
• Faux Painting: Mimics materials like marble, wood, or leather
• Texture Painting: Adds dimension to walls through various application techniques

These specialty services typically come with higher costs due to the additional skill and time required.

Restoration and Repair Services

Many Chicago painting contractors extend their offerings to include restoration and repair services:

• Drywall Repair: Patching holes, fixing cracks, and addressing water damage
• Wallpaper Removal: More complex than many homeowners anticipate
• Paint Removal: Labor-intensive stripping of old finishes

These preparatory and restorative services ensure that the final painted surface will be smooth, uniform, and long-lasting.

Supplementary Services

Several Chicago painting contractors diversify their offerings with supplementary services:

• Deck Sealing: Protects outdoor wooden surfaces from weather extremes
• Power Washing: Essential for exterior preparation and cleaning
• Commercial Painting: Tailored to business environments
• Color Consultation: Helps clients select appropriate paint colors and finishes

Average Costs for Painting Services in Chicago (2025)

Interior Painting Costs

The cost of interior painting in Chicago varies based on room size, preparation requirements, and paint quality. According to recent data, the average cost to paint a medium-sized room in Chicago is approximately $640, which includes labor, paint, and supplies.

On a per-hour basis, interior painters typically charge between $31.60 to $53.60 per hour, with an average rate around $42.60. Alternatively, many contractors charge by square footage, with an average rate of $2.47 per square foot, ranging from $1.60 to $3.33.

For complete interior painting of an entire home in Chicago, homeowners can expect to pay an average of $5,814, though this figure fluctuates based on home size, condition of surfaces, and paint selection.

Exterior Painting Costs

Exterior painting in Chicago generally commands slightly higher rates than interior work due to the additional preparation required and the challenges of working outdoors. The average cost for exterior painting in Chicago is $2.68 per square foot, with prices ranging from $2.10 to $3.25 per square foot.

For an entire home exterior, costs typically range from $4,612 to $9,836, depending on the size of the home, the condition of the exterior surfaces, and the accessibility of the work areas. These costs usually include power washing, scraping, priming, and applying multiple coats of exterior-grade paint.

Specialty Painting and Decorative Finishes

Specialty painting services in Chicago command premium pricing due to the additional skill, time, and materials required. Professional painters charge an average of $54.84 per hour for texture painting, with rates ranging from $40.67 to $69.00 per hour.

Alternatively, texture painting is priced at approximately $4.50 per square foot, with a range of $3.00 to $6.00. Faux painting, which creates decorative effects such as marbling or wood graining, averages $3.36 per square foot for basic textures.

For particularly intricate or specialized painting work including murals, custom textures, or detailed trim work, hourly rates can reach up to $120 per hour in the Chicago market.

Preparation and Restoration Services

Preparatory services such as paint removal and wallpaper removal are often priced separately from the painting itself. Paint removal in Chicago costs an average of $37.00 per hour, with rates ranging from $32.00 to $42.00, or approximately $3.38 per square foot.

It’s worth noting that preparation work constitutes approximately 80% of the cost of a painting project, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of properly preparing surfaces for painting.

Factors Affecting Painting Costs in Chicago

Surface Preparation Requirements

The condition of surfaces to be painted represents one of the most significant cost variables in Chicago painting projects. Extensive preparation work including patching, caulking, and sanding can substantially increase labor hours and overall project costs.

According to industry insights from Improovy Painters, approximately 80% of the cost to paint a room in Chicago stems from the preparation required before opening a paint can. Homes with older surfaces, peeling paint, water damage, or other repairs needed will incur higher costs than those with walls in good condition.

Project Scope and Accessibility

The size, complexity, and accessibility of painting projects significantly impact costs in Chicago. Multi-story homes with high ceilings or difficult-to-reach areas require additional equipment like taller ladders or scaffolding, increasing both labor time and equipment costs.

Similarly, intricate architectural details, decorative molding, or numerous windows and doors require more precise cutting-in and detail work, driving up labor hours. Projects involving furniture moving, extensive protecting of fixtures, or working around obstacles also require additional preparation time.

Paint Quality and Quantity

The type and quality of paint selected significantly impacts the overall cost of painting projects in Chicago. Higher-quality paints from premium brands typically cost $70-$90 per gallon with Chicago taxes included, compared to budget options that may cost half that amount.

While using premium paints increases material costs, many professional painters recommend them for their superior coverage, durability, and finish quality. The number of coats required also affects material quantities and labor time, with darker colors often requiring additional coats for proper coverage.

Professional Expertise and Company Reputation

The experience level and reputation of painting contractors create substantial variation in pricing across the Chicago market. Established companies with strong reputations like Marc Poulos Painting (operating since 1996) typically command higher rates than newer or less-established painters.

This price differential reflects the value of expertise, reliability, and quality assurance that comes with hiring a well-established contractor. Additionally, fully licensed and insured companies incorporate these business costs into their pricing structure, providing customers with greater protection and peace of mind.

Seasonal Factors and Timing

Painting costs in Chicago fluctuate seasonally, with peak summer months typically commanding premium pricing due to high demand for exterior painting services. Conversely, winter months may offer more competitive pricing for interior work as contractors experience reduced demand.

The urgency of the project also impacts pricing, with rush jobs or weekend work often incurring additional charges. Planning ahead and scheduling painting during off-peak seasons can potentially yield cost savings for budget-conscious homeowners.

How to Choose the Right Painting Contractor in Chicago

Check Credentials and Insurance

Always verify that your chosen painting contractor is properly licensed and insured. This protects you from liability in case of accidents or property damage during the project. Ask for proof of insurance and check their business license status.

Review Past Work and References

Ask potential contractors for a portfolio of their past work, especially projects similar to yours. Request references from previous clients and take the time to contact them about their experience. Online reviews can also provide valuable insights, but personal references often give the most accurate picture.

Get Detailed Written Estimates

Obtain detailed written estimates from at least three contractors. These estimates should break down all costs including labor, materials, preparation work, and any additional services. Be wary of estimates that are significantly lower than others—this often indicates corners will be cut.

Ask About Materials and Techniques

Quality contractors will be transparent about the materials they use and their painting techniques. Ask what brand of paint they recommend and why, how they plan to prepare surfaces, and how many coats they’ll apply. Their answers should demonstrate knowledge and a commitment to quality.

Evaluate Communication and Professionalism

Pay attention to how potential contractors communicate with you from the first contact. Do they respond promptly? Are they professional in their interactions? The way they handle the estimation process often reflects how they’ll manage the actual project.

Investing in Quality Painting Services

The Chicago painting market offers a diverse range of professional contractors providing services from basic interior and exterior painting to specialized decorative techniques. Top contractors like Pro Chicago Painters, Marc Poulos Painting, Peralta Painters, Chicago Painters, Inc., Improovy Painters, and A Clean Look each bring unique strengths and service offerings to the market.

When evaluating costs, homeowners should consider both the direct expenses of painting services and the long-term value of professional workmanship and quality materials. As with many home improvement services, the old adage that “you get what you pay for” generally holds true in the Chicago painting market, with higher-quality contractors delivering superior results and greater long-term value despite potentially higher initial costs.

For those looking to refresh their home’s appearance while adding value and protection, investing in professional painting services from reputable Chicago contractors represents a sound decision that enhances both aesthetics and property value.