The cost to paint a vaulted ceiling will depend on the height and the sq ft needing to be painted. Other factors like material and complexity of job also factor in.

You can expect to pay $2 to $4 per square foot to paint a vaulted drywall ceiling. Other textured ceilings or timber will cost more as it is a more complex surface. You can pay up to $8 per sq ft. The size of the vaulted ceiling also comes into play with the higher ceilings costing more again.

Since a vaulted ceiling is much higher than an ordinary ceiling, you will need scaffolding to reach it. You will also need to empty the room or cover all its contents to avoid destroying them with paint.

Churches were the first buildings to install vaulted ceilings. Now, they are a common occurrence in modern homes.

Vaulted ceilings are ceilings that curve upwards from the walls to the center of the roof. The result is a volume of space overhead. They create an illusion of height and space in the room.

Painting vaulted ceilings is a difficult task. You will need scaffolding to ensure you reach the ceiling and the right shade of color for your paint. Light color shades create the illusion of more space. Deeper shades make the ceiling seem lower than it is.

Cost To Paint A Vaulted Ceiling

How Much Does It Cost To Paint Other Types Of Ceilings

Cathedral Ceiling

A cathedral ceiling is similar to a vaulted ceiling. It is too high in a room that you will need scaffolding to reach it. Cathedral ceilings have two equal sloping sides that meet at the center.

They are expensive to paint. You can expect to may more than $2 to $4 per square foot.

Cathedral Ceiling

Popcorn Ceiling

A popcorn ceiling is a textured ceiling. It looks and feels rough. Popcorn ceilings are not as popular as they used to be. You will rarely find them in modern homes.

Painting a popcorn ceiling is difficult. It requires more time and paints to produce the textured look and feel.

You can expect to pay from $2 to $3.5 per square foot to paint a popcorn ceiling.

Popcorn Ceiling

Flat Ceiling

A flat ceiling extends from one end of the wall to the other seamlessly. It creates an elegant appearance in the room regardless of size.

You can expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot to paint a flat ceiling.

Flat Ceiling

Factors That Influence The Cost Of Painting A Vaulted Ceiling

Ceiling height

Expect to pay more for a higher ceiling than one that is easy to reach. You have to use ladders and scaffolding to paint a high ceiling. You also need more time to finish painting a high ceiling.

Lower ceilings are easier to reach and to paint. Consequently, the cost of painting a lower ceiling is low.

Painting is easier while stepping on a low ladder. You are more comfortable and can reach the paint and the ceiling easily.

You can expect to pay from $1.25 to $1.5 for a low ceiling and $2 for a high ceiling.

House size

A large house will have a large roof. A large roof means more ceiling space. You will need more paint for the ceiling. The cost of painting a ceiling rises with the size of the ceiling.

A smaller house with a small roof has a small ceiling. You will need less paint and time to finish a paint job.

A large ceiling needs more time, labor, and materials to complete the task. You will pay more to paint a large ceiling than you will for a smaller ceiling.

The larger the house, the higher the cost of the ceiling paint job.

Prep work needed

A lot of work to prepare the ceiling incurs additional costs. You may have to carry out some repair works before painting. You may incur additional costs depending on the amount of work needed. The additional costs to repair the ceiling increase the cost of painting the ceiling.

Type Of The Ceiling

Different buildings have different types of ceilings. How much you will pay for painting different types of ceilings varies.

A cathedral ceiling costs more to paint than a flat ceiling. You will need extra equipment and time to paint it.

A textured ceiling costs more to paint than a non-textured ceiling. You need the skill and the extra paint to make it look and feel as it does.

When budgeting for a ceiling paint job, consider the type of ceiling in your home. It will cost you more to paint a vaulted ceiling than a flat ceiling.

Contractor or DIY

You can choose to paint the ceiling yourself or to hire a pro. If you choose to DIY, the cost of painting your ceiling is lower. You only need to get the time to paint it.

Conversely, you can save time and get a professional to carry out the paint job on your ceiling. However, it will cost you more than if you did it yourself.

Getting a pro to paint your ceiling ensures that you can save on time and the work is completed correctly. But, if you have the time and the skills to paint professionally, you will only incur the cost of purchasing painting supplies.

Paint

The amount of paint you need to paint the ceiling also determines the cost of your project. For a large building with a large ceiling, you need a lot of paint. For a small house, you will not need as much paint.

Paint is expensive. The more paint you need to use, the higher the cost of painting your ceiling.

Should I Hire A Pro Or DIY My Ceiling Paint Job

Painting is an easy and fun task. You can easily DIY a ceiling paint job. At the same time, certain circumstances may need you to hire a pro. If you are painting a vaulted ceiling. You need to get a pro to do it for you speedily and correctly.

Where To Get A Pro For My Ceiling Paint Job

You can use the homegardenguides.com tool.

At the top of the tool, enter your location zip code. Then fill a form with details of the ceiling paint job you need.

You will receive three quotes from contractors using the tool with no obligation to hire. You can choose one of the three or any other to paint your ceiling for you.

Benjamin McInerny
Author: Benjamin McInerny - is a qualified arborist with 20 years of industry experience. Ben has a wide knowledge of renovation and DIY projects around the house such as lawns, fencing and painting. Ben shares his skills with DIY and gardening enthusiasts.