How Much Should It Cost To Paint An Office?
Costs for painting an office in Edmonton vary more than most people expect. Two offices with the same square footage can land in very different price ranges, depending on condition, prep work, height, access, product choice, and timeline. If you plan to refresh a downtown suite between tenants, or update a busy clinic in south Edmonton without interrupting patient hours, the price will reflect those realities.
This article explains the drivers of cost based on real project experience. It gives you Edmonton-specific price ranges, shows where costs creep, and helps you make good decisions so the finish looks sharp, lasts longer, and supports your team’s work. If you want a precise quote for your space, Depend Exteriors can assess on site and price the work in clear line items. For now, here is what you need to know about office painting Edmonton decision-makers ask about most.
The Short Answer: Typical Edmonton Office Painting Ranges
For most standard commercial offices in Edmonton, interior repaint costs a contractor charges often land between 2.25 and 4.50 dollars per square foot of painted wall surface, including labor and common materials. If you think in terms of rentable office area rather than wall area, many finished projects end up between 1.50 and 3.50 dollars per square foot of floor area for a straightforward repaint of walls, doors, and baseboards.
On a 3,000 square foot office with 9-foot ceilings and average partitioning, that translates to roughly 4,500 to 10,500 dollars for walls and basic trim. Ceilings, feature walls, high-durability coatings, and after-hours work can push the total higher. Fresh drywall or heavy repairs add time and cost. Occupied spaces with furniture and equipment require careful protection and staging, which also affects the quote.
These ranges reflect typical Edmonton conditions, union and non-union labor mixes, and mid-grade commercial paint from reliable brands used in offices and clinics across the city.
How We Actually Calculate Your Price
We start with the surfaces. Walls, doors, frames, baseboards, window trims, and ceilings each have different production rates. A clean, prepped wall with good existing paint can accept a new coat quickly. A sprayed T-bar ceiling or open deck ceiling in a converted warehouse downtown demands lifts, masking, and ventilation control, which changes the rate entirely.
We then factor in four practical realities. First, access — do we have elevator access, or do we climb stairs with materials to the fourth floor? Second, timing — can we paint during business hours, or do we stage nights and weekends to keep your front desk open? Third, protection — how much floor, furniture, and equipment needs covering and removal? Fourth, product — which paint system fits your scuff resistance, washability, and health standards?
Once those items are clear, the math becomes predictable. We measure, assign production rates, add waste and contingency for site variables, and present labor and materials with a schedule that fits your calendar.
Wall Height, Layout, and Why Square Footage Isn’t Enough
Two offices with the same floor size can have very different wall surface areas. Private offices and meeting rooms increase the linear feet of walls. Open-concept layouts reduce them. For a rough mental model, a standard 3,000 square foot office with a mix of private rooms and open area will have 8,000 to 11,000 square feet of wall surface. A wide-open tech suite of the same size might have only 6,000 to 8,000 square feet to paint.
Ceiling height also matters. Nine feet is common in Edmonton’s newer buildings. Ten and twelve feet show up in creative spaces and older buildings. Each extra foot of height increases wall area, ladder work, and time. Floors with exposed ductwork or high partitions need additional prep and cutting, which slows the crew.
If you want a quick estimate before a site visit, count your closed rooms, measure a few wall lengths, and note ceiling height. A simple sketch goes a long way. It helps us give you a realistic range over the phone and reduces surprises during the site walkthrough.
Paint Grades That Make Sense For Offices
Paint quality can swing your material cost by 20 to 40 percent, and it affects long-term value. We see three practical tiers that work in Edmonton offices.
- Builder-grade interior latex works for temporary spaces and short-term leases. It covers, but it scuffs and burnsishes easily. You save now and repaint sooner.
- Mid-grade acrylic latex is the most common choice. It balances coverage, washability, and price. It suits most hallways, boardrooms, and private offices. Semi-gloss or satin on doors and frames adds durability.
- Premium acrylics and low-VOC or zero-VOC lines are the right call for clinics, daycares, wellness studios, and offices with heavy traffic. They resist stains and stand up to frequent cleaning with disinfectants.
Most offices still get two coats for color consistency and touch-up tolerance. Some colors and sheens require a primer, especially if we cover deep reds, navy, charcoal, or fresh drywall. If you want a dramatic accent wall, we may plan for a third coat to get even saturation, especially with certain pigments.
Occupied vs. Vacant: The Single Biggest Cost Driver
Painting a vacant shell goes fast. Painting a busy insurance office on Jasper Avenue without interrupting staff or clients is a different job. We isolate areas, erect dust barriers where needed, roll back furniture and cover it, work in phases, and clean down each night. It’s the right approach for your business, and it takes time.
Occupied spaces typically add 10 to 25 percent to labor. Night or weekend work adds more, depending on building rules, security access, and elevator hours. The gain is clear — your team keeps working, and your clients never sit in a fume-filled reception. Speaking of fumes, modern low-VOC and zero-VOC options keep air quality safe. Many spaces barely smell by morning, especially with proper ventilation and curing time.
Edmonton Building Realities That Affect Pricing
Local conditions matter. Downtown towers have dock booking rules, freight elevator windows, and strict floor protection standards. Some Strathcona and Old Glenora buildings lack elevators, which adds handling time. Warehouses in the north or southeast with open ceilings need lifts and special masks for overspray control. Medical offices often require infection control measures and paint that stands up to frequent disinfectant use.
Seasonal timing plays a role too. Winter projects require careful material handling. We avoid leaving water-based paints in freezing trucks, and we use longer cure times in cool spaces. Summer heat speeds curing and can shorten recoat windows, which helps turn a space faster if the building allows extended ventilation.
Doors, Frames, and Trim: Small Surfaces, Big Impact
Doors and frames get touched constantly, so they need harder-wearing coatings than walls. A standard office door with metal frame often needs degreasing, scuff sanding, priming of bare metal spots, and two finish coats. Spray finishes look smoother than brush and roll, especially on metal frames, but require more masking and ventilation. We choose the method based on your tolerance for disruption and the target look.
Baseboards and window trims vary by building. Wood baseboards in older offices sometimes have oil-based coatings underneath, which need proper prep to avoid peeling. Newer PVC or MDF trims accept acrylic paint readily. Counting these items early prevents underpricing the job and avoids change orders later.
Ceiling Options and Their Cost Implications
Ceilings can be a simple add-on or a project in their own right. Most suspended ceilings with acoustic tiles are left as-is after a wall repaint. If tiles are stained or mismatched, replacing them may cost less than painting. If you want professional industrial painting contractors a clean, uniform look and paint the grid, we can spray the grid and swap in new tiles, or spray both with dedicated products. Painting ceiling tile reduces sound absorption slightly, which some clients accept for a cohesive look.
Open ceilings in creative offices bring in different considerations. Painting the deck, ducts, and conduits black or white creates a modern look, but it requires lifts, thorough masking, and a spray plan to reach around mechanicals. Expect higher costs per square foot of floor area compared to wall-only projects. Ventilation and odor control are essential, and scheduling must consider nearby tenants.
Prep Work: Where Good Jobs Make or Break
Prep never gets the spotlight, but it stops callbacks. In offices, we solve for five common conditions. Drywall dings around chairs and credenzas need fill and sanding. Settlement cracks at door corners need tape and compound to stop them from telegraphing through the new paint. Marker and stain bleed require stain-blocking primer, not just another coat of latex. Silicone around glass walls resists paint, so we cut clean lines or replace the bead with paintable sealant. Old adhesive from removed signage needs scraping and a skim to avoid glossy patches.
Good masking speeds production and protects assets. We cover floors with clean, non-slip protection and wrap millwork, electronics, and glass. If we spray any surfaces, we contain the area to protect adjacent suites and common corridors. Quick jobs skip these steps and look fine for a week, then show flaws under proper lighting.
How Colour Choices Affect Time and Cost
Light neutrals rule most offices for a reason. They reflect light, hide scuffs better than deep tones, and help subtenants accept the space. If you plan an accent color, placing it on short walls away from reception or light-critical sightlines helps avoid touch-up shadows. Deep blues, greens, charcoal, and saturated reds can need extra coats, even with premium lines. If your brand requires a precise corporate color, we request a drawdown card and test on site under your lighting before ordering all material. This avoids mismatches that only appear under your LEDs.
Sheen also matters. Eggshell or matte on walls hides minor drywall imperfections better than satin, yet still cleans well. Satin or semi-gloss on doors and frames adds durability and contrast. Higher sheen shows roller and brush marks more readily, so we adjust technique and sometimes use a different roller nap or extender.
Scheduling Without Disrupting Your Team
Edmonton offices usually have two windows for painting. One is between tenants, where crews can run full shifts and turn spaces fast. The other is a live environment with phased work. For live offices, we plan zones — staff packs items off walls, we move and cover furniture, paint the room, reset it, and shift to the next area. Reception and high-traffic corridors happen after hours. Meeting rooms go first so you regain capacity sooner. If your calendar has a long weekend or offsite day, we anchor the messiest work there.
We also coordinate with other trades. If flooring is being replaced, we paint after the old carpet comes out and before the new floor goes in, or we return for baseboard touch-ups. If glass walls are being installed, we paint before the glass arrives to avoid overspray risks. Communication among trades saves everyone time and cuts your cost.
Permits, Access, and Building Rules
Most office repaints do not need permits. However, building managers in downtown and suburban Edmonton often require a certificate of insurance, a safe work plan, and proof of WCB coverage. Dock and elevator bookings set real constraints on when materials arrive and waste leaves. Some Class A buildings require quiet hours or restrict spraying. We comply with those rules by shifting to low-odor, low-noise methods and by staging deliveries.
Security access cards are another practical detail. If your staff leaves at 5 p.m., we need card access for evenings to avoid delays. These logistics matter more than any line in a quote because they keep the project on schedule.
How After-Hours and Weekend Work Changes the Price
Night shifts and weekends come with premiums. Crews earn higher rates, and security or building services may charge for special access. The trade-off is real: your team keeps working with no disruption, and we often finish faster because spaces are clear. Many professional offices on 109 Street, Whyte Avenue, and downtown choose weeknight work for corridors and reception, and day work for interior rooms where we can isolate staff.
If you are weighing this choice, compare staff downtime or rescheduling costs against the painting premium. For client-facing environments like clinics and law firms, the premium usually pays for itself in avoided disruption.
Estimating Examples From Recent Edmonton Projects
A 1,200 square foot dental clinic in south Edmonton with 9-foot ceilings, six operatories, a reception area, and sterilization rooms cost roughly 4,200 dollars for walls and doors. We used scrubbable, low-VOC paint, worked two evenings and a Sunday, and staged by zones to keep hygiene standards.
A 5,000 square foot tech suite downtown with open concept workstations and two boardrooms came in around 9,800 dollars for walls only. Accent walls in company colors required an extra coat. We painted during regular hours with dust control and focused on the open area first to restore use quickly.
A 3,800 square foot accounting office in the west end with high-traffic corridors, many closed rooms, and older oil-painted frames required more prep and a bonding primer on trims. The total was close to 12,000 dollars including doors, frames, and some ceiling grid touch-ups. Night work added about 15 percent to labor.
These numbers are typical, yet each space has details that push price up or down. A quick site visit confirms the real scope and gets you a reliable quote.
Warranty, Touch-Ups, and Keeping It Looking Good
Quality office painting should include a workmanship warranty. For commercial interiors, one to two years is standard, with longer coverage possible for specific products. Keep some labeled touch-up paint on site after the job. We leave each color with the name, code, sheen, and room list, and we provide a short touch-up guide for your facility team.
For high-traffic areas, plan a light maintenance cycle. Every 12 to 24 months, quick touch-ups in corridors and meeting rooms keep the space looking new and delay a full repaint. If you switch cleaning products, confirm they are paint-safe. Some strong disinfectants affect sheen over time; we can suggest compatible options.
How to Prepare Your Office and Save Money
Here is a short, practical checklist that keeps your bill lean and your schedule on track:
- Confirm colors and sheens before work starts, and sign off on a sample board under your lighting.
- Ask staff to clear desks and remove personal items; we handle moving and covering furniture.
- Identify sensitive equipment, alarms, and access points; we protect and coordinate with vendors.
- Pin down elevator bookings and building rules early to avoid idle time.
- Choose zones for after-hours work where noise or odor would disrupt your team most.
These steps reduce start-and-stop time and prevent surprise add-ons.
Health, Safety, and Odor Control
Modern paints used for office painting in Edmonton are low-VOC or zero-VOC, which helps indoor air quality. We ventilate as we work, run air movers to speed curing, and schedule sensitive areas for times when fewer people are around. If you have scent-sensitive staff, we can specify ultra-low-odor lines and plan extra curing time. For medical environments, we use products compatible with frequent disinfecting and follow infection control measures, including dust control and isolation where needed.
Safety also covers lifts, ladders, and electrical. If we paint near server rooms or panels, we coordinate shutdown windows or protection that keeps systems safe while we work.
The Value Beyond Colour
A well-executed paint job does more than look fresh. Staff feel better in a clean space with consistent lighting and colours that support focus. Clients notice tidy lines and a reception that looks cared for. Maintenance costs drop when walls have durable, washable finishes. Leasing is easier when the suite photographs well and shows cleanly. These are soft gains that pay off over years, not days.
Getting a Precise Quote: What We Need
To sharpen a phone estimate into a firm quote, we need a walkthrough or a good set of photos, a plan layout if available, wall height, color counts, and any building rules. We ask about schedule windows, after-hours constraints, and whether the office will be occupied. If your brand requires specific color codes, share them early. If trims or doors have existing oil paint, we test for adhesion and plan a primer. That clarity lets us present a firm price with a realistic timeline.
What Sets Depend Exteriors Apart for Office Painting Edmonton
We focus on practical planning, clear lines, and clean sites. Our crews show up with the right product for your surface and the right schedule for your building. We label every can, leave touch-up kits, and stand behind our work. Local property managers know our site leads by name, and that matters when a dock booking shifts or a tenant needs a last-minute change. If you need office painting in Edmonton, from Summerside to St. Albert, we can handle single suites or full floors with minimal disruption.
Budget Planning: A Simple Framework
If you need a budget before a lease goes live, use this framework. For a basic, vacant repaint of walls in a typical office with 9-foot ceilings, allow 1.75 to 2.50 dollars per square foot of floor area. Add 0.35 to 0.75 for doors, frames, and baseboards. Add 0.25 to 0.60 for accent walls or deeper colours that need extra coverage. Add 10 to 25 percent for occupied or after-hours work. If ceilings are in scope, costs vary widely; speak with us for accurate numbers, especially for open deck ceilings.
This framework produces a workable budget that sits close to final quotes once a site visit confirms details.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
A fair price for painting an office in Edmonton depends on the surfaces, product, access, and schedule. With those inputs clear, quotes stop wandering and projects finish on time. If you want a clean, durable result that fits your work hours, speak with a contractor who understands building rules from downtown towers to south-side business parks.
Let’s walk your space, confirm the scope, and provide a detailed quote that reflects your priorities. Call Depend Exteriors or request a site visit online. We can meet you before work hours, during lunch, or after close, take measurements, review colours, and map a schedule that keeps your team working while your office gets the refresh it deserves.
Depend Exteriors provides commercial and residential stucco services in Edmonton, AB. Our team handles stucco repair, stucco replacement, and masonry repair for homes and businesses across the city and surrounding areas. We work on exterior surfaces to restore appearance, improve durability, and protect buildings from the elements. Our services cover projects of all sizes with reliable workmanship and clear communication from start to finish. If you need Edmonton stucco repair or masonry work, Depend Exteriors is ready to help.