Fixed price or hourly rate for painting: compare the same work

A fixed price states the cost of the work you have agreed on. With hourly pricing, you need to know both the rate and which hours are chargeable. Materials and other costs should be clear in either case.

An estimated price is different from a fixed price. The Swedish Consumer Agency explains the pricing models and recommends documenting the price, scope and timing in writing. Read the terms of your own agreement; a calculator estimate is not the same as an accepted quote.

A fixed price can provide a clear budget when the work can be defined. With hourly pricing, agreeing how working time and costs will be monitored is particularly important.

Ask these three questions before placing an order:

• Which surfaces and preparation work are included?
• Which costs are excluded from the price?
• How are changes documented and handled?

An uncertain scope needs to be described even with a fixed price. Choosing a pricing model alone does not tell you how hidden repair needs will be handled. Use our checklist for comparing painting quotes when comparing contractors.

Surface area, condition, tasks, materials and access all help define a painting price. Ask what quantity the price is based on, such as wall area, facade area or the number of windows.

A room’s floor area is not automatically its paintable area. Preparation can also differ between local filling and skim coating. No fixed percentage describes the preparation needed for every job.

See our guide to the cost of filling and painting a room when you need to distinguish combined work from painting alone.

The quote needs to state what the hourly rate includes. Ask how working time, travel, materials, protection and making good are itemised, rather than assuming that any item is always included or always extra.

NLL’s listed hourly rate is 687.50 SEK including VAT before any applicable ROT deduction. This is not a total project price. The pricing model and scope for your job need to be confirmed in the quote.

A worked example: 8 chargeable hours × 687.50 SEK = 5,500 SEK for labour, including VAT before any applicable ROT deduction. Materials and other agreed items are excluded. Eight hours is an assumption for the calculation, not a time estimate for your room.

Describe the work, location, approximate measurements and anything that needs assessment. Include photos if possible. The scope and price are confirmed in the quote for your project.

Start with NLL's painting services if you need to define the work. The cost calculator provides a budget estimate. When you are ready to have the scope assessed, you can request a quote.