What commercial painting costs
Commercial work is priced by the square foot, but won or lost on logistics — painting a working office, restaurant, or shop without stopping the business. Here's what the national data says per square foot, and what actually drives a Gulf Coast commercial quote.
What the national data says
These are published national industry ranges — not Pro 1 prices. Every figure links to its source. Your home, your prep needs, and Gulf Coast conditions set where a real quote lands, which is why ours are written in person and free.
| Scope | National range | What moves it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial painting, overall | $2 – $6 / sq ft | Paint system, stories, and surface condition | HomeGuide2026 data |
| Interior commercial | $2 – $6 / sq ft | Occupied vs. vacant space, ceiling heights, low-VOC requirements | HomeGuide2026 data |
| Exterior commercial | $3 – $8 / sq ft | Height and access equipment, substrate (block, stucco, metal), weather windows | HomeGuide2026 data |
National published ranges from HomeGuide (2026). Commercial bids are scope documents first and square-foot math second — access, hours, substrate, and downtime tolerance set the real number. Pro 1 walks the space and writes the scope for free.
The factors behind every quote
- 01
Occupied vs. vacant
Painting around a working business — protecting merchandise, phasing by zone, coordinating with staff — takes more planning and care than an empty suite. Downtime tolerance is usually the first scoping question, not the last.
- 02
Hours and phasing
Some businesses want work done outside operating hours; after-hours scheduling is an option we price and plan around your operation. Phased work (a zone at a time) keeps you open but stretches the calendar.
- 03
Substrate and height
Warehouse block walls, stucco storefronts, metal panels, and high open ceilings each carry their own prep, primer, and equipment needs. Lifts and staging for tall exteriors are real line items.
- 04
Durability spec
A restaurant kitchen, a clinic corridor, and a retail wall don't want the same product. Scrubbable, low-VOC, and moisture-tolerant systems cost more per gallon and earn it back in repaint cycles — spec'ing this correctly is part of the bid.
- 05
Compliance and documentation
Commercial work brings insurance certificates, scheduling commitments, and a written warranty. Pro 1 backs commercial work with a 1-year workmanship warranty and puts the whole scope on paper before work starts.
Why coastal Alabama isn't the national average
Exterior weather windows are tighter
The same humidity, dew point, and summer-storm patterns that shape residential exterior scheduling apply to storefronts and warehouses — with the added constraint of your business hours. Coastal commercial exteriors get planned around both calendars.
Salt and moisture punish commercial exteriors
Metal doors, railings, and coastal-facing walls corrode and mildew faster here than the national norm. Product selection for commercial exteriors near the water is a durability decision, not a color decision.
Hurricane season affects project timing
Exterior commercial projects scheduled June through November build in weather contingency. A freshly painted, well-caulked envelope is also cheap insurance on a building you own — many owners time repaints for late spring for exactly that reason.
FAQs
- Can you paint without shutting my business down?
- That's the default assumption on most of our commercial work — phased zones, careful protection, and scheduling built around your operation. After-hours work is an option we can price where the business needs it. The plan is written into the scope before anyone opens a can.
- What does commercial painting cost per square foot?
- National data (HomeGuide, 2026) puts commercial work at $2-$6 per square foot overall, with exteriors running $3-$8. Where a specific building lands depends on substrate, height, hours, and product spec — which is why we walk the space and put a written number on it, free.
- What types of commercial spaces does Pro 1 paint?
- Offices, retail, restaurants, and light-industrial spaces — interior and exterior — across Mobile and Baldwin County, plus commercial and shop floors as their own service. Recent commercial projects are on the Latest Projects page.
- Do you carry insurance and provide documentation?
- Yes — certificates of insurance on request, a written scope before work starts, and a 1-year workmanship warranty on commercial work. If your landlord or franchise requires documentation, that's routine for us.
- How far ahead should we book?
- Earlier than residential, especially for exterior work targeting the spring and fall weather windows — those calendars fill first. For interior phased work we have more flexibility. Have us walk the space with you — it's free, and it gets you a written quote and a realistic slot either way.
Have a space that needs painting?
We'll walk the building, talk phasing and hours, and put a written commercial quote in your inbox — free, across Mobile + Baldwin County.