Updated on 26 June 2026 · by Pepe, painter in Elche
It's the question you ask me most, so I'll get straight to the point. I'm Pepe, a painter based in Elche, and in this guide I'll tell you what it really costs to paint a flat: the price per metre, examples by size, and what makes a bill go up or down. No small print.
Keep one thing in mind: the fair price isn't the cheapest one guessed sight unseen, it's the one you get after someone has seen the flat. Even so, here are some benchmarks so you turn up with a figure in your head and nobody pulls a fast one on you.
The price in one sentence
Painting a flat on the Costa Blanca usually works out from around 6 €/m² of wall (labour and emulsion paint included) when the walls are in good nick. If there's woodchip texture to strip off, lots of blemishes to fill or a strong colour to cover a light one, the price goes up because there's more work and more coats.
Heads-up: the price is counted by the metres of wall and ceiling to be painted, not the floor area of the flat. A flat with 80 m² of floor space can easily have between 200 and 260 m² of surface to paint across walls and ceilings.
| Job | Guide price (€/m² of wall) |
|---|---|
| Painting a flat (walls in normal condition) | 6 – 10 €/m² |
| Skimming off the texture before painting | 10 – 15 €/m² |
What you pay depends on
Two flats the same size can cost very differently. These are the things that really move the price:
- Condition of the walls: filling cracks, holes and damp takes time before painting.
- Woodchip texture: skimming it flat is a job in itself (I explain it in the guide to stripping woodchip texture).
- Colour change: going from a dark shade to white needs more coats of paint.
- Ceilings: they cost more because they're awkward, but they leave the flat looking far newer.
- Quality of the paint: the good stuff goes further and stands up better to everyday knocks.
Cost to paint a flat of 50, 70, 80, 90 or 100 m²
These are the sizes you ask me about most (50, 60, 65, 70, 80, 90 or 100 m²). To give you a quick idea — walls and ceilings, white paint and walls in normal condition — these are the benchmarks:
| Size of flat | Guide price |
|---|---|
| 50 m² flat · 1 bedroom | 600 – 1,000 € |
| 70 m² flat · 2 bedrooms | 850 – 1,450 € |
| 80 m² flat · 2-3 bedrooms | 1,000 – 1,700 € |
| 90 m² flat · 3 bedrooms | 1,150 – 1,950 € |
| 100 m² flat · 3-4 bedrooms | 1,300 – 2,200 € |
What a properly done quote includes
When I give you a price, it's all in there and in writing: I don't like surprises halfway through the job. A serious quote includes:
- Protecting furniture, floors, sockets and skirting boards.
- Preparation: sanding, filling cracks and holes and priming wherever needed.
- The coats of paint needed for an even finish (not 'one coat and off we go').
- The paint and materials, from leading brands.
- Cleaning and clearing up at the end: I leave the flat ready to live in.
How to pay less without losing quality
You can trim the price without dropping the finish. The most effective moves: painting several rooms at once (you make the most of the setup), choosing white or light shades (they cover better and need fewer coats) and giving plenty of notice so it isn't rushed.
And the most important thing for your wallet: working with someone straight-talking, with no middlemen or salespeople in between. That saving goes into your budget, not an office.
Want the exact price for your project?
I will come and see it with no obligation and give you a fixed quote, free and the same day. You deal directly with me, no middlemen.
FAQ
- Is the quote free?
- Yes. I'll come and see the flat at no cost and with no obligation and give you a fixed price in writing. You only pay if you decide to hire me.
- How long does it take to paint a flat?
- An average flat of 80–100 m² is usually ready in 2 or 3 days. I confirm the exact timescale in the quote and I stick to it.
- Do I need to empty the flat?
- No. I cover and move the furniture, and if the flat is lived in I organise the work room by room so you can carry on living there with the least disruption.
- How much does it cost to paint an 80 m² flat?
- As a benchmark, an 80 m² flat with the walls in normal condition usually works out between 1,000 and 1,700 € (walls and ceilings, white paint included). If there's woodchip texture to strip or a strong colour to apply, it goes up. I'll give you the exact price for free after seeing it.
- How much does it cost to paint a 90 m² flat?
- A 90 m² flat is around 1,150 – 1,950 € as a guide depending on the state of the walls and the paint you choose. Ask me for a quote: it's free, fixed and in writing.
- And a 100 m² flat?
- A 100 m² flat usually falls between 1,300 and 2,200 € as a guide. The price mainly depends on the condition of the walls and whether there's woodchip texture to strip. I'll fix it for free after seeing it.