How Long Does Interior Painting Really Take? A Timeline Guide

Property managers and realtors always ask me the same question: how fast can you get this done? Empty units don't make money, and delayed listings cost thousands. Here's what actually determines interior painting timelines.

Room size matters less than you'd think. A small bedroom with tons of trim, a closet, and textured walls takes longer than a large empty living room with smooth walls and minimal detail work. I can usually paint a standard bedroom in 4-6 hours, but that assumes the walls are in good shape.

Surface preparation eats up time. Patching holes, sanding rough spots, and priming stains can double your timeline. A vacant apartment that's been well-maintained might only need light prep. A property with nail holes, scuffs, and damaged drywall needs extensive work before the first coat goes on.

Number of colors affects scheduling. Painting an entire two-bedroom apartment one color goes much faster than using different colors in each room. Every color change means taping, switching paint, and cleaning equipment. For quick turnovers, I recommend one neutral throughout.

Here's my typical timeline for a vacant two-bedroom apartment:

• Day 1: Prep work (patching, sanding, priming) takes 4-6 hours

• Day 2: First coat on all surfaces takes 5-7 hours

• Day 3: Second coat and touch-ups take 4-5 hours

That's three days for a complete turnover, which is why we guarantee 72-hour completion for single units. Larger properties or homes with extensive damage need more time.

Drying time can't be rushed. Paint needs proper drying between coats, or you'll see streaks, peeling, and uneven coverage. We schedule jobs to maximize efficiency while respecting drying requirements.

Multiple units move faster per unit. If you have three vacant apartments, we can run them simultaneously with proper crew scheduling. The prep work happens in all three, then we paint them in sequence. You get all three done in 5-6 days instead of nine.

Weather affects interior work too. High humidity slows drying time. Extreme cold (if the heat's off in a vacant unit) causes problems with paint application. We work around these issues, but they're worth mentioning.

Want to speed things up? Have utilities on, remove all belongings, and let us know about any damage upfront. Clear communication and good prep make every job faster.