Comparing painting quotes: how to avoid comparing random numbers

Asking for three painting quotes and choosing the cheapest seems like the most obvious decision. But when the values arrive, there is often no simple way to put them side by side: one talks about price per m², another presents a fixed value, a third includes materials and the others do not. In 2026, this difficulty has gained extra weight, because the costs that feed these quotes are rising steadily in Portugal.

Why quotes are more varied in 2026

Rising labour costs are changing the numbers

The latest data from INE shows a clear trend throughout the year: the Housing Construction Cost Index increased 7.2% in June compared to the same month in 2025, driven by 8% increases in labour and 6.5% in materials1. In May, the picture already pointed in the same direction, with new housing construction costs rising 6.9%, with labour increasing 7.5% and materials 6.4%.

This rise is not exclusive to new construction, but reflects pressures also felt in small painting projects: greater demand for qualified professionals, more time spent preparing surfaces and higher raw material costs. The practical result is that two painters can present very different proposals for the same space, not because one is inflating the price, but because they start from different assumptions about working time and material type.

Not all per-m² quotes mean the same thing

When the calculation is done per square metre, it is worth understanding exactly what is included. A value that seems low may refer only to paint application, without wall preparation, while another higher one may already include crack repair, skimming and two full coats. This is why this type of quote is always indicative and preliminary: two surfaces with the same area may be in very different conditions, with cracks, damp or degraded plaster that are only apparent when assessing the real state of the walls. This assessment can be done using photos and videos or through a visit to the site, and both work in the same way. That is why our platform always asks for photographs and videos of surfaces before finalizing any quote, precisely to avoid surprises during the work.

What to put side by side when comparing proposals

Criteria that really change the final price

When comparing painting quotes, it is worth organizing the information before deciding on the lowest value. Some points that usually explain large differences between proposals:

• Number of coats planned and whether they include final touch-ups
• Current state of the walls (cracks, damp stains, loose plaster)
• Whether the value includes furniture protection and final cleaning of the space
• Type and range of paint planned (economy, intermediate or premium)
• Execution timeline and availability to start

A quote can vary considerably without the area changing2, so the price per m² alone rarely tells the whole story.

A table helps organize the comparison

To better visualize the differences, it can be useful to create a simple table with the quotes received:

Filling in this grid before deciding avoids comparing "price against price" and shifts to comparing "service against service", which is what really matters when it comes to interior painting or exterior painting3.

What to verify before closing the quote

The professional status of whoever will be painting

Before accepting any proposal, it makes sense to confirm whether the person presenting it is properly registered as a self-employed professional or has an incorporated company. On our platform, this verification is done before any professional is presented as an option, which removes this task from the customer's hands.

The scope of work in writing

A serious quote should make clear what is included, but also what is arranged after acceptance. On our platform, all job details are recorded online: client, professional and platform all have access to the same agreed scope, in writing, which avoids misunderstandings about what was or was not included in the initial price. This type of record is also detailed in the article about what must be included in a painting contract4.

A practical step before deciding

Before accepting any quote, it is worth asking each proposal to detail separately the number of coats, the condition of the walls identified by the professional and whether final cleaning is included. With that information in hand, the comparison stops being about who is cheapest and becomes about who is proposing work most suited to the actual condition of the house. In the case of apartments in older buildings, for example in Lisbon or Porto, this difference is usually even more noticeable, because the condition of walls varies greatly between units in the same building.