Quick answer: In 2026, painting rates in Kenya are typically KES 100–200 per m² for labour only and KES 250–400 per m² with paint included (standard emulsion, two coats). Exterior walls cost KES 350–650 per m² inclusive, and skimming plus painting costs KES 450–700 per m².
Painting rates per m² in Kenya at a glance
| Work | Labour only | Labour + materials |
|---|---|---|
| Interior emulsion, walls, 2 coats | KES 100 – 180/m² | KES 250 – 380/m² |
| Ceilings | KES 120 – 200/m² | KES 280 – 420/m² |
| New plaster: sealer + 2 coats | KES 140 – 220/m² | KES 320 – 480/m² |
| Skimming / putty + 2 coats | KES 250 – 350/m² | KES 450 – 700/m² |
| Exterior weatherproof emulsion | KES 150 – 300/m² | KES 350 – 650/m² |
| Textured coating (exterior) | KES 250 – 450/m² | KES 600 – 1,200/m² |
| Decorative / designer finishes | KES 300 – 600/m² | KES 700 – 1,800/m² |
| Metal (gates, grills): rust primer + gloss | KES 150 – 250/m² | KES 350 – 600/m² |
These rates are for standard heights (up to about 3.2 m). Higher walls, stairwells and multi-storey exteriors add scaffolding and safety costs.
Labour vs. materials: how the price splits
On a typical inclusive interior job at about KES 300 per m², the money breaks down roughly like this:
- Paint and primers: 35–45%
- Labour: 40–50%
- Consumables (filler, sandpaper, tape, rollers, polythene): 5–10%
- Supervision, transport and overheads: 5–10%
That is why “labour only” quotes look much cheaper. You still have to buy paint, and if you buy too little or the wrong product, the job stalls.
Painter day rates in Nairobi
Some clients hire painters per day instead of per m². Typical day rates in Nairobi are:
| Worker | Typical day rate |
|---|---|
| Casual / helper | KES 800 – 1,200 |
| Painter (fundi) | KES 1,200 – 1,800 |
| Skilled painter / foreman | KES 1,800 – 2,500 |
Day rates can work for small touch-ups, but on bigger jobs a fixed price per m² protects you from slow progress and surprise extra days.
How to measure the area to be painted
- Walls: add the lengths of all walls in the room and multiply by the height. Example: a 4 m × 3.5 m room has a perimeter of 15 m; × 2.8 m height = 42 m².
- Subtract openings: a standard door is about 1.9 m² and a window 1.5–2.5 m².
- Ceiling: length × width = 4 × 3.5 = 14 m².
- Total: 42 − 4 + 14 = 52 m².
Rule of thumb: a home’s total paintable area (walls + ceilings) is about 2.8–3.5 times its floor area. A 100 m² apartment usually has 280–350 m² to paint.
Per square foot conversion
Some quotes, especially for commercial buildings, use square feet. 1 m² = 10.76 sq ft.
- KES 100/m² ≈ KES 9.3 per sq ft
- KES 250/m² ≈ KES 23 per sq ft
- KES 400/m² ≈ KES 37 per sq ft
What pushes the rate per m² up or down?
Things that raise the rate
- Peeling, chalky or damp walls that need scraping, treatment and skimming
- Dark-to-light colour changes needing a third coat
- Cutting in around many cornices, bulkheads, grills or tiles
- Scaffolding, night work or tight deadlines
Things that lower the rate
- Large, open, empty spaces, such as new apartments before move-in
- Repainting a similar colour on sound walls
- Bigger projects with economies of scale, such as whole blocks or estates
Is a very low rate per m² a red flag?
If a quote is far below KES 100 per m² for labour, ask what is missing. Common shortcuts are skipping the sealer on new walls, watering down the paint, or applying one thick coat instead of two. These jobs often look fine at handover but fade, peel or show patches within months. Our guide to hiring painters in Nairobi lists the questions to ask.
For whole-house budgets, see our worked example for painting a 3-bedroom house and the full painting cost guide for Nairobi. You can also view our starting rates.
Related: paint prices in Kenya, wall texture designs and prices and a sample painting quotation.
Want a measured, per-m² quote? BrushMasters Painters measures every surface during a free site visit and gives you a clear price per m² in writing. Call or WhatsApp 0746 575257.
