How do painters usually charge for their services?

We need someone to paint the entire house. We got a few names from people and we're going to get quotes. I was just wondering how they typically charge for their services. Is it by room, square footage, or something else? What is a reasonable price?

If you hired someone to paint your house, what did the painter(s) provide? Did you need to buy paint, brushes, tape, etc?

Re: How do painters usually charge for their services?

Our painters charged per room and I believe he assessed it based on square footage.

We only provided a paper sample of each color we wanted in each room and they bought the paint and used all their own brushes, drop cloths, etc.

Re: How do painters usually charge for their services?

Our painter charged by room, but any painter is going to charge based on the amount of work they need to do (i.e, Does the wall have a light color on it now or a dark one and it's going to have to be primed? Does the molding need to be done, any sheetrock, patching up holes, etc...?)

We also have high ceilings, so they took that into effect as well.

They supplied everything, except the paint because my DH knew someone that worked at a paint store, but any painter should provide everything to you and include that in the price.

Re: How do painters usually charge for their services?

Ours came and took at look at the apartment and gave us a price based on that. They provided everything.