21 Facts About Painting You Need to Know in 2025 (w/ Statistics + Infographic!)

The U.S. painting industry is bigger than many people realize. From shaping paint color trends to powering large commercial projects, this field employs thousands and generates billions yearly. 

What’s especially interesting about the painting industry is its combination of skilled labor, evolving technology, and artistry, making it one of the most dynamic trades in the country.

In this article, we’ll explore some fascinating facts about painting and compelling painting industry statistics in the U.S. These cool painting facts will make you look at paint and the painting business in a new light!

21 Fascinating Painting Industry Statistics

The U.S. paint and coating industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. 

The market value of the U.S. paint and coatings industry was estimated at approximately $31 billion in 2022, and it was estimated to be around $33.4 billion in 2023. 

Key factors driving this growth include the country’s large and active construction industry. The U.S. is one of the world’s largest consumers of architectural coatings, driving the demand for these coatings for infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects. 

Globally, the paint and coating industry was valued at approximately $217.36 billion in 2024. With a projected compound annual growth rate of roughly 4.5%, it should grow to an estimated $304 billion by 2032. 

There are over 300,000 people employed in the painting industry in the U.S. 

As of 2023, 242,261 people were employed in the house painting and decorating contractor industry. This is an average increase of 1.2% over five years between 2018 and 2023. 

Employment of painters and construction and maintenance workers is also projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033, with around 28,000 job openings, on average, to replace workers exiting the labor force to retire or transfer to different occupations. 

It is also expected that approximately 4,600 companies and 8,000 new workers will join the painting industry by 2027. 

Over 1.4 billion gallons of paint are used in the U.S. 

With approximately 140 million homes in the U.S., U.S. consumers are estimated to use over 1.4 billion gallons of paint annually.

It is also forecast that paint and coating production volume in the U.S. will surpass 1.34 billion gallons in 2024. This is enough paint to cover the entire state of Delaware with a fresh coat of paint twice every year! 

California has the highest number of paint and coating industry employees. 

The U.S. painting and coating industry employed over 313,000 workers in 2022, with California employing the highest number of workers, followed by Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois.  

In 2023, the U.S. exported paint and coatings products worth $2.9 billion. 

Meanwhile, Illinois had the most paint and coatings exports in 2023, amounting to $361 million. Texas had the second-highest exports, with $333 million, followed by Ohio, with $280 million. 

Sole proprietorships and LLCs dominate the painting industry. 

Moreover, 88% of industry revenue comes from companies with fewer than a dozen employees. 

• 74.9% of companies in the painting industry have one to four employees 
• 13.8% have five to nine employees 
• 6.7% have 10 to 16 employees 

Did You Know?

Since painting businesses with one to four employees generate 75% of industry revenue, many painting contractors don’t use time tracking and accounting programs and just stick to spreadsheets and word processing programs.

There has been an increased demand for antimicrobial paints in the U.S. post-pandemic. 

Antimicrobial paints and coatings are not only recommended for public spaces and healthcare facilities. There’s a growing trend among people who want to design and live in healthy homes using antimicrobial paints and coatings. 

Aside from being mold-resistant, they have antimicrobial additives that kill bacteria, improve indoor air quality, and enhance the longevity of the paint on interior and exterior surfaces. 

There’s a rise in demand for green coatings among customers and industry stakeholders. 

Customers also prefer green coatings made of recycled or renewable materials and processed using processes that reduce waste and carbon footprint. The global green coatings market is expected to reach approximately $203 billion by 2032. 

Over 750 million gallons of paint are left unused annually in the United States. 

Approximately 10% of sold architectural paint is left unused each year in the U.S. Local household hazardous waste collection programs collect more paint than any other hazardous waste. 

The age gap in the painting industry labor market is expanding. 

According to the painter demographics research by Zippia, a provider of online recruitment services in the U.S., as of 2021, less than 20% of the 30 million Zippia profiles working as painters are 20 to 30 years old. 

The average age of painters in the U.S. is about 42, and 57% of the workforce is aged 42 or older, highlighting a need for more young painters to enter the field as older workers approach retirement

Customers hire professional painters because they can’t reach areas that need to be painted. 

In a 2021 survey conducted by Sherwin-Williams on 1,000 members of a DIY advisory panel, 50% of respondents hired a professional painter because they needed help painting hard-to-reach areas. Meanwhile, only 41% of respondents felt it was a job for the professionals. 

Repeat business and referrals account for top means for painter hires. 

In the same Sherwin-Williams survey, 49% of respondents said they learned about the painter they hired from friends and family; 17% answered they hired their painter from previous experience (repeat business); and 16% said their painter hire was from a referral from a contractor in a different trade. 

Moreover, the importance of the painter’s reputation, responsiveness, professionalism, availability, and the paint brand to be used measured high among the survey respondents, scoring a 4.2 on a 5-point scale. 

Did You Know?

63% of the 1,000 respondents surveyed in 2021 by Sherwin-Williams disagreed with the statement, “The painter with the lowest price will win my business.”

Buyers pay more for homes painted in dark, moody hues. 

According to Zillow’s paint color analysis, charcoal gray walls correlated to a higher offer price than homes with white interiors.

Homes with charcoal gray living rooms can sell for roughly $1,755 more. A house with a deep graphite gray kitchen can sell for approximately $2,512 more.

On the other hand, homes with a white kitchen can reduce the sale price by more than $600. 

The average cost to paint an interior wall is $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. 

But the amount increases to $3 to $4 per square foot if there are trims and ceilings. For a standard 400-square foot room, prime and paint costs can average at $2.50 per square foot, which totals to $1,000. 

If you prefer to do it yourself, you can spend less than $20 to paint up to 400 square feet of space using one gallon of paint. 

On average, homeowners repaint interiors every five to seven years. 

Exteriors are commonly repainted every seven to 10 years. Interiors of commercial properties, on the other hand, are repainted every two to four years for regular maintenance needs, wear and tear, and branding changes. In comparison, commercial exteriors are repainted every three to five years on average. 

93% of American homeowners have painted at least one room in their home. 

According to USA Wire, 93% of Americans are not afraid to take on interior painting projects on their own and have painted at least one room in their homes. 

However, when it comes to exterior painting projects, only 27% of American homeowners have taken the risk; 36% find exterior paint jobs challenging, and one in six believe it’s a job for the painting pros. 

78% of homeowners consider starting exterior painting projects during the first half of the year. 

58% of homeowners decide to proceed with their exterior painting projects during spring or early summer; 64% are started and completed from May through July. 

Rumors, Encore, Quietude, and Cinnamon Slate have been named 2025’s Colors of the Year. 

Behr’s color choice for 2025 is ‘Rumors,’ a deep ruby red with a warm energy that brings a sophisticated ambiance to any living space. 

Meanwhile, Valspar is going for a bold look with ‘Encore,’ a versatile, rich blue hue that will add a joyful look to any indoor or outdoor space, including wood cabinets, concrete pavers, and decks. 

HGTV Home from Sherwin Williams is opting for a classic sage green called ‘Quietude,’ perfect for creating a timeless and serene environment. 

Benjamin Moore’s color of the year is a mix of velvety brown and heathered plum called ‘Cinnamon Slate,’ which offers richness, depth, and enduring style. 

Oil-based paint has a long shelf life. 

An unopened can of oil-based paint can last up to 15 years, while acrylic and water-based latex paint can last for two to 10 years. Limewash paint can last for five to 10 years. 

Other Fun and Interesting Facts about Painting 

• Many dining establishments paint their interiors and exteriors red or use red accents because red triggers psychological and physiological responses in the brain that make people crave food. 
• Painting and watching paint being applied have a calming effect on people, which can be attributed to the painter’s rhythmic movements, focus, and precision.
• People experience ‘paint paralysis’ when overwhelmed by the many paint colors available.  
• The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover the exterior. 

Final Thoughts

From the fascinating psychology behind clients’ color choices to the surprising growth in painting job opportunities, understanding these painting industry statistics reveals how much the industry influences personal spaces and broader urban landscapes. 

These facts about painting show a trade that’s as dynamic as it is essential, with seasoned painters taking center stage in creating the environments where people live and work.

If you’re in the painting business (or planning to be), managing a skilled team can make all the difference. This is where Workyard comes in. 

Workyard’s platform helps you connect with and manage talented professionals, providing tools to simplify time tracking, job costing, and team coordination so you can focus on delivering high-quality work. 

Whether you’re scaling your crew or just looking to streamline operations, Workyard will help bring efficiency and expertise to every painting job. If you’re ready to grow your painting business, try Workyard for free for 14 days!