GITNUXREPORT 2026

Painting Industry Statistics

The global painting industry is large and steadily growing across all major regions.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

55% of U.S. homeowners repaint every 5-7 years.

Statistic 2

72% of consumers prefer eco-friendly paints.

Statistic 3

Average U.S. household spends $1,200 on painting annually.

Statistic 4

40% rise in demand for interior painting post-COVID.

Statistic 5

65% of millennials choose low-VOC paints.

Statistic 6

Online painting quotes requested by 45% of consumers.

Statistic 7

Dark color paints popularity up 25% in 2023.

Statistic 8

80% of homeowners prioritize durable paints.

Statistic 9

Rental property painting demand up 18%.

Statistic 10

30% of consumers use apps for color matching.

Statistic 11

Exterior painting jobs average 20% of total demand.

Statistic 12

52% prefer matte finishes over gloss.

Statistic 13

Gen Z drives 35% increase in bold accent walls.

Statistic 14

67% influenced by social media for paint choices.

Statistic 15

Average repaint interval 6.2 years for interiors.

Statistic 16

25% of consumers seek antimicrobial paints.

Statistic 17

Australia homeowners spend AUD 2,500 avg on painting.

Statistic 18

60% choose neutral colors for resale value.

Statistic 19

U.S. painting industry employment totaled 450,000 workers in 2023.

Statistic 20

Painting contractors employed 12% more workers post-2020 recovery.

Statistic 21

Average painting contractor firm size is 4.5 employees in U.S.

Statistic 22

28% of U.S. painters are self-employed.

Statistic 23

Global painting workforce estimated at 5 million in 2022.

Statistic 24

Women represent 8.5% of U.S. painting industry workers.

Statistic 25

Hispanic workers make up 45% of U.S. painters.

Statistic 26

Average age of U.S. painters is 42 years old.

Statistic 27

15% annual turnover rate in painting workforce.

Statistic 28

UK painting industry employs 250,000 people.

Statistic 29

India painting services sector has 2.5 million workers.

Statistic 30

65% of U.S. painters have vocational training.

Statistic 31

Australia painting workforce grew 2.3% in 2023.

Statistic 32

U.S. painting industry average hourly wage $22.50 in 2023.

Statistic 33

40% of painting jobs require apprenticeships.

Statistic 34

Canada painting employment at 45,000 in 2023.

Statistic 35

Average U.S. painting firm revenue per employee $120,000.

Statistic 36

Painting contractors profit margins averaged 6.1% in 2022.

Statistic 37

Top 10% of painting firms earn over $2 million annually.

Statistic 38

Cost of goods sold 35% of painting revenue.

Statistic 39

U.S. residential painting average job value $3,500.

Statistic 40

Painting industry bad debt 1.8% of revenue.

Statistic 41

Average painting contractor EBITDA margin 8.2%.

Statistic 42

Commercial painting projects average $50,000 contract value.

Statistic 43

Paint material costs rose 12% in 2023 for contractors.

Statistic 44

U.S. painting industry payroll expenses 28% of revenue.

Statistic 45

Small painting firms (<5 employees) average $250k revenue.

Statistic 46

Insurance costs 4.5% of painting firm expenses.

Statistic 47

UK painting firms average turnover £150,000.

Statistic 48

India painting contractor margins at 15-20%.

Statistic 49

Equipment depreciation 2% of painting revenue.

Statistic 50

The U.S. painting contractors industry revenue reached $44.3 billion in 2023.

Statistic 51

Global paint and coatings market size was valued at $164.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 52

U.S. painting industry expected to grow at 2.1% CAGR through 2028.

Statistic 53

European paints market projected to reach €32 billion by 2025.

Statistic 54

Asia-Pacific paint market grew 5.8% annually from 2018-2023.

Statistic 55

U.S. residential painting segment accounts for 60% of industry revenue.

Statistic 56

Global decorative paints market size hit $110 billion in 2023.

Statistic 57

Painting services market in India valued at $5.2 billion in 2022.

Statistic 58

U.S. commercial painting revenue increased 3.4% in 2022.

Statistic 59

Latin America coatings market to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 2030.

Statistic 60

Canadian painting industry revenue at CAD 6.8 billion in 2023.

Statistic 61

Middle East paints market expected to reach $4.1 billion by 2027.

Statistic 62

U.S. painting contractors industry profit margin averaged 5.2% in 2023.

Statistic 63

China paint production capacity exceeded 10 million tons in 2022.

Statistic 64

Australian painting services market worth AUD 4.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 65

Global industrial coatings market valued at $78.6 billion in 2023.

Statistic 66

UK painting and decorating market size £5.9 billion in 2022.

Statistic 67

Brazil paints market grew 6% year-over-year in 2023.

Statistic 68

Painting industry uses 20% more water-based paints since 2015.

Statistic 69

85% of U.S. paints now low-VOC compliant.

Statistic 70

EU VOC limits reduced emissions by 40% since 2010.

Statistic 71

12 million gallons of paint waste recycled annually in U.S.

Statistic 72

California CARB regulations cover 90% of architectural paints.

Statistic 73

Global shift to zero-VOC paints up 15% yearly.

Statistic 74

Lead paint abatement required in 70% of pre-1978 homes.

Statistic 75

OSHA fall protection rules impact 25% of painting jobs.

Statistic 76

Sustainable paint sales grew 28% in 2022.

Statistic 77

UK Paintmakers Association enforces eco-labels on 80% products.

Statistic 78

50% reduction in hazardous air pollutants from paints since 1990.

Statistic 79

Bio-based paints market share 5% but growing 10% CAGR.

Statistic 80

Australia banned high-VOC paints in 2023.

Statistic 81

95% of industrial coatings now compliant with REACH.

Statistic 82

Painting firms report 18% energy savings with low-VOC.

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The painting industry is quietly painting a global economic picture worth hundreds of billions, a reality where fresh coats on walls translate into massive revenue and millions of jobs worldwide.

Key Takeaways

The U.S. painting contractors industry revenue reached $44.3 billion in 2023.
Global paint and coatings market size was valued at $164.5 billion in 2022.
U.S. painting industry expected to grow at 2.1% CAGR through 2028.
U.S. painting industry employment totaled 450,000 workers in 2023.
Painting contractors employed 12% more workers post-2020 recovery.
Average painting contractor firm size is 4.5 employees in U.S.
Average U.S. painting firm revenue per employee $120,000.
Painting contractors profit margins averaged 6.1% in 2022.
Top 10% of painting firms earn over $2 million annually.
55% of U.S. homeowners repaint every 5-7 years.
72% of consumers prefer eco-friendly paints.
Average U.S. household spends $1,200 on painting annually.
Painting industry uses 20% more water-based paints since 2015.
85% of U.S. paints now low-VOC compliant.
EU VOC limits reduced emissions by 40% since 2010.

The global painting industry is large and steadily growing across all major regions.

Consumer Behavior

55% of U.S. homeowners repaint every 5-7 years.
72% of consumers prefer eco-friendly paints.
Average U.S. household spends $1,200 on painting annually.
40% rise in demand for interior painting post-COVID.
65% of millennials choose low-VOC paints.
Online painting quotes requested by 45% of consumers.
Dark color paints popularity up 25% in 2023.
80% of homeowners prioritize durable paints.
Rental property painting demand up 18%.
30% of consumers use apps for color matching.
Exterior painting jobs average 20% of total demand.
52% prefer matte finishes over gloss.
Gen Z drives 35% increase in bold accent walls.
67% influenced by social media for paint choices.
Average repaint interval 6.2 years for interiors.
25% of consumers seek antimicrobial paints.
Australia homeowners spend AUD 2,500 avg on painting.
60% choose neutral colors for resale value.

Consumer Behavior Interpretation

While Americans are steadfastly dedicated to their neutral resale beiges every six years, their true, socially-media-influenced hearts increasingly yearn for bold, eco-friendly, and antimicrobial walls that can handle the drama.

Employment & Workforce

U.S. painting industry employment totaled 450,000 workers in 2023.
Painting contractors employed 12% more workers post-2020 recovery.
Average painting contractor firm size is 4.5 employees in U.S.
28% of U.S. painters are self-employed.
Global painting workforce estimated at 5 million in 2022.
Women represent 8.5% of U.S. painting industry workers.
Hispanic workers make up 45% of U.S. painters.
Average age of U.S. painters is 42 years old.
15% annual turnover rate in painting workforce.
UK painting industry employs 250,000 people.
India painting services sector has 2.5 million workers.
65% of U.S. painters have vocational training.
Australia painting workforce grew 2.3% in 2023.
U.S. painting industry average hourly wage $22.50 in 2023.
40% of painting jobs require apprenticeships.
Canada painting employment at 45,000 in 2023.

Employment & Workforce Interpretation

The U.S. painting industry, a surprisingly steady global employer of five million, has rebounded with 450,000 domestic workers who are typically 42-year-old, vocationally-trained men in very small shops, but the canvas is slowly changing with more women entering the field and a significant Hispanic majority that now brushes in 45% of the strokes.

Financial Performance

Average U.S. painting firm revenue per employee $120,000.
Painting contractors profit margins averaged 6.1% in 2022.
Top 10% of painting firms earn over $2 million annually.
Cost of goods sold 35% of painting revenue.
U.S. residential painting average job value $3,500.
Painting industry bad debt 1.8% of revenue.
Average painting contractor EBITDA margin 8.2%.
Commercial painting projects average $50,000 contract value.
Paint material costs rose 12% in 2023 for contractors.
U.S. painting industry payroll expenses 28% of revenue.
Small painting firms (<5 employees) average $250k revenue.
Insurance costs 4.5% of painting firm expenses.
UK painting firms average turnover £150,000.
India painting contractor margins at 15-20%.
Equipment depreciation 2% of painting revenue.

Financial Performance Interpretation

The painting industry is a masterclass in thin margins, where the top performers are essentially artists who've also cracked the code of turning a $3,500 splash of color into a sustainable business while dodging a 12% paint price hike and the occasional 1.8% financial ghost.

Market Size & Growth

The U.S. painting contractors industry revenue reached $44.3 billion in 2023.
Global paint and coatings market size was valued at $164.5 billion in 2022.
U.S. painting industry expected to grow at 2.1% CAGR through 2028.
European paints market projected to reach €32 billion by 2025.
Asia-Pacific paint market grew 5.8% annually from 2018-2023.
U.S. residential painting segment accounts for 60% of industry revenue.
Global decorative paints market size hit $110 billion in 2023.
Painting services market in India valued at $5.2 billion in 2022.
U.S. commercial painting revenue increased 3.4% in 2022.
Latin America coatings market to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 2030.
Canadian painting industry revenue at CAD 6.8 billion in 2023.
Middle East paints market expected to reach $4.1 billion by 2027.
U.S. painting contractors industry profit margin averaged 5.2% in 2023.
China paint production capacity exceeded 10 million tons in 2022.
Australian painting services market worth AUD 4.2 billion in 2023.
Global industrial coatings market valued at $78.6 billion in 2023.
UK painting and decorating market size £5.9 billion in 2022.
Brazil paints market grew 6% year-over-year in 2023.

Market Size & Growth Interpretation

While homeowners are single-handedly holding up a $44 billion U.S. industry with their living room makeovers, the rest of the world is busy painting on a truly global, $164 billion canvas, proving that whether it's a wall or a widget, humanity's favorite solution remains, quite literally, a fresh coat of paint.

Regulations & Sustainability

Painting industry uses 20% more water-based paints since 2015.
85% of U.S. paints now low-VOC compliant.
EU VOC limits reduced emissions by 40% since 2010.
12 million gallons of paint waste recycled annually in U.S.
California CARB regulations cover 90% of architectural paints.
Global shift to zero-VOC paints up 15% yearly.
Lead paint abatement required in 70% of pre-1978 homes.
OSHA fall protection rules impact 25% of painting jobs.
Sustainable paint sales grew 28% in 2022.
UK Paintmakers Association enforces eco-labels on 80% products.
50% reduction in hazardous air pollutants from paints since 1990.
Bio-based paints market share 5% but growing 10% CAGR.
Australia banned high-VOC paints in 2023.
95% of industrial coatings now compliant with REACH.
Painting firms report 18% energy savings with low-VOC.

Regulations & Sustainability Interpretation

We’ve painted ourselves into a far greener corner, swapping fumes for responsibility and slapping a brighter, cleaner future on the walls, one low-VOC bucket at a time.

Sources & References

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