How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Condo in Chicago?

Real ranges for individual units, floor by floor.

HOA & Condo Common Area Painting Cost in Chicago (2026)

The Short Answer: $9,000 to $40,000+, Depending on the Building

Repainting the common areas of a Chicago condo or HOA building — hallways, stairwells, lobby, doors, and railings — typically runs $9,000–$18,000 for a 3-story walk-up and $15,000–$40,000+ for a mid-rise with more floors and a lobby. The spread comes from floor count, surface condition, how much trim and door work is included, and whether ceilings and railings are in scope.

Below is a realistic breakdown by area so a board or property manager can budget before requesting bids.

Cost by Common Area (2026)

Area	Typical Range	Notes
Hallway (walls + ceiling, per floor)	$1,800 – $4,500	Length, ceiling height, patching
Stairwell (per stairwell, all floors)	$2,500 – $6,500	Height access, railings, scuffed walls
Lobby / entry vestibule	$3,500 – $9,000	Trim, doors, higher finish level
Unit entry doors & frames	$150 – $300 each	Enamel, both sides if scoped
Railings & metal (per stairwell)	$800 – $2,000	Prep, rust treatment, DTM enamel
Laundry, storage, utility rooms	$600 – $1,800 each	Often bundled
Full common areas — 3-story walk-up (6–12 units)	$9,000 – $18,000	Hallways, stairs, doors
Full common areas — mid-rise (4–8 floors)	$15,000 – $40,000+	Plus lobby, more doors

Real-world reference: our recent HOA projects on Chicago’s North Side have ranged from about $13,000 for a small walk-up’s hallways and stairs to roughly $30,000 for a larger building that combined painting with new stairwell carpet. Every one was itemized area by area so the board could approve the scope line by line.

What Drives the Price Up or Down

1. Surface Condition

Hallways take years of scuffs, cart marks, and moving damage. Heavy patching, skim-coating, and priming add labor — but skipping it is why cheap repaints look bad in a year.

2. Scope: Walls Only vs. Everything

“Common area painting” can mean walls only, or walls + ceilings + doors + frames + railings + trim. Doors and railings are slow, detailed work and change the total significantly. Always compare bids on the same scope.

3. Access and Height

Tall stairwells and multi-story atriums need ladders, planks, or lifts, plus extra safety time.

4. Working Around Residents

Occupied buildings mean phased work, protected floors, low-odor products, and clear communication with residents — all built into a professional quote.

5. Finish Level

A washable, scrubbable finish (satin or eggshell on walls, semi-gloss enamel on doors and trim) costs slightly more up front and saves the association repaints later.

What a Complete HOA Quote Should Include

Itemized pricing by area (each hallway, stairwell, lobby, door count)
Certificate of insurance (COI) naming the association
Product specifications and sheen per surface
A phasing schedule with resident notices
Floor and fixture protection, daily cleanup
A written warranty

How to Compare Bids Fairly

Boards often receive three bids that look wildly different. Nine times out of ten the difference is scope — one includes doors and railings, another doesn’t; one specifies two coats, another one. Ask every contractor to quote the same areas, same surfaces, same coats. A lower number usually means less is included, not a better deal.

RenewBuild provides board-ready, itemized proposals for HOA and condo common areas across Chicago’s North Side and the North Shore, with COI, phasing plans, and a 3-year workmanship warranty plus the Sherwin-Williams manufacturer warranty on materials. See our HOA & Condo Association Painting service.

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How Much Does HOA & Condo Common Area Painting Cost in Chicago? (2026)

The Short Answer: $9,000 to $40,000+, Depending on the Building

Cost by Common Area (2026)