How has the cost of painting in New Brunswick changed from 2025 to 2026?

Painting costs in New Brunswick have risen modestly from 2025 to 2026, with labour rates and premium paint prices both up approximately 5-10%, though NB remains roughly 10-15% below the national Canadian average.

Labour rates have nudged upward. Professional painting labour in NB now runs $35-55/hour for experienced painters, compared to $30-50/hour that was more common in 2023-2024. In Moncton and Fredericton, lead times for well-regarded painters have stretched to 2-4 weeks during summer 2025.

Paint material costs stabilized after significant increases. Premium interior paint now runs $55-75/gallon for top-tier products. Mid-range paint sits at $40-55/gallon. Exterior 100% acrylic latex runs $55-80/gallon.

What this means for project budgets in 2026. A single room interior repaint now runs $300-600. A whole-house interior on a 3-bedroom NB home is priced at $3,000-6,500. A full exterior repaint on a two-storey NB home is $6,000-12,000 for premium work.

The quote variability in NB remains high. Homeowners in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John can still find quotes that vary 25-40% for identical scope. The answer to managing cost is: get at least three detailed written quotes.

Where costs remain good value. NB’s painting market still offers meaningful savings compared to Ontario and BC. A whole-house exterior repaint that costs $8,000-15,000 in Toronto or Vancouver runs $4,000-12,000 in New Brunswick.

Use current quotes from local NB painters rather than year-old estimates — the market has shifted enough that older numbers may no longer reflect actual pricing.

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Find a Painting Contractor

New Brunswick Painting helps you find local painting contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network:

• Expressions Painting
• Loves Painting Ltd.
• Worry No More Handyman Services