Painting bid proposal template
A painting proposal wins or loses on clarity: what is painted, with which system, what is excluded, and what it costs. This template lays out scope by area and paint system with unit prices and extended totals, plus inclusions, exclusions and bid details.
- Scope by area and system
- Unit prices and totals
- Inclusions and exclusions
- Bid info and terms
Painting bid proposal template (XLSX + CSV)
No email required. The Excel file has working formulas, drop-downs and a "How to use" tab. The CSV holds the main sheet for import into other tools. Example rows are synthetic; replace them with your job.
What's inside
- Proposal. 8 columns, totals row, built-in formulas.
- Inclusions & exclusions. 2 columns.
- Bid info. 2 columns.
How to use it
- Fill the bid info sheet first, including the addenda you acknowledge.
- Break the scope into areas and substrates so the GC can level your number against others.
- Keep inclusions, exclusions and alternates explicit; that is where painting bids get compared.
| Item | Area / scope | Substrate | System (primer + finish) | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Level 1 corridors: walls | Gypsum board | 1 primer + 2 finish, eggshell | 4200 | SF | 0.0 | ƒ formula |
| 2 | Level 1 corridors: HM door frames | Hollow metal | DTM primer + 2 finish, semi-gloss | 38 | EA | 0.0 | ƒ formula |
| 3 | Stair 1: handrails | Steel | Shop primer touch-up + 2 coats | 180 | LF | 0.0 | ƒ formula |
| 4 | Exposed ceiling, open office | Steel deck & joists | Dryfall, 1 coat | 6800 | SF | 0.0 | ƒ formula |
Preview of the first sheet. "ƒ formula" cells calculate automatically in Excel or Google Sheets.
Scope a GC can compare
General contractors compare painting bids line by line. The proposal that is easiest to level is usually the one that gets the call. That means stating scope in the GC's language: areas or rooms, surfaces (gypsum walls, ceilings, doors and frames, exposed structure), the paint system by finish code, quantities and unit prices. It also means explicit inclusions and exclusions, so nobody assumes you are painting something you are not.
- Scope lines. Area or scope, substrate, system (primer + finish), quantity, unit, unit price, extended.
- Inclusions. Surface prep level, number of coats, colors and sheen changes included, touch-up after other trades.
- Exclusions. Common exclusions are lead or hazardous coatings, wallcoverings, high-performance coatings not in the spec, and work above a stated height. Write your own; the template lists examples.
- Bid info. Project, addenda acknowledged, validity period, schedule assumptions.
How to word it
The Proposal sheet ships with example rows such as "Level 1 corridors: walls, gypsum board, 1 primer + 2 finish, eggshell, 4,200 SF" so the format is clear. Replace them with your scope. Keep descriptions short and specific; reference finish codes from the finish schedule where possible.
Take off by finish
Areas and counts by finish code from plans, elevations and the finish schedule.
Price each line
Material by spread rate, labor by production rate, then markup.
Write inclusions and exclusions
Specific to this project and spec.
Check and send
Totals, addenda, validity and signature.
Where RenderDraw fits
The proposal is the last step; the takeoff behind it is the slow one. RenderDraw's AI takeoff proposes surfaces by finish from plans and finish schedules with sources, and approved quantities hand off to your pricing; the proposal stays yours.
Wall and ceiling areas off the drawings, with sources.
RenderDraw's AI takeoff proposes paintable areas, counts and finish references from plans, elevations and finish schedules, each tied to its sheet, then holds uncertain items for estimator review.
- Areas by room and finish. Matched to the finish schedule and kept traceable.
- Doors, frames and openings counted. So deductions and trim items are not guesswork.
- Addenda through the same review. Send the changed sheets back through takeoff and estimator review.
- Your production rates. Coats, rates, crew and margin stay in your hands.
Send one painting set
Plans, finish schedule and specs. Files stay private while RenderDraw assesses the request. No obligation.
RenderDraw does not publish accuracy percentages or time-saved claims. Test it on your own plan set.
Questions estimators ask.
What should a painting bid proposal include?
Scope by area and surface, the paint system, quantities and unit prices, inclusions and exclusions, addenda acknowledged, schedule assumptions, validity and terms.
Is the painting proposal template free?
Yes. Download the XLSX or CSV and edit it for your company.
Should I show unit prices on a painting proposal?
Many painters show line totals; unit prices help a GC level bids and price changes. The template supports both.
What are common painting bid exclusions?
They vary, but often include hazardous coatings removal, wallcoverings, specialty coatings not in the spec, and work outside normal hours. List your own clearly.
Can RenderDraw build painting proposals?
RenderDraw's AI takeoff proposes quantities from drawings for estimator review, and approved quantities hand off to your pricing. Your team writes the proposal. Book a demo.
Quantities that make the proposal easy.
Send a set with a finish schedule. RenderDraw proposes areas by finish and surface with their sheets, so your proposal lines match the drawings.
- Upload the plans, specs and schedules, plus an addendum if you have one.
- RenderDraw reviews the set and the scope you want tested.
- We follow up with extracted quantities, flagged items and next steps.