Painting looks like the most transparent trade to price — walls, paint, done — and produces some of the most divergent quotes in Malta. The spread is almost never about the painting. It is about preparation, and whether the quote includes any.
Typical painting prices in Malta
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Bedroom, walls only (2 coats) | €150 – €350 |
| Living/dining room | €250 – €500 |
| Full 3-bedroom apartment, walls and ceilings | €1,200 – €2,800 |
| Per square metre, walls (2 coats, light prep) | €4 – €8 |
| Per square metre with substantial prep | €8 – €15 |
| Doors and frames, per door (both sides) | €40 – €90 |
Materials may be inside or outside these figures — always ask. Mid-quality emulsion for a whole apartment is hundreds of euros of paint; "including materials" versus not explains many mystery gaps between quotes.
Preparation is the actual product
The paint layer takes a day. The result you look at for the next eight years is made in the prep:
- Filling and sanding — hairline cracks, screw holes, the archaeology of previous hanging decisions.
- Damp treatment — Maltese walls carry humidity scars; painting over untreated damp buys a stain back within months, as our peeling paint guide explains in painful detail.
- Sealing and priming — new plaster, patch repairs and stained areas all need it or they telegraph through the finish.
- Masking and protection — the difference between a painter and a person with a roller is visible on your floor tiles.
A quote noticeably below the others has almost always priced one coat over no prep. On old walls that is money spent making the flaws glossier.
Getting quotes you can compare
Specify: which rooms, walls and/or ceilings, current condition honestly photographed (include the cracks and stains — they are the job), who supplies paint and at what quality tier, and whether furniture moving is included. Post that brief once on Qabbad's painter page and approved painters covering your locality — from Attard to San Ġwann — reply against identical scope. Ask each what prep their price includes; the answers sort the professionals from the optimists quickly.
Timing note: painters' calendars in Malta tighten before Christmas and Easter — the national repainting festivals. Booking a month ahead in those seasons is not excessive. And if the job is one feature wall rather than a flat, a handyman may price it more sensibly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint an apartment in Malta?
A typical three-bedroom apartment runs €1,200 to €2,800 for walls and ceilings in 2026, depending overwhelmingly on preparation needs and paint quality. Single rooms run €150 to €500.
How much do painters charge per square metre in Malta?
Roughly €4 to €8 per square metre for two coats over sound surfaces, rising to €8 to €15 where filling, damp treatment and priming are needed.
Should I supply the paint myself?
Either works. Supplying it yourself controls the brand and colour precisely; letting the painter supply usually gets trade pricing. What matters is that every quote states the same arrangement so you compare like with like.
How long does painting a flat take?
Two to five working days for a typical apartment: the first chunk is preparation, the painting itself moves fast, and drying time between coats sets the rhythm — longer in humid months.