Apartment painting cost in Switzerland: per m² and per room (2026)

Peintre appliquant de la peinture au rouleau sur un mur intérieur pendant une rénovation d'appartement

Apartment painting cost in Geneva: how much does a painter charge per m² in 2026?

Repainting a bedroom or refreshing a whole apartment: here are the prices published in 2026 per m² and per room, the differences between Geneva and Vaud, the rules to know and our tips for comparing quotes.

Please note: these amounts are indicative. Each price states whether it is excluding VAT (excl. VAT), including VAT (incl. VAT) or whether the source does not say. Painting work is subject to the standard VAT rate of 8.1% [1]; a company with annual turnover below CHF 100’000 is not liable for VAT and invoices without it [2].

Painting cost per m²

Note that a price per m² generally refers to the painted surface (walls and ceilings), not the floor area. To convert one into the other, multiply the living area by 2.5 to 3 [2], or even 3 to 3.5 according to Offrendo [3].

Service Indicative price per painted m²
Walls and ceilings, all-inclusive, sound substrate CHF 25 to 50 excl. VAT [2]; CHF 18 to 40 incl. VAT [3]
With preparation (filling, primer) CHF 35 to 60 incl. VAT [3]
Walls, emulsion, two coats CHF 22 to 35 excl. VAT [2]
Ceilings, two coats CHF 26 to 40 excl. VAT [2]
Full skim coat and sanding (extra) CHF 18 to 35 excl. VAT [2]
Woodwork, two coats of lacquer CHF 30 to 55 excl. VAT [2]

On a time-and-materials basis, a painter charges CHF 75 to 95 per hour excl. VAT in French-speaking Switzerland according to chiffr.ch [2]. A door with its frame, lacquered on both sides, costs CHF 150 to 250 excl. VAT [2].

Price per room and per apartment

Home Indicative price
16 m² bedroom (walls and ceiling) CHF 1’000 to 2’200 incl. VAT [3]
15 m² room (walls and ceiling) CHF 800 to 1’400 incl. VAT [4]
2.5-room apartment CHF 2’000 to 4’500 incl. VAT [3]
3.5-room apartment CHF 3’000 to 7’000 incl. VAT [3]; CHF 6’250 to 8’200 excl. VAT (refresh, 78 m²) and CHF 8’600 to 12’100 excl. VAT (complete restoration) [2]
4.5-room apartment CHF 4’000 to 9’500 incl. VAT [3]

The differences between sources are mainly explained by what is included: protection, substrate preparation, woodwork, condition of the walls. Cracks, nicotine, dark colours and furnished rooms push up the bill; an empty home with white walls in good condition is at the bottom of the range [3].

Geneva and Vaud: what are the differences?

According to Offrendo, prices in Geneva and Lausanne are 10 to 20% above the Swiss average [3]. For 2026, SOS-Travaux.ch publishes a range of CHF 53 to 89/m² in the canton of Geneva and CHF 50 to 84/m² in the canton of Vaud, supply included, without specifying VAT [5]. In Geneva, VLP Peinture, which is not liable for VAT, advertises CHF 25 to 35/m² for a matt wall and CHF 6’000 to 11’000 for a 3-room apartment of 80 to 100 m² [6]. Béon Rénovation advertises interior painting from CHF 25/m² on a substrate already ready for painting (VAT not specified) [7].

Rules and procedures

If you are a tenant

Repainting in a different colour is an alteration to the rented property: it requires the landlord’s written consent (art. 260a CO), and the landlord can then only demand restoration if this was agreed in writing [8]. When moving out, emulsion paint is considered fully depreciated after 8 years according to the joint lifespan table cited by Offrendo [3].

In Geneva

The LDTR targets renovations that improve the comfort of a home; routine maintenance work that does not improve comfort is not covered [9]. A simple paint refresh is therefore in principle maintenance. For exteriors, however, the LCI requires authorisation for any change, even partial, to the colour of a building: changing the colour of a façade requires an application for authorisation [10].

In the canton of Vaud

The LPPPL, which applies to rented homes in districts with a housing shortage, excludes pure maintenance work from the notion of renovation [11]. If the painting is part of a wider renovation of a rented home, an authorisation or exemption may be required. For exterior work, check with the municipality, to which every project must be notified [12].

Our tips

  1. Ask for the painted area and the price per m² separately, so you can compare offers [3].
  2. Empty the rooms if possible: an empty home costs 10 to 20% less [3].
  3. Stick to light colours: going from a dark wall to white often requires an extra coat [2].
  4. Ask for the preparation to be specified: a full skim coat can double the price of a wall [2].
  5. Compare the totals including VAT, taking into account companies that are not liable for VAT.

For your project, see our painting and plastering page.

FAQ

What does painting cost per m² in Switzerland?

Allow CHF 25 to 50/m² excl. VAT of painted surface, all-inclusive on a sound substrate [2], or CHF 18 to 40/m² incl. VAT according to Offrendo [3].

How much does it cost to paint a 3.5-room apartment?

Between CHF 3’000 and 7’000 incl. VAT according to Offrendo [3], and CHF 6’250 to 8’200 excl. VAT for a refresh according to chiffr.ch [2]. The condition of the walls makes all the difference.

How much does it cost to paint a bedroom?

Around CHF 1’000 to 2’200 incl. VAT for a 16 m² bedroom, walls and ceiling [3].

Can a tenant repaint their apartment?

Yes, with the landlord’s written consent (art. 260a CO) [8].

Do you need authorisation to repaint a façade in Geneva?

Yes, if the colour changes: the LCI requires authorisation for any change, even partial, to the colour of a building [10].

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Sources

Pages consulted on 17 October 2026.

  1. Swiss Federal Tax Administration, “Taux de la TVA suisse” (French version): https://www.estv.admin.ch/fr/taux-de-la-tva-suisse
  2. chiffr.ch, “Prix peinture m² en Suisse : le barème 2026” (in French, updated on 25 September 2026, prices excl. VAT): https://chiffr.ch/prix/peinture-m2-suisse
  3. Offrendo, “Faire repeindre son appartement : prix 2026” (in French, prices incl. VAT): https://offrendo.ch/fr/guide/prix-peinture-appartement
  4. truto.ch, “Prix peinture appartement en Suisse” (in French, prices incl. VAT): https://truto.ch/prix-peinture-appartement
  5. SOS-Travaux.ch, “Peinture intérieure en Suisse romande, tarifs indicatifs 2026” (in French): https://www.sos-travaux.ch/peinture/
  6. VLP Peinture, “Prix de la peinture à Genève et en Suisse romande, guide 2026” (in French; company not liable for VAT): https://vlppeinture.ch/tarifs-peinture-geneve
  7. Béon Rénovation, “Prix de rénovation à Genève : tarifs au m² 2026” (in French): https://www.beon-renovation.ch/tarifs
  8. Swiss Code of Obligations, art. 260a (Fedlex, French version): https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/27/317_321_377/fr#art_260_a
  9. Republic and Canton of Geneva, LDTR (rsGE L 5 20), art. 3 (in French): https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_l5_20.htm
  10. Republic and Canton of Geneva, LCI (rsGE L 5 05), art. 1 (in French): https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_l5_05.htm
  11. State of Vaud, “Démolition, transformation ou rénovation d’importance d’un logement loué” (LPPPL, in French): https://www.vd.ch/territoire-et-construction/logement/preservation/demolition/transformation/renovation
  12. State of Vaud, “Rôle de la commune dans la procédure de demandes de permis de construire” (in French): https://www.vd.ch/territoire-et-construction/permis-de-construire/role-de-la-commune-1-1

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