Offices, shops, apartment buildings and rental units have their own painting questions: cost by area, timing around business hours, and who pays. Honolulu has a large stock of walk-up apartment buildings, condos and small commercial buildings, and most are concrete or hollow tile.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Hawaii labor, shipped-in materials and the condition of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint an office or commercial space?
Commercial painting costs $2 to $6 per square foot, by national figures, so a 2,500 square foot space runs $5,000 to $15,000. HomeGuide publishes no separate figure for offices, retail or warehouses. Commercial labor is listed at $60 to $100 per hour, and scaffolding or lifts at $500 to $1,500 or more per day. Exterior commercial work that needs scaffolding is listed at $5 to $10 or more per square foot.
Can painters work nights or weekends so the business stays open?
Many commercial painters do work nights or weekends, and it is a fair thing to ask for. Whether we can for your site depends on the job, the building's rules and the schedule, so ask us when we visit. Other ways to keep a business open are painting in sections, starting with back rooms, and using low-odor, quick-drying paint. Buildings with security or air conditioning that shuts off after hours may limit the choices.
How much to repaint a rental apartment between tenants?
No figure is published for a repaint between tenants as such. HomeGuide lists apartment painting in general at $2 to $6 per square foot: $800 to $3,600 for a studio, $1,200 to $4,800 for a one-bedroom and $1,600 to $7,200 for a two-bedroom, as national figures. A turnover repaint in the same color on sound walls sits at the simpler end of the work. Mildew, smoke, patching and color changes add to it. We quote each unit after seeing it.
How often should a rental be repainted?
How often a rental needs repainting depends on wear, not a fixed rule. Many landlords repaint or touch up at each change of tenant and do a full repaint every few years. In Honolulu, bathrooms and kitchens often need it sooner because of mildew. A washable eggshell or satin in one standard color makes touch-ups between tenants quick.
Can an apartment be painted while tenants live there?
Yes, an occupied apartment can be painted, with planning. The tenant needs notice, and furniture has to be moved to the middle of each room and covered. The work goes room by room so the tenant always has somewhere to be. Hawaii's landlord-tenant code has rules on a landlord's entry and notice. Check them with the DCCA's Landlord-Tenant Information Center at 1-844-808-3222. In a pre-1978 building, the federal lead rules apply to work in occupied units.
How long to paint a 10-unit apartment building or an office?
No single figure fits a 10-unit building. The time depends on whether it is interior units, common areas, the exterior, or all three. As a guide, most rooms take 1 to 2 days and a house exterior 3 to 5 days, so empty units often take a few days each, and several can be done at once. A building exterior takes longer than a house because of height and access. We give expected days in the written quote.
Who pays for painting when a tenant moves out?
The landlord normally pays for repainting when a tenant moves out, if the paint is simply worn. Under Hawaii's Residential Landlord-Tenant Code, a landlord cannot deduct for normal wear and tear from the security deposit. A landlord may deduct for damage the tenant caused, and the landlord must return the deposit or give written notice of deductions within 14 days after the rental agreement ends. Faded or scuffed paint after a normal stay is generally wear. Unapproved colors, heavy stains or holes may be damage. Each case turns on its facts.
Do commercial painters price large jobs differently?
Yes. Large jobs are usually priced from measured areas and a written scope, not by the room. The price reflects access, such as lifts or swing stages, working hours, the number of colors, the coating specified and how many times the crew has to set up. Bigger areas often cost less per square foot than small ones, because set-up time is spread out. Property managers should ask for a unit price for repeat work such as turnovers.
The Honolulu Painting Company paints offices, shops and multi-unit buildings. Free estimate and written quote: (808) 201-4302.