Painting estimates are usually figured by the amount of materials that will be needed to paint the entire area. Painters are very deft at being able to estimate how much paint they will need. From here, painters take into account prep work, drive time, how much furniture needs to be moved, special finishes, among other things to determine their exact price. Because each painter has different prices for their time and process, it is very important that you gather several estimates to better determine whose costs are in your price range.