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How much does business insurance cost for painters?
Painter insurance costs depend on the type of insurance, policy limits, deductibles, and factors such as your business's location and number of employees. Save money on business insurance by comparing quotes from different providers with Insureon.
Top painter insurance policies and their cost
Here are the top painting business insurance policies and their average monthly cost:
- General liability insurance: $59 per month
- Business owner's policy (BOP): $84 per month
- Workers' compensation insurance: $239 per month
- Commercial auto insurance: $139 per month
- Contractor's tools and equipment insurance: $14 per month
- Professional liability insurance: $74 per month
- Commercial umbrella insurance: $59 per month
- Surety bonds: $8 per month
Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies for painters who apply for quotes with Insureon. The median offers a better estimate of what your business is likely to pay because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.
General liability insurance
From sign painting to paperhanging and house painting, painters pay an average of $59 per month, or $704 per year, for general liability insurance. You may need proof of insurance for this policy to sign a commercial lease or a client contract.
Liability insurance for painters can help pay for medical expenses from accidents, such as a customer who trips over your ladder and suffers an injury. It can also cover costs if someone sues your business over a bodily injury, property damage, or advertising injury.
This is the average policy for painting contractors who buy from Insureon:
Premium: $59 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500
The cost of a general liability insurance policy depends on factors such as the coverage limits you choose, the size of your business, the amount of foot traffic you have, and any subcontractors or additional insured endorsements.
Learn more about how your premium is calculated and how to save money on your general liability policy.
Business owner's policy
Painting businesses and contractors pay an average of $84 per month for a business owner's policy, or $1,002 annually. Only small, low-risk businesses are eligible for a BOP.
A business owner's policy bundles two important types of coverage at a discount. It includes general liability coverage to protect against common lawsuits, and commercial property insurance to cover theft, vandalism, and damaged business property.
This is the average business owner's policy for a painter who buys from Insureon:
Premium: $84 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500
The cost of a business owner's policy depends on factors such as the insurance options you choose, the size of your business, the amount of foot traffic you have, and the value of your business property.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Painting businesses pay an average of $239 per month for workers’ compensation insurance, or $2,871 annually.
Workers' comp helps pay for medical costs from work-related injuries and illnesses. Most policies include employer's liability insurance, which covers the cost of lawsuits related to workplace injuries.
There's usually no limit to how much a workers' comp policy can pay for employee benefits, though it depends on state laws.
The cost of workers' compensation insurance depends on factors such as the number of employees you have and the type of work they do. Learn more about how workers' comp costs are calculated and how to save money on your policy.
Commercial auto insurance
Businesses and contractors that do residential and commercial painting pay an average of $139 per month, or $1,673 per year, for commercial auto insurance.
Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a painting company. For self-employed painters and other small painting businesses that use personal, rented, and leased vehicles for work-related purposes, look to hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.
Commercial auto insurance provides financial protection in the event of an accident involving your business vehicle. It can help pay for property damage, medical bills, and legal costs. When buying a policy, you'll need to make sure your coverage limits match the requirements in your state.
The cost of a commercial auto policy depends on the coverage options you choose, the value of the vehicle, and your insurance claims history. Learn how insurers calculate your premium and how to save money on your commercial auto policy.
Get free insurance quotes for painters from top U.S. carriers
Contractor’s tools and equipment insurance
Painting businesses pay an average of $14 per month for contractor’s tools and equipment insurance, or $169 annually.
A form of inland marine insurance, this policy covers your property whether it’s in your office, in transit, or at a jobsite. It can pay for lost, stolen, or damaged tools and equipment valued at $10,000 or less.
The cost of contractor's tools and equipment coverage depends on the value of your tools and equipment and the type of work you do.
Professional liability insurance
Construction businesses and contractors pay an average of $74 per month, or $886 per year, for professional liability insurance. Painting businesses can often bundle this policy with general liability insurance for a discount, at an average rate of $112 monthly.
This painter's liability insurance covers legal fees related to professional negligence, such as an accusation that you failed to use the correct kind of paint. It's sometimes referred to as errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
This is the average insurance coverage for contractors who buy from Insureon:
Premium: $74 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $1 million aggregate
Deductible: $1,250
The cost of professional liability insurance depends on factors such as the coverage limits you choose, the size of your business, and your profession. Find out how insurers set professional liability premiums and how to save money on your policy.
Commercial umbrella insurance
Painting businesses pay an average of $59 per month, or $707 annually, for commercial umbrella insurance. You can buy this policy to boost the limits of your underlying general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability insurance.
When the underlying policy reaches its limit, commercial umbrella insurance activates to cover any costs over that limit.
The cost of commercial umbrella insurance depends primarily on the amount of coverage you purchase.
Surety bonds
Construction contractors and businesses pay an average of $8 per month, or $100 per year, for a surety bond.
A surety bond reimburses your client if you're unable to fulfill the terms of a contract or other agreement. You may need a surety bond to get a license for certain types of work, such as painting.
The cost of a surety bond primarily depends on the size of the bond.
Key factors influencing policy costs
Your insurance provider calculates your painters insurance premiums based on several factors, including:
- Types of coverage: Some painting projects or work require obtaining certain policies. These required policies often are needed to cover more expensive accidents and lawsuits, which tend to cost more than basic coverages.
- Business size: The more employees or subcontractors that are on staff, the more opportunities there are for accidents to happen or for potential damage to occur to someone else's property.
- Annual revenue and payroll: The more your painting business makes in a year and the more you pay your employees or subcontractors, the higher your premium will cost. That’s because increased revenue and payroll mean a greater exposure to potential risks on the job.
- Business equipment and property: Higher-value items are more likely to result in more expensive premiums than lower-cost items. Items that are used more frequently also tend to cost more to cover than infrequently used items.
- Years of experience: Painting contractors with more experience working in the field will tend to pay lower premiums than newer businesses due to lower associated risks.
- Location: Painters who perform work in areas prone to natural disasters, increased foot traffic, or high crime rates may have to pay more costly premiums than those with jobs located in areas where these factors are less present.
- Coverage limits and deductibles: Higher coverage limits and lower deductibles will typically increase premium costs, while lower limits and a higher deductible can help keep insurance rates low.
- Claims history: A painter with a lengthy list of previous insurance claims will likely pay more for insurance than a company with no claims history.
- Services offered: Higher-risk or more complicated painting projects, such as multi-story buildings that require the use of a ladder or lift, or large commercial buildings, will have more costly premiums than lower-risk projects, like smaller residential properties or simple interior tasks.
How do I get painting business insurance?
Insureon can help you find affordable painting insurance coverage in three easy steps:
- Fill out a free online application with details about your business.
- Compare custom quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance providers.
- Select a policy and pay the premium to begin coverage.
A licensed agent will help make sure your insurance matches your business risks, budget, and state requirements. Once you've bought a policy, you can download a certificate of insurance (COI) for proof of coverage. Most small businesses can get covered within 24 hours of applying for quotes.
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Updated: October 15, 2025
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