5 Best Painters & Decorators in Los Angeles for 2026
🖌️ 5 businesses·📍 Los Angeles, CA
✓ Verified Google reviews·✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated May 29, 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Home Services Editor ·Verified May 29, 2026
Los Angeles throws some genuinely tough conditions at a paint job. The combination of intense UV exposure, Santa Ana winds carrying dust and debris, and the marine layer that rolls in off the Pacific means exterior coatings take a beating faster here than in most American cities. Interior work comes with its own quirks too. Older craftsman bungalows in neighborhoods like Silverlake and Highland Park often have original woodwork that needs careful prep, while newer stucco construction in the San Fernando Valley demands primers that flex with the substrate rather than crack. Decorators who know the difference between a smooth drywall finish in a mid-century modern in Culver City and a Spanish Revival with ornate plasterwork in Los Feliz are genuinely worth seeking out, because the wrong approach on either shows up fast.
Every business on this page was drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked primarily by public review rating and review count, with a small lift applied to businesses that have a working website and a contactable phone number. Before anything appears here, we check each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating is what they primarily do, which is how unrelated contractors get filtered out. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a listing, that business has gone further and passed our full verification process, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can see exactly what that involves on our How We Verify page. Businesses without that badge have not been independently verified by us, so those are checks you'll want to carry out yourself before signing anything.
Before you book anyone, get at least three written quotes that break out labor and materials separately, so you're actually comparing like with like. Ask each contractor what prep work is included, because cutting corners on surface preparation is the single biggest reason a paint job fails early. Check that exterior quotes specify the paint brand, product line, and number of coats, since a single coat of a mid-grade product is a very different job from two coats of a high-performance acrylic on sun-baked stucco. If the work involves a rental property or any structure requiring a permit, confirm the contractor holds a current California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license, and ask to see their certificate of insurance before they start. References from jobs completed on similar property types in the same area are worth asking for too.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Los Angeles, CA
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift for businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the full list. Other businesses here have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring.
Positions 1–5 (Recommended and Featured) may be paid placements. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Quick Comparison — Painters & Decorators in Los Angeles, CA
Silver Lake House Painters provides professional residential and commercial painting services throughout Los Angeles, specializing in interior and exterior painting projects. Based on Silver Lake Boulevard, the company has earned a perfect 5-star rating from 25 verified customer reviews. They serve the Silver Lake area and surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods with quality painting and decorating solutions.
Km Painting Inc provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Los Angeles, operating from their base in the 90004 area. The company has earned a strong reputation with a 4.8/5 star rating from 22 verified customer reviews on Google. Their team handles both residential and commercial painting projects, delivering quality workmanship to neighbors across the greater Los Angeles region.
PaintUp Revamp provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Los Angeles, operating from their downtown location on W 3rd Street. The company maintains a perfect 5-star rating based on 5 verified customer reviews, reflecting their commitment to quality residential and commercial painting projects. They serve the greater Los Angeles area, helping property owners transform their spaces with expert color consultation and skilled application techniques.
SKY Painting provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Los Angeles, operating from their base on S Park View Street in the 90006 area. The company maintains a perfect 5-star rating based on 4 verified customer reviews, reflecting their commitment to quality workmanship. They serve residential and commercial clients across the greater Los Angeles region with comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions.
Mural Painter Los Angeles specializes in custom mural painting services for residential and commercial properties throughout the Los Angeles area. Based on Clover Street in the 90031 area, the company creates personalized wall art and decorative painting solutions for clients seeking unique interior and exterior designs. With a perfect 5-star rating from 4 verified customer reviews, they have built a reputation for quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.
Transparency notice: Recommended (#1) and Featured (positions 2-5) listings may be paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears in those positions. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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How much does a painters & decorators cost in Los Angeles?
Interior painting typically runs $3-6 per square foot for standard rooms, while exterior work ranges from $2-5 per square foot depending on surface condition and access difficulty. A typical 2,000 square foot home exterior costs $8,000-15,000, including prep work. Specialty finishes like venetian plaster or faux techniques add $15-25 per square foot. Prices vary significantly based on paint quality, surface prep needs, and property location. Getting three detailed quotes helps identify fair market pricing.
Do I need a licensed contractor for painting work in Los Angeles?
California requires contractors' licenses for painting jobs over $500 in labor and materials combined. Any painter working on your property should have a valid C-33 (painting contractor) license and carry liability insurance. You can verify license status on the CSLB website using their license number. Unlicensed painters can't pull permits for exterior work that requires them, and you won't have recourse through the contractors' state license board if problems arise.
What's the difference between interior and exterior paint costs?
Exterior paint costs more because it requires specialized formulations to handle LA's intense sun and occasional rain. Quality exterior paints like Sherwin Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura cost $60-80 per gallon versus $45-60 for interior paints. Exterior jobs also need more surface preparation, primer work, and often involve challenging access on multi-story homes. Labor rates are typically 20-30% higher for exterior work due to setup complexity and weather considerations.
How long does paint last in Los Angeles weather?
Quality exterior paint lasts 8-12 years in most LA neighborhoods, but coastal areas see 6-8 years due to salt air exposure. Inland areas with intense heat may need touch-ups on south-facing walls every 5-7 years. Interior paint typically lasts 10-15 years in living areas, less in high-traffic zones like hallways and kids' rooms. Using premium paints with UV protection and proper surface prep significantly extends lifespan and saves money long-term.
What permits do I need for exterior painting in LA?
Most exterior painting doesn't require permits, but major color changes in historic districts like Hancock Park or parts of Hollywood might need approval from local preservation boards. If your painter needs to repair siding, stucco, or trim before painting, those structural changes may require permits. Lead-safe work practices are mandatory for homes built before 1978, and your contractor should be EPA RRP certified for this type of work.
How do I verify a painting contractor's credentials and reputation?
Start by checking their California contractors' license on the CSLB website and confirming it's active and in good standing. Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Read recent Google reviews and ask for local references you can contact. Drive by recent job sites if possible to see work quality firsthand. Get detailed written estimates and avoid contractors who demand large upfront payments or show up unsolicited at your door.
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