Painter contract template: free in Word, or sign it online

Reviewed in October 2026

A painter contract is the agreement between a painting contractor and the property owner. It lists the surfaces to paint, the prep work, the paint and colors, the price, the schedule and the warranty. A signed contract settles most arguments before the first coat goes on.

Use this template Download in Word

Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the painting contractor and the customer.

Painter contract example, filled in with sample data — Example filled in with sample data

The full painter contract

PAINTING CONTRACT

This Painting Contract (the "Contract") is made on [date] between [Contractor legal name], license number [number, if your state requires one], with address at [address] (the "Contractor"), and [Customer name], owner of the property at [property address] (the "Customer").

1. Scope of work

The Contractor will paint the following surfaces: [interior or exterior, rooms, walls, ceilings, trim, doors, cabinets, siding, decks]. Surfaces not included: [exclusions].

2. Preparation

Before painting, the Contractor will [clean, scrape loose paint, sand, fill holes and cracks, caulk gaps, prime bare areas], and protect floors, furniture and fixtures with drop cloths and tape.

3. Materials

The Contractor will use [brand and product line], in [finish] finish, [number] coats. Colors: [color names and codes by area]. Color changes after the start may change the price.

4. Schedule

Work starts on [start date] and should finish by [end date], weather permitting. The Contractor will work [days and hours].

5. Price and payment

The total price is [amount]. The Customer pays a deposit of [amount] on signing, [amount] at [milestone] and the balance on completion and final walkthrough.

6. Changes

Any change to the scope, colors or materials is agreed in a written change order signed by both parties, with its price and effect on the schedule.

7. Lead-based paint

For homes built before 1978, the Contractor will follow the lead-safe practices that apply and give the Customer any pamphlet the law requires before work starts.

8. Cleanup

The Contractor will remove its materials and debris daily and leave the work areas broom clean at the end.

9. Warranty

The Contractor warrants its workmanship against peeling, blistering and flaking for [number] months from completion, excluding damage from moisture, impact or structural movement.

10. Insurance

The Contractor carries general liability insurance of at least [amount] and, if it has employees, workers' compensation insurance.

11. Access

The Customer will give access to the areas, water and electricity, and will move small valuables before work starts.

12. Governing law and signature

This Contract is governed by the laws of [state]. The parties agree to sign it electronically, with the same effect as a handwritten signature.

Contractor

Name and title: ______________

Date: ______________

Customer

Printed name: ______________

Date: ______________

What the template includes

Surfaces to paint and surfaces excluded
Prep work and protection of floors and furniture
Brand, product, finish, coats and colors
Start date, end date and working hours
Price, deposit and payment milestones
Written change orders
Lead-safe practices in pre-1978 homes
Daily cleanup
Workmanship warranty
Liability and workers' compensation insurance
Customer access, governing law and electronic signature

What you fill in

Field	Example
Contractor	Brightline Painting LLC
Customer	Megan Foster
Property	27 Cedar Ridge Rd, Charlotte, NC
Scope	Exterior siding, trim and front door
Paint	Premium exterior acrylic, satin, 2 coats
Colors	Siding Agreeable Gray, trim Pure White
Price	USD 7,800
Deposit	USD 1,500
Warranty	24 months

How it gets signed

1Choose «Use this template», fill in the fields and review the full painter contract.
2Send it by WhatsApp or email. The other party opens the link on their phone without an account.
3They tap the brown bar at the bottom that says «Sign as …» and draw their signature once.
4Everyone gets the signed PDF with its signature certificate. Anyone can check it at signsolu.com/verificar.

The signing screen tells each signer that signing means agreeing to sign electronically. It links to the electronic signature disclosure that the ESIGN Act asks for.

What you get once everyone signs

The signed PDF. The final painter contract with every drawn signature in place.
The signature certificate. It lists each signer and the date and time of each signature.
A record you can check. The folio on the certificate opens the document history at signsolu.com/verificar.
Reminders. Turn them on and SignSolú reminds every signer who has not signed yet.

Your first ten documents are free and need no card.

What the law says

Licensing for painting contractors is set by each state. Check whether yours asks for a license for the size of job you quote.

For housing built before 1978, 40 CFR 745.84 asks the renovation firm to give the owner the lead pamphlet no more than 60 days before work begins and to get a written acknowledgment. Prep that disturbs old paint can count as renovation, so clause 7 covers it.

The ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 gives an electronic signature the same legal effect as one on paper. A contract cannot be denied effect only because it was signed electronically.

Why prep belongs in the contract

Most paint failures start with poor preparation. Writing the prep steps in clause 2 tells the customer what they are paying for.

It also protects the painter. If the customer later asks for wall repair that was never quoted, clause 2 and a change order settle it.

Take photos of the surfaces before starting. Attach them to the contract so both sides sign the same record of the starting condition.

How painters set the payment schedule

A deposit covers materials and holds the date. A middle payment follows a visible milestone, such as finishing the first floor or the prep.

The balance is paid after the final walkthrough. The customer points out touch-ups, the painter fixes them, and both sign off.

Keep deposits reasonable. Your state may limit home improvement deposits, so check before asking for a large amount.

Change orders without friction

Customers often change a color or add a room once work starts. Send a one-page change order from your phone with the new price.

The customer signs it in a minute from the brown bar at the bottom. The work continues with the change written down.

Common mistakes

"Paint the house" as the scope. List each surface, so trim and doors are not a surprise.

No brand or coat count. Two coats of premium paint and one coat of basic paint are different jobs.

No warranty limits. Exclude moisture and structural damage, which paint cannot fix.

Example of a filled-in exterior job

A homeowner in Charlotte hires a painter for the siding, trim and front door. The contract lists two coats of premium exterior acrylic and the colors for each area.

Prep includes power washing, scraping loose paint, caulking and priming bare wood. The price is USD 7,800 with a USD 1,500 deposit.

The house was built in 1965, so the painter gives the lead pamphlet before starting and keeps the signed acknowledgment with the contract.

Both sign from their phones the evening of the estimate. Work starts the next Monday.

Before you sign

Sign a PDF you already have. Upload it, place the signatures and send it.
Digital signature explained. How a signature drawn on a phone holds up as evidence.
Read every clause of the painter contract with the other party before anyone signs. Change what does not fit your deal.
Check how electronic signatures are recognized where you sign in the e-signature validity guide by country.
Learn how anyone can confirm a signed document at signsolu.com/verificar.
If the other side sends their own PDF form instead, fill in the PDF form online, add the date and your signature, and download it.

Other templates

Frequently asked questions

Is a painter contract signed online legally binding?

Yes. The ESIGN Act gives electronic signatures the same effect as handwritten ones. The signed PDF and its certificate show who signed and when.

Can I send the estimate and contract together?

Yes. Upload your estimate with the contract and the customer signs both in one visit to the link.

Does the template cover interior and exterior work?

Yes. Clause 1 lists the surfaces, so you write interior, exterior or both.

How long should a paint warranty last?

Many painters offer one to three years on workmanship. Write the period in clause 9.

Can I add a materials allowance?

Yes. Write the allowance in clause 3 and say how differences are billed.

What if it rains on the schedule?

Clause 4 moves the dates for weather. Exterior work resumes when surfaces are dry.

Does the other party need a SignSolú account?

No. They open the link on their phone and sign with the brown bar at the bottom.

Can I edit the clauses before sending it?

Yes. After «Use this template» you can change any clause before you send it.