Sundries
In the painting business, sundries refer to consumable items that are used up during a job and need to be replenished regularly. These are not reusable tools like ladders or durable equipment but rather materials that are “used through” the course of a project
In painting, it’s standard to allocate about 15% of your total material budget to sundries. This figure ensures you’ve accounted for the consistent costs of these essential items throughout your projects.
Why 15%?
The 15% benchmark is based on industry norms and reflects the steady consumption of sundries across various job types. However, it’s not an exact science. Depending on the scope and specifics of the job, sundries might only come to 10% or 12% of your total material costs. Simpler projects, with minimal prep or masking, often fall into this lower range.
On the other hand, more complex jobs—such as those requiring extensive surface prep or covering large areas for protection—can push that percentage right up to or even beyond the 15% mark.
Practical Use
- Budget with Flexibility: Start with 15% as your baseline for sundries when estimating material costs. For example, if paint and primer are $5,000, you’d set aside $750.
- Adjust Per Job: If a project has less prep work or simpler needs, it’s fine to plan for closer to 10% or 12%. Conversely, don’t hesitate to go higher for more involved projects—better to overestimate than get caught short.
- Track Trends: Monitoring sundry spending across jobs will help refine your estimates over time, ensuring accuracy for different types of work.
While the percentage may fluctuate, budgeting around 15% provides a reliable cushion for sundries, minimizing surprises and keeping your estimates competitive and realistic.