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Painters in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matty O'Malley Matty O'Malley New York, United States Last Updated: December 2024 NAICS 23832

Revenue

$42.7bn

2024

$42.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

423k

Businesses

268k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Painters in the US industry analysis

In recent years, painters have experienced a turbulent landscape marked by fluctuating demand and shifting market dynamics. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic changes have had significant impacts, driving various opportunities and challenges for painters. The low interest rates of 2020 and 2021 fueled a boom in residential construction, especially in single-family homes, providing painters with substantial growth avenues compared to the stagnation faced in nonresidential construction. However, the following interest rate hikes in 2022 and 2023 slowed construction activity, tightening competition and challenging painters to maintain momentum. Amid these economic shifts, an increase in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects posed further challenges as consumers opted to tackle home improvement tasks, including painting, independently. Industry revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 0.0% over the past five years to total an estimated $42.7 billion in 2024, including an estimated drop of 0.2% in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Painters have faced a roller coaster ride because of housing market fluctuations. Interest rate changes have caused unpredictable peaks and dips in new residential construction, creating opportunities and challenges for painters.
  • The commercial building market's performance has been mixed, with various markets affected differently by recent trends. While office vacancies climbed because of remote work, federal legislation boosted industrial construction.
  • The West Coast's large housing market offers lucrative work for painters, but it's not all smooth sailing. High living costs and fewer weather-related jobs pose financial challenges despite the demand in affluent neighborhoods.
  • The competition among painters is localized and not particularly intense. Building contractors often choose painters based on reputation, team size and pricing. These criteria guide decision-making in a relatively niche market.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $42.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Growth from new residential construction activity has been volatile

  • The low interest rate environment in 2020 and 2021 was crucial to painters, particularly as nonresidential construction activity lagged. Housing starts climbed 7.0% and 16.0% in 2020 and 2021 providing painters with avenues of growth.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Painters in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

New residential construction activity will promote growth

  • As the Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates, there will be an uptick in new single-family residential construction activity. Also, housing stock shortages will push up new single-family housing construction. According to online real estate firm Zillow, there were 4.5 million fewer homes than needed in 2022, an increase of 200,000.0 from 2021. A considerable portion of this growth in new housing will be in less expensive, less densely populated areas. Development in less densely populated areas may increase costs associated with taking on projects in terms of transportation.

Biggest companies in the Painters in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
FD Thomas Inc.
31.5
2.6
8.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Painters in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including General residential painting, General nonresidential painting and Paper hanging, wall covering and removal. General residential painting is the largest segment of the Painters in the US.

Trends and Insights

Residential painting has been volatile

  • Residential house painting services consist of painters applying liquid coatings to structures in which people live. This segment does not include logistics and related services.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Painters industry includes operators primarily engaged in interior or exterior painting and interior wall covering. The painting and wall covering work performed includes new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs. Enterprises in this industry perform activities ranging from bridge and ship painting to removing paint and wall coverings.

What's included in this industry?

Bridge paintingPainting buildings or other structures Paper hanging Spray painting buildings or other structures Wall papering House paintingRustproofing (except automotive)Paint and wallpaper removalWhitewashing

Companies

FD Thomas Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY)INDUSTRIAL COATINGSTHINNERTIMBER CLADDING

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 23832 - Painters in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Painters have faced a roller coaster ride because of housing market fluctuations. Interest rate changes have caused unpredictable peaks and dips in new residential constructi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The commercial building market's performance has been mixed, with various markets affected differently by recent trends. While office vacancies climbed because of remote work...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The West Coast's large housing market offers lucrative work for painters, but it's not all smooth sailing. High living costs and fewer weather-related jobs pose financial cha...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The competition among painters is localized and not particularly intense. Building contractors often choose painters based on reputation, team size and pricing. These criteri...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Fragmentation is high among painters, with no company dominating the market. Because of its labor-intensive nature, economies of scale are limited, leading to minimal consoli...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of FD Thomas Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for FD Thomas Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Painting Contractors Association substantially supports painters through healthcare plans, specialized training and networking events. These resources are designed to imp...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Painters have seen stable profit thanks to predictable costs and effective pricing strategies. Despite challenges, they've passed on expenses to customers and largely avoided...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Painters in the US industry in United States in 2025?

The market size of the Painters in the US industry in United States is $42.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Painters in the US industry in 2024?

There are 268k businesses in the Painters in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Painters in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Painters in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Painters in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Painters in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Painters in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Painters market in United States is FD Thomas Inc.

What does the Painters in the US in United States include?

Bridge painting and Painting buildings or other structures are part of the Painters in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Painters in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is FD Thomas Inc..

How competitive is the Painters in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Painters in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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