Painter Insurance in Ontario
Paint gets everywhere it should not: carpets, cars, neighbouring buildings. We connect Ontario painting contractors, from residential painters to commercial crews, with licensed brokers who understand overspray, ladders and the certificates property managers ask for.
Connect Now
Service & Support:
- Follow-up from a licensed broker within 24 hours
- Policy Review and Comparison
- Risk Assessment
- Help with certificates of insurance, policy changes and contract reviews
- Renewal planning well before your policy expires
Quick answer
What insurance does a painting contractor need in Ontario?
Ontario painting contractors usually need commercial general liability for property damage such as spills and overspray, tools and equipment coverage for sprayers and ladders, commercial auto, and WSIB. Exterior and commercial painters should confirm their policy covers work at heights and any pressure washing or coatings work.
Property damage and heights drive painting claims
Most painting claims are property damage: a spilled can on a hardwood floor, overspray drifting onto parked cars or a neighbouring building, or damaged finishes. The rest come from ladders, scaffolds and lifts.
Exterior, commercial and industrial painting, including coatings and pressure washing, are priced differently from interior residential work. Tell your broker what you actually do so the policy responds.
Connect NowHow CommercialInsurance.ca works
We are not an insurer or a broker. We find you the right one.
Matched by industry
We connect you with a broker who works with businesses like yours, not a generic call centre.
Licensed Ontario brokers
Insurance brokers in Ontario are licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO).
Fast follow up
Once we receive your information, a professional in our network will connect with you within 24 hours.
No cost to be matched
Our referral service is free for businesses. You deal directly with the broker for quotes and coverage.
What coverage does a painting contractor need?
These are the coverages most painting programs include.
Commercial general liability
Covers property damage and injuries from your work, including spills, overspray and falling equipment, plus claims after the job.
- Overspray and spills
- Damage to client property
- Certificates for property managers
Sprayers, ladders and equipment
Airless sprayers, ladders, scaffolding and lifts are costly to replace. Tools coverage protects them on site and in transit.
- Airless sprayers
- Ladders and scaffolding
- Rented lifts
Exterior and work at heights
Exterior and multi storey work raises the risk of falls and dropped equipment. Insurers ask about maximum working heights and fall protection.
- Disclose maximum heights
- Fall protection training
- Swing stage and lift work
What does painting contractor insurance cost in Ontario?
As a general guide, many Ontario painting contractors running as an owner operator or small crew see roughly $900 to $3,500 a year for $2 million in general liability plus tools and equipment coverage. WSIB and commercial auto are priced separately. These are estimates only. See our contractor insurance cost guide.
Raises the price
- Exterior and multi storey work
- Commercial and industrial coatings
- Spray application
- Past claims
Helps lower it
- Interior residential work
- Brush and roll application
- Fall protection training
- Clean claims history
Budget separately
- WSIB premiums, based on insurable earnings
- Commercial auto for work vehicles
- Surety bonds for bonded contracts
Protect every job, inside and out
Tell us about your painting business and we will connect you with a licensed Ontario broker who places painting contractors and can issue certificates quickly.
Doing renovations too? See renovation contractor insurance.
Connect NowPainter Insurance FAQs
Does painter insurance cover overspray damage to cars?
Commercial general liability generally covers property damage you cause to others, including overspray on vehicles or neighbouring property. Confirm there is no spray exclusion on your policy.
How much does painter insurance cost?
Many owner operator and small crew painters see roughly $900 to $3,500 a year for liability and tools coverage. Exterior, commercial and spray work cost more. These are estimates only.
Do painters need WSIB in Ontario?
Painting is construction work, so most painting business owners must have WSIB coverage, with an exemption for independent operators doing home renovation work directly for homeowners.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance for a new job?
A broker who works with contractors can usually issue a certificate of insurance the same day, including additional insured wording for the general contractor or property owner. See our certificate of insurance guide.
What happens after you request commercial insurance?
1Discovery Call
(30 to 45 min)Understand operations, contracts, assets, and loss history.
Get Started Now!
We will request your
expiring policies and loss runs.
2Risk Mapping
(1 to 3 days)Document exposures, limits, sublimits, deductibles, and endorsements that fit your contracts.
Get Started Now!
3Market Placement
(2 to 5 days)Approach the right markets
Get Started Now!
and negotiate terms, exclusions, and deductibles.
4Proposal & Bind
Get Started Now!
Side-by-side options in clear wording, so you can choose with confidence.
Protect your team too
Offer health, dental and life benefits your employees will value.
We also connect Ontario businesses with licensed benefits advisors, from two person teams to growing companies.
5/5 rating on GoogleThe Commercial Insurance Difference: Feedback from those referred
Proactive Broker Relationship.
The most noticeable difference was the fact that I no longer felt that I was needed to manage the broker... the brokers came to me with proactive recommendations and knew when to push and shop the market and when not to. When the topic of business insurance comes up, I always refer fellow business owners.
Steve T
Security Blanket For My Business
I was always the type of customer that never believed in insurance and only really got it because I had to. Then I connected with a broker through Commercial Insurance.ca and they asked me questions no one else ever did and that's how I knew something was different. They took the time to understand and evaluate the risks. Well, I ended up getting some extra coverage (legal expense) and thank goodness I did. Something fairly innocent turned into something quite nasty and I didn't have to do too much... my coverage took care of it. Now I look at Insurance as a security blanket for my business.
Michael L
They had my back
No one likes buying insurance because it's a bit of a bet against yourself. You just hope that when the bad things happen that insurance will do what it said it would do in the first place. Their specialist stand behind the policy's that they bind. They never professed to get me the best price, but they did say they have my back, and have my back, they did.
Steph P