AI prompts for painters: copy, fill in the brackets, get back on the brush

How to use these prompts

1. Copy the whole prompt (press and hold on your phone, or tap Copy prompt).
2. Paste it into your AI assistant. The free versions are fine.
3. Fill in every [bracket]. Delete any that don't apply.
4. Leave out customer surnames, phone numbers and full addresses. Add those in your own software.
5. Check every colour name, colour code, product and coat count yourself.
6. Make it sound like you, then send it from your usual app.

1. Quote from a walk-through

Section: Quotes

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

You're helping a [NZ/Australian] painter write a customer quote. From my notes, write: a 2-line summary, scope by area (e.g. exterior weatherboards, eaves, interior lounge walls and ceiling), the prep for each area, number of coats, products as I wrote them, inclusions, exclusions and assumptions (access, weather, furniture moving). Leave every price as [your price]. Don't add products, coats or areas I didn't mention. Mark anything unclear as [CHECK]. Notes: [paste notes or voice-note text]

Tip: Copy product names from the data sheet, not from memory. See quote from a job note.

2. Good, better, best options

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Turn these three options for [first name]'s [job, e.g. exterior repaint] into a simple comparison: what prep each includes, how many coats, how long it should look good (only what I tell you), and who it suits. Option A: [details]. Option B: [details]. Option C: [details]. No prices. I'll add them. Plain words, under 200 words.

Tip: Prep is what customers don't see and most often question. Spell it out in every option. See explain options.

3. "What have I missed?" exclusions check

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Here's a draft painting quote. List anything a customer might misunderstand, and suggest exclusions or assumptions I may have left out (e.g. rotten timber or filler repairs beyond [amount of time], lead or asbestos testing on older homes, moving furniture, colour changes after work starts, weather delays, scaffolding, plants and paths near the work). Don't change my prices or scope. Quote: [paste]

Tip: The old-home testing line matters. See the safety box below.

⚠️ Older homes: test for lead and asbestos first. See the safety box below.

4. First reply to an enquiry

Section: Customers & colours

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a friendly reply to this painting enquiry [paste, personal details removed]. Thank them and ask what I need before I can quote: interior or exterior, rooms or areas, rough age of the house, the condition of the current paint, photos, colours if chosen, timing and suburb. Under 100 words.

Tip: Asking for the house's age and photos up front saves wasted visits. See reply to enquiries.

5. Colour confirmation before we start

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a short message to [first name] confirming the colours and finishes for their job, so we both have it in writing. Area and colour, copied exactly: [list of area, colour name, colour code, sheen]. Ask them to reply "confirmed" or tell me what to change before [date]. Don't change, correct or suggest any colour names or codes.

Tip: AI can "fix" a colour code it doesn't recognise. Check every name and code against the fan deck or supplier order before you send.

6. Prep notice: what the customer needs to do

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a friendly message to [first name] about our start on [date]. Ask them to: [move furniture / clear shelves / keep pets inside / park off the drive / leave a bathroom available]. Tell them roughly how long we'll be there: [days], and how they can reach me. Under 120 words. Don't give drying or re-coat times. I'll add those from the product data sheet.

Tip: Drying and curing times come from the product data sheet, not AI.

7. Rain-day or weather reschedule

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a short text to [first name] saying we're moving [day]'s exterior work because of [rain / dew / wind / heat] and the new day is [day]. One line on why (paint needs the right conditions to last). Apologise once, keep it cheerful, offer to swap if that doesn't suit.

Tip: Save a rain version and a wind version so you can send them fast on a wet morning.

8. Variation: extra prep found on the job

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a clear, calm variation notice to [first name]. What I found: [e.g. rotten sill on the north side / extra peeling under old paint]. What I recommend: [repair]. Extra time: [time]. Extra cost: [your price]. What happens if they don't go ahead: [only what I've told you]. Ask for written approval before I start. Plain words, under 150 words.

Tip: Take a photo before you write it. See variations and progress updates.

9. Handover and care notes

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

From my notes, write a short handover message for [first name]: what was done, what touch-up paint I've left and where, how to clean the new paint, and when to call me. Use only these care instructions from the manufacturer: [paste]. Notes: [paste]

Tip: Don't let AI make up washing or curing advice. Paste it from the product information.

10. Review request and reply to a review

Section: Reviews & marketing

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

(1) Write a short text asking [first name] for a Google review after their [job], with [review link], under 50 words. (2) Write a polite reply to this review. If it's negative, stay calm, don't argue and don't share private details: [paste review]

Tip: See review requests and reply to reviews.

11. Before-and-after post

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a short Facebook post about a [job, e.g. 1970s weatherboard house exterior repaint] in [suburb]. The before, the prep and the after in 3 short lines, then a call to action to [message/call]. No customer names or house numbers. Friendly, no hype.

Tip: Get the owner's OK before you post photos of their home.

12. SWMS / job safety analysis starter

Section: Paperwork, safety & technical

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Draft a starting-point Safe Work Method Statement / job safety analysis for [task, e.g. exterior repaint of a two-storey house using scaffolding and ladders] in [NZ / my state]. Include task steps, hazards (e.g. working at height, possible lead paint, possible asbestos, solvents and fumes, sun and heat, power lines near the house), controls and who's responsible, as a table. Mark site-dependent items [CHECK ON SITE]. Add a note that a competent person must review it and that old paint and suspect materials must be tested.

Tip: See our H&S paperwork tutorial. Brief the crew on the final version, not the AI draft.

⚠️ A draft only: check it against your regulator's template and make it site-specific with your crew before work starts. See Draft health & safety paperwork faster.

13. Plain-words lead paint note for an older home

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

Write a short, calm message to [first name] explaining that because their home was built around [decade], we'll treat the old paint as possibly containing lead until it's tested. Explain in plain words what that means for the job: [the steps I've chosen, e.g. testing, wet prep, drop sheets, clean-up, keeping kids and pets away]. Don't add health claims or methods I didn't list. Under 150 words. Add "Source: [WorkSafe NZ / my state regulator]" at the end.

Tip: You choose the method, from official guidance. AI only writes the explanation.

⚠️ Pick your lead-safe method from WorkSafe NZ or your state regulator's guidance, never from AI.

14. Technical question, checked

Copy this prompt and fill in the [square brackets]:

I'm a painter. Explain in plain terms the general things to think about for [e.g. painting over old enamel / prepping weathered cedar / painting a fibre-cement soffit]. Don't give final products, coats or times. Tell me which questions to check in the manufacturer's data sheet, and when I should test for lead or asbestos first. Say clearly where you're unsure.

Tip: Use this to know what to ask. The data sheet, the supplier's rep and official guidance give the answers. See the safety box above and can you trust ChatGPT?.

Not sure which AI tool suits your painting business?

Take the free 6-question quiz. Pick "Other small business" and you'll get a starter stack matched to how you work.

Tools these prompts work with

These are tools we already cover, listed alphabetically. Every prompt on this page works in a free AI assistant.

• ChatGPT · Claude · Gemini: AI assistants for drafting quotes, colour confirmations, texts and review replies
• Fergus · Jobber · ServiceM8 · Tradify: job and quote software
• MYOB · Xero: quotes and invoices
• Zapier: automatic review requests and follow-ups

More guides that help

• AI for other small businesses
• Scope of works
• Automate quote follow-ups
• Book site visits
• AI for writing quotes
• AI for getting more reviews
• AI prompts for roofers

Before you send anything

Run the check in can you trust ChatGPT?. Not sure what's OK to paste into AI? Read is ChatGPT safe for business data? and safe AI habits.

What's the best AI for painters?

A free AI assistant (Grok Bot, ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini) covers most of the writing: quotes, colour confirmations, texts and reviews. Take our quiz for a starter setup.

Can AI work out how much paint I need?

It can show you the sum, but don't trust its numbers. Coverage comes from the product data sheet, and you measure the job yourself.

Can AI write my painting quote?

Yes, as a draft. Give it your walk-through notes and it lays out the scope, prep, inclusions and exclusions. You add the prices and check everything before it goes out.

Can AI tell me if old paint has lead in it?

No. In NZ, WorkSafe (opens in a new tab) says to presume lead paint in buildings from the 1980s or earlier. In AU, the NSW Government's LeadSmart (opens in a new tab) says lead paint was used in most homes built before 1970. Test, and follow WorkSafe NZ or your state's guidance.

Can AI show a customer what a colour will look like?

Don't rely on it. Screens and AI images don't show true colour. Always confirm the final colour from a real sample or the fan deck.

Is it safe to put customer details into ChatGPT?

Leave out surnames, phone numbers and full addresses. Add those in your own software. See safe AI habits.