How to Bid Parking Lot Striping: 2025 Contractor Guide

You know that sinking feeling when you realize you've underpriced another striping job? 

Maybe you quoted per square foot when you should've gone per line, or forgot to factor in those ADA stencils that eat up time and paint. 

At OneCrew, we know that bidding parking lot striping jobs doesn't have to be guesswork. This guide breaks down exactly how to calculate your costs, build competitive bids, and win more striping projects with healthy profit margins built in.

Why Is Bidding Parking Lot Striping Different?

Striping bids require precision that paving and sealcoating estimates don't demand. You're dealing with exact line counts, specific paint yields, and regulated ADA requirements that can't be fudged. 

Plus, unlike laying asphalt, where you can adjust material quantities on the fly, striping mistakes show immediately; crooked lines, incorrect spacing, or faded paint are visible failures.

The customer experience differs, too. While paving customers understand that weather and ground conditions affect timelines, striping clients expect fast turnarounds and perfect results regardless of conditions. 

They're often managing multiple vendors for pressure washing, sealcoating, and striping, which means your bid needs to stand out for clarity and professionalism. Property managers judge striping contractors harshly because the results of your work remain visible every single day.

Common mistakes contractors make when quoting

Most striping contractors lose money before they even start the job. Here's what goes wrong:

• Forgetting setup and cleanup time: Moving equipment, masking areas, and cleaning overspray adds 30–45 minutes minimum
• Using outdated paint coverage rates: Modern waterborne paints cover differently than older solvent-based formulas
• Ignoring minimum job charges: Small lots can cost you money without proper minimums in place
• Missing specialty markings in the count: Handicap symbols, arrows, and stop bars take extra time and materials
• Failing to account for surface condition: Rough or oil-stained asphalt needs primer or extra coats
• Not factoring in weather delays: Paint won't dry properly below 50°F or in high humidity
• Copying competitor prices blindly: Their overhead and costs differ from yours

Why does precision matter for profitability?

A 10% error in your striping estimate can wipe out your entire profit margin. Paint costs $25 to $40 per gallon, and one gallon typically covers 300–400 linear feet of standard 4-inch lines. 

Miss your coverage calculation by just 50 feet per gallon across a 500-space lot, and you've burned through an extra 5 gallons; there goes $200 of profit. The precision required for parking lot striping bids makes them ideal for standardized templates and automated calculations.

Note: You can learn more about the technical aspects in our guide to parking lot striping standards.

Parking Lot Striping Costs: The Basics

Parking lot striping typically costs between $0.20 and $0.30 per linear foot for standard 4-inch lines on clean, smooth asphalt. Pricing by square foot ranges from $0.03 to $0.08, though this method works better for large, open lots than complex layouts with multiple stalls.

These factors directly impact your parking lot striping cost per square foot:

1. Lot size (smaller lots have higher per-unit costs due to setup time)
2. Total linear feet of striping needed
3. Number and type of ADA-compliant markings
4. Curb painting requirements
5. Custom stencils or logos
6. Surface preparation needs
7. Geographic location and local competition
8. Time constraints (night or weekend work)

Consider this example: A 75-space retail parking lot typically includes 1,350 linear feet of standard parking lines, 4 handicap spaces with access aisles (120 additional feet), 200 feet of fire lane striping, 6 directional arrows, and 2 stop bars. Total material cost runs $180–$250, labor costs $350–$450, making the complete job worth $800–$1,200 after overhead and margin; but only if you catch every element in your initial estimate.

Note: Ready to start your own operation? Read our complete guide to starting a parking lot striping business.

How to Price a Parking Lot Striping Job (Step by Step)

Building an accurate parking lot striping estimate starts with systematic measurement and ends with a professional presentation. Follow these steps to create bids that win jobs and protect your margins:

1. Measure the lot

Accurate measurements determine everything else in your bid. Use a measuring wheel for small lots under 100 spaces, or a laser distance meter for larger properties.

For standard parking spaces, count the total number and multiply by the linear footage per space (typically 18–20 feet for single lines, 36–40 feet for double lines). Don't forget:

• Handicap spaces (add 5 feet for standard access aisles or 8 feet for van-accessible spaces)
• Fire lanes and no-parking zones
• Directional arrows and stop bars
• Crosswalks and pedestrian paths

The square footage approach works when you're striping large, uniform areas like warehouse floors. The linear footage method gives more accurate pricing for typical parking lots with defined stalls.

2. Factor in materials and supplies

Standard traffic paint costs $25–$40 per gallon and covers 300–400 linear feet of 4–inch striping at the proper 15–mil thickness. Waterborne acrylic paints dry faster but cost more than solvent-based options. Your material costs include:

• Paint (calculate gallons needed plus 10% waste factor)
• Glass beads for reflectivity
• Primer for oil-stained areas 
• ADA blue paint 
• Stencil paint for symbols and letters
• Masking tape and plastic sheeting

3. Labor and crew time

A two-person crew can stripe 100 parking spaces in 3–4 hours under ideal conditions. Your labor calculation needs:

• Base hourly rate for each worker
• Travel time to and from the job site
• Setup and cleanup (typically 45–60 minutes total)
• Actual striping time based on lot complexity
• Potential overtime for night or weekend work

Simple re-striping over visible lines moves faster than new layouts requiring measurement and chalking. Add 25% more time for complex lots with heavy traffic that require section-by-section completion.

4. Add overhead and profit margin

Your true cost includes more than just paint and labor. Build in 15–20% for overhead costs:

• Vehicle expenses and fuel
• General liability insurance
• Equipment maintenance and replacement
• Office expenses and estimating time
• Marketing and sales costs

After covering all costs, striping contractors can add a 30–40% margin to their bids. This margin ensures profitability even when jobs run longer than expected or require touch-ups.

5. Finalize your bid

Present your parking lot striping service quote in a clear, professional format that builds trust. Include:

• Detailed scope of work (number of spaces, linear feet, special markings)
• Materials to be used (paint type, mil thickness, bead application)
• Timeline and weather contingencies
• Payment terms and warranty information
• Professional photos or diagrams, when possible

Modern estimating platforms like OneCrew let you create templated bids that automatically calculate costs based on your measurements and standard pricing. This consistency speeds up quoting and reduces errors.

Note: Ready to grow your striping business? Check out our guide on how to get parking lot striping jobs.

Parking Lot Striping Estimate Templates and Tools

Using standardized templates can seriously cut estimating time while making sure you never forget important line items. A good parking lot striping estimate template includes preset formulas for paint coverage, labor hours, and overhead calculations based on your actual costs.

Free online calculators help with quick estimates. Think Sherwin-Williams Paint Calculator, which estimates paint needs based on linear footage.

OneCrew simplifies the entire estimating process for paving contractors. The platform helps you:

• Create customized striping estimate templates with your actual costs built in
• Automatically calculate material needs based on linear footage or square footage
• Track labor hours and costs from previous jobs for accurate future estimates
• Store photos and measurements from every job for easy re-bidding
• Generate professional proposals that clients can approve online

Instead of juggling spreadsheets and calculators, OneCrew puts everything in one platform designed specifically for asphalt and concrete contractors.

Note: Find the right supplies for your jobs with our parking lot striping supplies guide.

Advanced Considerations for Striping Bids

Experienced contractors know that how to price parking lot striping goes beyond basic calculations. These factors can make or break your profitability:

• New layout vs. re-striping: Fresh layouts require 40–60% more time for measuring, snapping chalk lines, and ensuring proper spacing per local codes
• Night and weekend premiums: Add 25–35% for after-hours work to cover overtime wages, lighting equipment rental, and the slower pace of nighttime striping
• Weather windows and drying time: Spring and fall offer ideal conditions, but you'll charge premiums for rush jobs that must happen in marginal weather
• Regional pricing variations: Coastal markets typically pay 20–30% more than Midwest rates, while southern states see year-round competition that drives prices down
• Multi-phase projects: Large lots done in sections require multiple mobilizations, so add 10–15% to cover additional setup costs
• Removal of old markings: Grinding or water blasting away old lines before re-striping adds $0.50–$1.00 per linear foot

Note: Learn about the best paint options in our article on striping paint for parking lots.

Get Started with OneCrew

OneCrew helps paving contractors master how to bid parking lot striping jobs with purpose-built estimating tools that eliminate guesswork. Our platform handles everything from initial measurements to final invoicing, and it’s designed specifically for asphalt and concrete contractors who need precision in their estimates.

Here's why contractors choose OneCrew for parking lot striping estimates:

• Built for paving contractors: OneCrew understands striping workflows, from measuring lots to calculating paint coverage and scheduling crews
• Faster, more accurate bids: Create detailed striping estimates in minutes using templates that match your actual costs and methods
• Smart material calculations: Automatically figure paint needs based on linear footage, with built-in waste factors and coverage rates
• Fewer mistakes, higher margins: Standardized templates ensure you never forget ADA markings, setup time, or overhead costs
• Professional proposals: Send polished bids that clients can view, approve, and pay through OneCrew's integrated customer portal

Book a free demo today to see how OneCrew shifts parking lot striping bids from time-consuming guesswork into profitable, repeatable success.

FAQs

1. How much does striping cost per square foot? 

Striping costs between $0.03 and $0.08 per square foot for standard parking lot layouts. Complex designs with numerous handicap spaces, fire lanes, and custom markings push costs toward the higher end of this range.

2. What should be included in a striping estimate? 

A striping estimate should include linear footage of lines, number of stencils and symbols, paint and material costs, labor hours, equipment charges, and overhead margin. Don't forget setup time, surface prep requirements, and potential weather delays.

3. How do you measure a lot for line striping? 

You measure a lot for line striping by counting parking spaces and multiplying by standard line lengths (typically 18–20 feet per space), then adding handicap markings, arrows, stop bars, and fire lanes. Use a measuring wheel or laser meter for accuracy.

4. Is it better to price striping by line or by square foot? 

Pricing striping by line works better for typical parking lots with defined spaces, while square foot pricing suits large open areas or warehouses. Most contractors prefer per-line pricing because it's easier to calculate accurately and explain to customers.

5. What's the average cost to re-stripe a small parking lot? 

The average cost to re-stripe a small parking lot (25–50 spaces) ranges from $400 to $800. New striping on unmarked asphalt costs $600–$1,200 for the same size lot due to additional layout and measurement time.

6. How do I create a professional striping bid? 

Create a professional striping bid by using a consistent template that lists all work details, materials, timeline, and total costs clearly. Include photos or diagrams when possible, and use platforms like OneCrew to generate polished proposals automatically.

7. What tools or software help with parking lot striping estimates? 

Tools that help with parking lot striping estimates include OneCrew's estimating platform, online paint calculators from Sherwin-Williams, and measuring wheels or laser meters. OneCrew provides the most complete solution by combining measurement, calculation, and proposal generation.

8. Can OneCrew create striping estimates automatically? 

OneCrew creates striping estimates automatically once you input basic measurements and select your template. The platform calculates paint needs, labor hours, and total costs based on your preset rates and formulas.

9. How much profit margin should I add to striping bids? 

Add 30–40% margin to striping bids after accounting for all materials, labor, and overhead costs. This margin protects against unexpected issues and confirms profitability even when jobs take longer than estimated.