depends on the item, the cheaper the item the harder it is to get people to pay for paint. just as long as its slightly cheaper than doing it yourself its a good deal. its like strange parts, strange parts on a 1 rec strange ...no ones going to pay full value for them, but parts on a 5 key strange, then you'll get some return. unpopular hat + unpopular color = desperate to sell, so yea..thats how it goes.

This isn't my personal opinion, but according to backpack.tf
"If the item is painted, the item will get a 85% bonus from the price of the paint, up to a maximum of 2x the original item value. For example, if an item is 1 rec, it will never be worth more than 2 rec even if it's painted white. But if it's worth 10 keys, it will get the full 85% paint price bonus."

PERSONALLY i pay 1/2 the paint price in addition to the item

Originally posted by Punchie:

This isn't my personal opinion, but according to backpack.tf
"If the item is painted, the item will get a 85% bonus from the price of the paint, up to a maximum of 2x the original item value. For example, if an item is 1 rec, it will never be worth more than 2 rec even if it's painted white. But if it's worth 10 keys, it will get the full 85% paint price bonus."

PERSONALLY i pay 1/2 the paint price in addition to the item

Tf has all sorts of extremely generalized recommendations...which don't hold up in the real world, look at their recommendations for craft number...the multiplier effect of those craft numbers is mostly a lottery. Paint bonus is very arbitrary, and depends on the value and desirability of the item, vs the paint price and the rest... they are guidelines that really don't work in the real world, its a case by case basis, and i think they were written before 2.5 key paints existed, never mind 6+ key halloween paints. Some items which are only 2-3 ref with a black 2.5key paint will sell for 2.5 keys, which is way more than 2x original item value, in fact most people wouldn't bother to sell you the item for just 2x original value if it were painted black or white. Other items, like a dirty painted black, you might have much more trouble, but if it still looks good and is popular, you might get 1 key from the item, which is still way more than 2x the dirty items price. Only if its really unpopular will the paint price really stop mattering.

"If the item has a low craft #, a price bonus is applied. The special bonus is:
If price is under 1 ref, make price 1 ref. (This will give us a minimum of 1 earbud, usually weapons)
If price is over 2 ref, make price 2 ref. (This will give us a maximum of 2 earbud)
If level is...
1, 69, 99, 100 = Price * Earbuds Price
42 = Price * ( Earbuds Price * 0.5 )
Others = Price * ( Earbuds Price * 0.25 )"
from the site.
most low craft numbers will get no where near that supposed multiplier price. so the guideline is mostly a joke. All you can really say is that you can try to to charge more, but its likely you'll fail.

You also have to judge how it looks.

Certain paints on certain items are almost unnoticable. Like white on a robro, I'd consider those entirely wasted. http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Nanobalaclava
just look at the distinctive lack of hue or white, its like you didn't paint it at all...

Yeah, I often pay 1/3 of the paints price if painted on something under a key, but about 1/2 or higher if over.