Painting the outside of your home seals out rainwater, snow, ice, and harmful sun rays and also gives your home a brand new look. The average cost to paint a house exterior ranges from $2 to $4 per square foot.
That means that you can expect to pay around $3,000 to $6,000 to paint 1,500 square feet of your home’s exterior. However, the costs will vary depending on factors such as siding type, number of stories, and your home’s location.
We gathered data from multiple cities across the U.S., large and small, so you can better understand what your project will cost you.
Cost by Location
Painting costs differ depending upon where you live. Why? Because labor rates and costs of painting materials vary from region to region.
Bigger cities have a higher demand for painting projects, so you’ll find painting contractors and companies charging more for their services. Rural locations with lower populations usually have more affordable labor rates because of low service demand.
See the table below for a snapshot of the costs to paint a house’s exterior across the country:
| City | Average Cost Per Square Foot (Including Labor and Material) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Hartford, CT | $2 – $4 |
| Boston, MA | $2.30 – $4.60 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Dothan, AL | $1.60 – $3.20 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1.60 – $3.20 |
| Acworth, GA | $1.60 – $3.20 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $2.10 – $4.10 |
| Chicago, IL | $2.30 – $4.60 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Beaverton, OR | $2.20 – $4.40 |
| Seattle, WA | $2.40 – $4.70 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1.80 – $3.60 |
| Houston, TX | $1.70 – $3.30 |
Cost by Size
The most significant influence on the cost of your painting project is the size of your house. On average, it costs about $2 to $4 per square foot to paint the exterior of a home. Larger homes with more exterior surface area, hard-to-reach places, and multiple stories can increase the cost by about 50% per story.
Here are the average price ranges for different paintable areas:
| Paintable Area in Square Foot | Average Cost |
| 800 | $1,600 – $3,200 |
| 1,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| 1,500 | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| 2,000 | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| 2,500 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 3,000 | $6,000 – $12,000 |
Cost by Number of Stories
The more stories your home has, the more time-consuming the job for the painting contractor. This is because every next story is harder to reach, and setting up ladders and scaffolding increases labor and material costs.
Here’s what the numbers look like:
| Number of Stories | Average Cost (Labor + Material) |
| Single Story | $1,375 – $4,225 |
| Two Stories | $2,750 – $7,275 |
| Three Stories | $4,175 – $12,000 |
Note: Scaffolding permits may add $100 to $300 to your project.
Cost by Siding Type
Cost is also affected by the type of siding on your home. Siding materials require different prep work, different number of coats, different (sometimes more expensive) paint types, and the number of painting supplies because paint adheres differently on each.
For instance, vinyl siding and wood siding are cheaper because they’re easier to paint and may come pre-primed. A few types of metal siding and brick may also be easy to paint, but they’re generally more expensive because they need multiple coats. So, the price varies. Let’s take a look.
| Type of Siding | Cost Range per Square Foot |
| Concrete | $1.40 – $3.70 |
| Wood | $1.40 – $4.10 |
| Vinyl | $1.50 – $4 |
| Metal | $1.80 – $3.50 |
| Stucco | $1.80 – $4.70 |
| Brick | $1.90 – $4.80 |
Cost of Labor
Another major cost factor in a home painting project is labor. Local labor rates vary between painting companies, independent contractors, and locations. This is why we suggest getting at least three cost estimates to figure out a fair price for your project.
On average, homeowners pay about $1 to $3 per square foot or $30 to $98 per hour for each painter working on the site. Labor rates will hike if there’s more prep work, limited accessibility, cleaning, etc. involved.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
DIYers might be tempted to paint the outside of their homes themselves instead of hiring a painting pro. It will cost somewhere between $500 and $1,050 to paint the exterior of your home yourself.
You’ll spend around $200 to $400, excluding paint, for basic supplies, such as brushes, buckets, rollers, drop cloth, and more, from a local home improvement store. Expect paint prices to vary from $20 to $80 per gallon.
This project, however, is time-consuming. Expect to dedicate two or three weeks to this project if you’re confident in your DIY painting skills.
On the other hand, hiring a professional only adds a few more hundred dollars but gives you a cleaner, more efficient paint job. These pros have all the tools and expertise to paint the exterior safely and quickly, so we recommend you save yourself from an uneven finish and hire a pro.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Besides the square footage of your home, other cost-influencing factors of your exterior house painting project include:
Trim, Doors and Other Surfaces
Refreshing other exterior features of your home like shutters, trim, doors, etc., can enhance the curb appeal but will also drive up costs. Consider all the additional exterior features that should be painted so they don’t stand out if left as is, including window sashes, trim, gutters, etc.
Certain professional house painters charge for these features by square or linear footage, while others offer a per-project quote.
Here are the average costs to paint specific parts of your home:
| Painting Project | Average Cost |
| Soffit and Fascia | $2.50 – $6 per linear foot |
| Trim | $1.50 – $5 per linear foot |
| Gutters | $135 – $835 |
| Window Sashes | $100 – $200 |
| Porch | $500 – $2,000 |
| Exterior Doors | $120 – $445 per door |
| Deck | $975 |
| Garage | $1,115 – $2,935 |
Prep Work
Preparations needed to bring your home’s exterior to paintable condition also affect the cost. Paint prep work includes sanding, scraping, power washing, stripping, caulking, siding replacement, and more.
This is where you can save money simply by tackling some of the prep work on your own. You can remove old paint, wash the exterior of your home, or sand cracked, flaky, or bubbling paint. We understand that this is laborious and time-consuming, especially if you’re dealing with multiple stories or hard-to-reach areas.
Professional painting companies may charge you about $0.60 to $2.40 per square foot for the preparations. Don’t worry though, this cost is often included in your square footage painting cost quote.
Also Consider: Check with your painting contractor if they include the cost of priming in the project’s total cost. Priming is often a necessary preparatory step, a primer costs somewhere between $18 and $57 per gallon.
Permits
Getting a permit is not always necessary to paint a home’s exterior, but it’s always better to check with your local office or speak to your contractor about it.
In some cases, especially when you have to replace any of your siding, you’ll need to pay and obtain a permit to paint your home. If you reside in an area with a housing association, check with the HOA and ensure you have all the permits before you start.
Permits generally cost between $200 and $300.
Paint Type and Finish
The best exterior paints for houses are latex, oil, and acrylic latex. Oil paints give a smooth finish but have a higher price tag, about $20 to $60 per gallon. Exterior acrylic latex paint and exterior latex paint typically cost between $20 and $50 per gallon.
Exterior paints also come in a variety of finishes:
- Eggshell
- Flat
- Satin
- Semi-gloss
- High-gloss.
The cost varies depending on the durability and popularity of a finish. On average, high-gloss paint is the most durable, but also the most expensive, whereas an eggshell finish is the most popular.
Repairs
Your home’s exterior needs to be in its best condition to ensure you don’t seal in a problem that will sprout up later. If your siding needs repairs, expect to pay an extra fee for it.
FAQ
In most cases, a home’s exterior needs two coats of paint. The number of coats depends on the existing condition of the siding. If it’s neglected and rough or you’re making a drastic color change, you might need more than two coats.
Paint your house during the spring or fall to ensure it lasts long. The weather is dry and mild, which makes it quicker for the new paint to dry and settle well.
A properly painted house exterior should go five to ten years before it needs repainting. The lifespan of a paint job depends on the type of paint you use, the surface it’s applied to, and your local climate.
Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal
Painting your home’s exterior is a smart way to refresh its look and protect it from war and tear. Luckily, Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, painting services and leave the rest to us.
Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
Read More:
- Fence Painting Cost Guide
- Pool Deck Painting Cost Guide
- Garage Floor Painting Cost Guide
- What Kind of Paint Is Best for Front Doors?
- How to Pressure Wash a House
Main Photo Credit: Syda Productions / Adobe Stock Free / License
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