How Much Does Exterior Painting Cost? (2026 Guide)
Painting the outside of a house costs about $2.20 to $4.40 per square foot of paintable area. That is $4,400 to $8,800 for a typical 2,000 square foot home, with an average project near $6,600 [This Old House exterior painting cost guide]. Fixr reports a higher national range of $6,242 to $11,617 for 2,200 square feet of exterior surface [Fixr exterior painting cost guide].
Much of the bill is labor, because a crew spends days on prep before the first coat. The number of stories, the siding and the condition of the walls move the price the most. The tables below break it down so you can find your house.
Exterior painting cost by size: a simple calculator for what a house exterior paint costs.
Both guides size the job by the surface being painted, not by your floor plan. They get different answers, so read them as a range and use the table as a budget calculator for an average house.
| Paintable area | This Old House | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 to $4,400 | $2,837 to $5,281 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $3,300 to $6,600 | $4,256 to $7,921 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $4,400 to $8,800 | $5,675 to $10,561 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $5,500 to $11,000 | $7,093 to $13,202 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $6,600 to $13,200 | $8,512 to $15,842 |
Sources: This Old House exterior painting cost guide, which builds its numbers from Homewyse and The Home Depot, and the Fixr exterior painting cost guide, whose prices include standard prep such as sanding, caulking, power washing and masking. None of these is a quote for your house.
Cost to paint a house exterior by stories and siding.
| 2,000 sq ft home | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| One story | $4,400 to $8,800 |
| Two stories | $6,900 to $12,700 |
| Three stories | $8,300 to $15,200 |
Source: This Old House exterior painting cost guide.
| Siding | Per sq ft | Whole home |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | $2.30 to $4.30 | $5,073 to $9,442 |
| Stucco | $2.70 to $5.05 | $5,966 to $11,104 |
| Brick or masonry | $2.90 to $5.40 | $6,367 to $11,858 |
| Wood, vinyl or fiber cement | $3.10 to $5.80 | $6,837 to $12,725 |
Source: Fixr exterior painting cost guide. Whole home assumes about 2,200 square feet of exterior surface.
What trim, soffits and doors add.
| Feature | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Trim | $4.25 to $8.25 per linear foot |
| Fascia | $4.50 to $8.50 per linear foot |
| Soffits | $5.00 to $9.75 per sq ft |
| Gutters | $3.00 to $5.75 per linear foot |
| Shutters | $115 to $235 per shutter |
| Exterior door | $165 to $330 per door |
Source: This Old House exterior painting cost guide.
What affects exterior painter cost: area, stories, siding, prep and paint.
Paintable area, not floor area
Pros measure the walls, trim and soffits that will get paint. This Old House calls home size the primary factor, though windows, doors, trim and architectural details make similar-sized homes cost different amounts.
Number of stories
Past the first floor the crew needs taller ladders or scaffolding. This Old House says that means more equipment and more labor, as the story table above shows.
Siding material
This Old House says wood and vinyl are generally easier to paint and may come pre-primed, while stucco and brick often need extensive prep, multiple coats or specialty paint. The siding table above comes from Fixr and shows the price spread.
Condition of the walls
Fixr says it can cost over 60% more to paint exterior walls in poor shape than walls that need little work. Peeling, cracking or rotted boards have to be fixed before paint goes on.
Paint quality
This Old House lists standard exterior latex at $30 to $50 per gallon with a life of about five to seven years. Premium 100% acrylic runs $45 to $85 per gallon and can last eight to 12 years or longer. Oil-based paint is $40 to $75 per gallon and mostly used on trim, doors and metal.
Labor
For professional exterior jobs, much of the cost goes toward labor [This Old House]. It puts professional painters at $40 to $100 per hour per painter.
Trim and extras
Trim, soffits, gutters and doors take detailed prep and extra time. Ask for them as separate lines.
HOA rules and permits
Fixr says to get your HOA's approval for a new color before the project begins. Permits are not always needed for painting, and Fixr says that when they are, they usually cost a couple hundred dollars.
What a proper prep job includes.
Prep is where a good quote and a bad quote split apart. Paint does not hold on dirt, chalk or loose old paint, so skipping steps shortens the life of the job.
- Wash. Dirt, mildew and chalky residue come off first, then the surface needs time to dry.
- Scrape and sand. Loose or peeling paint has to come off so the new coat has something solid to hold.
- Repair. Soft or rotted wood is replaced or filled. Paint over rot hides it for a season and then it returns.
- Prime. Bare wood and repaired spots get primer so the paint does not soak in unevenly.
- Caulk. Gaps around windows, doors and trim let water in behind the paint. Sealing them is cheap and helps the job last.
Older homes need extra care. The EPA says approximately three-quarters of the homes in the United States built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, and its rules cover paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in those homes. Read the EPA lead renovation rules, and ask any pro how they keep lead dust under control before they scrape or sand a pre-1978 house.
How long does exterior paint last, and when should you repaint?
This Old House says a properly applied exterior paint job should last between five and 10 years, depending on the paint, the surface and your climate [This Old House exterior painting cost guide]. It advises repainting before major peeling begins, because severely cracked paint increases prep time and repair costs.
On timing, early spring or late fall may offer better scheduling and pricing than peak summer in some areas [This Old House]. Still choosing between paint types? Our latex vs oil-based paint comparison explains the trade-offs.
Ways to save on exterior painting.
- Repaint before it peels. Early repainting means less sanding and repair.
- Prep the yard. This Old House says clearing landscaping, moving outdoor furniture and removing detachable fixtures reduces labor time. Leave sanding, repairs and priming to the pro.
- Pay for better paint. Premium exterior paint costs more up front but typically lasts longer, which lowers the cost per year.
- Narrow the scope. Fixr suggests painting only the trim or the walls facing the street if the budget is tight. It will not be as thorough as repainting the whole house.
How to get a fair quote from an exterior painter and what to ask.
Look for four lines on every quote. Prep (washing, scraping, priming, caulking), the number of coats, the paint brand and product line and what the pro will do in writing if the paint fails early. A quote that leaves one blank cannot be compared fairly.
Ask for the measured area. How many square feet are being painted, and are the trim, soffits, doors and gutters included or priced as extras?
Ask the pro these questions. Before work starts, ask the pro for their license and proof of insurance. Then ask what the crew does about lead in an older house, how many coats the price covers and how weather delays are handled.
Compare scope, not just the total. Get two or three written quotes for the same job. The cheapest one often leaves prep out, which is how it gets cheap. Our guide on how to hire an exterior house painter goes deeper on quotes and prep.
Exterior painting cost FAQ.
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a house?
This Old House puts a typical 2,000 square foot home at $4,400 to $8,800, with an average project near $6,600. Fixr reports a higher range of $6,242 to $11,617 for 2,200 square feet of exterior surface. Your total depends on size, stories, siding and the condition of the walls.
What does exterior painting cost per square foot?
This Old House reports $2.20 to $4.40 per square foot of paintable area. Fixr reports $2.84 to $5.28 per square foot of exterior wall. Pros price by the surface they paint, not by your floor plan, so ask how many square feet are in the quote.
How much does it cost to paint a two-story house?
For a 2,000 square foot home, This Old House lists $6,900 to $12,700 for two stories against $4,400 to $8,800 for one. Ladders, scaffolding and stairs make upper floors more complex.
How often does a house need to be repainted?
This Old House says a properly applied exterior paint job should last between five and 10 years, depending on the paint, the surface and your climate. Repaint when you first see fading or minor cracking so you avoid heavy prep for peeling.
Is it cheaper to paint a house myself?
You save the labor, but Fixr highly advises against DIY exterior paint jobs because the work is more complicated and dangerous than interior painting. An amateur job can also leave your house open to water damage. This Old House says hiring a pro is usually a good idea.
What time of year is best for exterior painting?
Mild, dry weather. This Old House says early spring or late fall can offer more flexible scheduling and better pricing than peak summer months in some areas. Ask local pros when their calendars are open.
Should the quote include priming and caulking?
It should say so in writing. Fixr says its prices include standard prep such as sanding, caulking, power washing and masking. If a quote lists only coats of paint, ask what the price includes for prep.
Ready to price your exterior paint job?
Describe your project and we will match you with one independent local pro who does the work and can give you a written estimate. You pay the pro directly. See how it works on our page for local exterior painters.