How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?

A fresh coat of paint can give your home a completely new look and style. Paint can transform an exterior, highlight architectural details, or help brighten and freshen a tired-looking façade. It’s possible to paint any siding material, from wood to vinyl ¹ to fiber cement ², and doing so can help improve your home’s curb appeal and update its appearance.

There are a lot of cost factors that go into determining the total cost of your painting project, including the size of your home, the amount of siding and trim, the architectural style, the material your home is clad in, and the type of paint that you use.

The average cost to paint the exterior of a house ranges from $3,500-$7,000 with the average homeowner spending around $4,000 to paint the exterior of a home with 1,500 sq.ft. of wood siding, along with trim and prep-work.

House Exterior Painting Cost

Exterior House Painting Cost Per Square Foot

It’s important to note that when you calculate the square footage of your home, the amount of exterior siding you have to paint does not necessarily equal your interior square footage. Each wall of siding should be calculated separately, multiplying the height and width to find the square footage of that wall, and adding the walls together to get your total. Gables, dormers, and other features should be added into the total separately. Keep in mind that the cost per square foot can also change depending on the material of the siding you are painting and the complexity of the job.

An average range for exterior house painting costs per square foot is between $1.66 and $4 and can be higher or lower depending on your location and the condition of your home.

Average Cost to Paint a House Exterior

While some people may believe that painting a home is easy, it’s actually a time-consuming job that is best done by a professional. A professional painter will tape off and protect specified areas, clean the exterior and prep it before painting, and will know the right type and amount of paint to use for the job. They’ll also know when to use primer and how many coats of paint may be necessary for a particular type of siding.

Most painters charge for their services per painter by the hour. The average rate is around $50 per hour and painter, so if you have two painters working on your home, you can expect to pay $100 per hour, while three painters would cost $150 per hour. The more painters you have, the faster they are able to get the work done, lowering the total number of hours on the job. For priming and painting of the complete exterior of a 1,500 sq.ft. home, including the siding and the trim, the total number of hours needed is around 32 for a two-man team, making the labor portion of this job around $3,200 out of the $4,000 total. If there is no need for priming, labor costs can be cut by half.

Cost Breakdown to Paint a House

Your home’s exterior is made up of more than just your siding. When having the exterior painted, it’s generally a good idea to have the rest of it updated at the same time to help give it a fresh appearance all over. Some areas such as doors, shutters, and gutters may not be painted at the same time as the siding, but trim and other details generally are.

Average Cost to Paint Siding

Siding is the bulk of your home’s exterior and the bulk of any exterior painting project. The average cost to paint just the siding is around $2,000-$3,000 for 1,500 sq.ft., depending on the type of siding and the number of coats of paint it requires.

Cost to Paint Wood Siding

Bare wood siding will require a primer ³, and wood that is in poor condition may require at least 2 coats of paint. This makes the average cost to paint wood siding around $4,000-$4,500 for 1,500 sq.ft., but if you are repainting, your costs could be lower, around $2,000-$3,000 for just the siding.

Cost to Paint Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered wood siding is frequently already primed, and it’s also less likely to require as much paint as bare wood siding, so costs are generally going to be lower as it will take less of both time and material to cover. The average cost to paint engineered wood siding is closer to $1,500-$2,000.

Cost to Paint Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is often touted as being maintenance-free, but if you want to change the color, it is possible to paint it. Vinyl siding must be cleaned then coated in an adhesive primer before being coated in at least two coats of acrylic latex paint. It, therefore, has a higher cost to paint than other types of siding, with starting costs closer to $5,000-$6,000 for 1,500 sq.ft.

Cost to Paint Exterior Stucco

Stucco also has specialty processes and your project will often include needing to make some minor repairs to the surface before it can be painted. This makes the cost of painting stucco slightly higher, around $4,800-$6,500.

Cost to Paint Stone Siding

If you have engineered stone on your home, it is possible to paint it a solid color to help it blend in with the rest of the exterior. Most stone siding is not actually stone, but is a type of fiber cement. It therefore holds paint similarly to fiber cement, but because it’s not primed the way that planks are, it will need to be primed and then painted. This makes the cost to paint 1,500 sq.ft. of stone siding around $3,500-$4,000.

Cost to Paint Brick House

Brick takes less paint and therefore less time and labor to paint than wood and some other materials. Homes that have at least some brick will likely have lower overall painting costs. Homes done entirely in brick can be painted for between $2,000 and $3,000 on average.

Cost to Paint Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is usually already painted for installation, but can also be purchased pre-primed for a custom paint job. It does require repainting after about 10 years or so, but is usually faster and easier than wood, because it’s a non-porous surface that takes paint easily and uses less paint in general. For 1,500 sq.ft., you can expect to pay $2,000-$3,000 on average.

Cost to Paint Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding has a tendency to fade and become chalky over time. When this happens, it needs to be repainted. Aluminum is easy to paint and may use less paint than wood, so the costs are generally around $2,000-$3,000 for a 1,500 sq.ft. home.

Cost to Paint Steel Siding

Steel siding is handled almost identically to aluminum siding in most instances. Some types of steel siding are designed to never need painting again; these types may require special primers before painting, and it’s best to check with the manufacturer. Other types can be painted like aluminum for around the same cost of $2,000-$3,000 for 1,500 sq.ft.

Cost to Paint Exterior Concrete Walls

While rare, there are some homes and some areas of homes with concrete walls. Some homeowners choose to leave these bare, while others choose to paint. The concrete does require a primer to help prevent the paint from peeling, and will usually require more paint as well, for a higher cost of around $5,000-$6,000 for 1,500 sq.ft.

Cost to Paint Exterior Door

It’s common to have your doors painted at the same time as the rest of your exterior, particularly when going for a completely new color scheme. The average cost to paint an exterior door is around $125-$150 per door.

Cost to Paint a Garage

If your garage is attached to the house, it will be included in the total cost to paint the siding. But if you have a detached garage, then you will have separate costs. The average cost to paint a 2-car garage is around $1,500.

Cost to Paint Window Trim

It’s common to have the trim on your home painted at the same time as your siding. Window trim, which frames out the windows on your home, can be painted with the rest of the trim, or separately as needed. The average home has 9 windows, with around 40 linear feet of trim. This makes the cost to paint just the window trim around $80-$120. The more windows your home has, the higher the costs.

Cost to Paint Exterior Trim

Many homes also have trim around doors, at the end of siding runs, and sometimes between different styles or colors of siding. You may have decorative trim on some parts of your home as well. The cost to paint trim is between $1 and $3 per linear foot.

Cost to Paint Gutters

Gutters are integral to many homes, installed at the roofline to help direct water away from the foundation of the home. They come in many materials, and while most are designed to be low-maintenance, you can have them painted to match the rest of your house or trim if desired.

Cost to Paint Downspouts

Your downspouts will be made of the same material as your gutters, and will therefore have the same cost to paint, between $1 and $4 per linear foot depending on the material. Because downspouts come in many lengths, your costs can vary.

Cost to Paint a Porch

Porches are usually painted at the same time as the rest of your exterior, and they frequently are painted to match the trim on the rest of the home. They have a square foot painting cost of between $2 and $3 per sq.ft., so the larger the porch the higher the overall cost to paint. Your costs could also be higher if you have a lot of decorative trim on your porch.

Cost to Paint Shutters

Shutters should also be painted at the same time as the house or trim to keep them looking their best, or they can be painted separately. They have a cost of $60-$80 per shutter to paint.

Cost to Paint Exterior Soffit and Fascia

Your fascia board is the trim that the gutters attach to, just below your roofline ⁴. It is painted like the rest of the trim on your home and has a painting cost per linear foot of between $1 and $3.

The soffit ⁴ is found behind the fascia board on the underside of your roof deck. This is also considered part of your home’s trim. It helps conceal your eaves ⁵ and is usually perforated for ventilation. The cost to paint is between $1 and $3 per linear foot.

Cost to Paint Eaves

Having exposed eaves not covered by a soffit is uncommon, but can be found occasionally. These should also be treated like trim, with an average cost to paint of $1-$3 per linear foot.

Cost to Stain a Deck

If you have a deck on your home, you will likely need to paint or stain it regularly. The cost to have a deck painted or stained is between $850 and $1,000 depending on the size of the deck.

Cost to Repaint a House

Painting siding that has never been painted before, whether it is newly installed wood siding or vinyl siding being painted for the first time, will require a primer. Paint should not be applied directly to bare wood, while some materials like vinyl need a primer to bond the paint to the surface. A few materials, such as fiber cement and some engineered woods, may arrive pre-primed and ready for painting, which can save time and money on the project.

When repainting a home that has been painted before, the material should first be pressure washed and any loose paint needs to be removed. If necessary, repairs may also need to be made to the existing siding or surface material, and any older caulk ⁶ may need to be replaced around windows and doors. Depending on the condition of the siding and whether you are making a significant color change, you may also need to prime this siding first before painting. All of this can potentially mean that repainting can result in higher overall costs, although this does come down in part to the quality of the siding.

Painting new siding that has been pre-primed will have lower costs, closer to $2,800-$3,000, with costs slightly higher if priming is required, starting closer to $3,200-$3,500. This is in contrast to the $4,000 average for repainting existing siding. Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on your location, climate, and the condition and type of siding you are painting, whether new or existing.

Home Exterior Paint Prep Costs

Before homes can be painted, a lot of prep work needs to go into the project. In most cases, a lot of this prep work is factored into the hourly rate for the painters. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Pressure washing
• Removing loose paint
• Taping off windows, doors, and light fixtures
• Sanding ⁷
• Removing old caulk from around windows and doors
• Patching small holes
• Priming
• Priming stains

Keep in mind that most painters charge by the hour, and the more work there is to be done, the higher the overall costs will be. If your home needs more extensive work, however, such as making significant repairs to the siding or stucco, or if there is a lot of delicate trim that needs to be worked around, you could have higher costs, up to an additional $15 an hour for this work. So, while the above prep work is usually included in the hourly cost of roughly $50 per hour per painter, you can expect costs to climb to an average of $65 per hour per painter for work such as repairing or patching holes, repairing or replacing trim, and installing new caulk or putty around windows and doors.

House Exterior Painting Cost Factors

There are many different types and styles of home and architecture, as well as different types of siding and paint. Therefore, the exact amount that you would pay to have your home painted could be influenced by many factors, including the height of the walls, the number of gables and dormers, the type and material of siding, the condition of the siding, how many windows and doors you have, and the type of paint and the number of coats needed. Some types of siding, like brick, will need less paint, while a poorly-kept wood siding may require more paint, so even homes of the same shape and size could have different costs. In addition, making a dramatic change in color could require additional primer or paint to make the change, resulting in both more labor and additional materials costs.

Exterior Primer Paint Price

Most surfaces that are being painted for the first time or that are making a significant color change need to be primed before they can be painted. Primer helps the paint adhere better to the surface, so it will last longer. In some cases, primer can also help prevent discoloration of the paint, such as is the case when painting cedar; cedar sap can bleed through paint in a condition known as cedar bleed. Priming blocks this sap discoloration so the paint job stays looking fresh longer. If you are making a significant color change, from light to dark or dark to light, primer can help bridge the gap more easily, cutting down on the number of finished coats of paint.

Priming is also necessary if you are switching paint types, such as going from a latex paint to an oil-based paint.

In most cases, you should use the same type of primer as the type of paint that you are using. For example, if you are using an oil-based paint, then an oil-based primer is needed.

Cost of Exterior Paint

Just as there are different types of primers, there are also different types of paint. Your painter may have a preference for working with one over another, or the type of siding that you have may require one over another as well.

Exterior Paint Price Per Gallon

There are a number of factors that can influence the cost of paint, including the color, the brand, and the location. In addition, the amount of paint or the number of gallons that your home will need for coverage can be influenced by several things including the condition of the siding, the size of the project, and the type of material, with non-porous materials requiring less paint than porous materials and materials in good condition requiring less paint than materials not in good repair.

Exterior Paint Cost by Type of Finish

Paint can have different finishes ranging from extremely flat or matte up to a very high gloss finish. Not every finish is going to work well on every exterior. The most commonly used finish on exterior homes is Eggshell, which has a light sheen to it, rather than being completely flat or high gloss.

• Flat: this paint is completely matte with no sheen. It does make it harder to clean, as the flat surface holds onto dirt more easily. It usually costs $15-$40 per gallon.
• Eggshell: the most popular finish for exteriors, this has a very light sheen but not a high gloss finish. It’s slightly easier to clean than flat paint. It usually costs $30-$50 per gallon.
• Satin: satin paint has a slightly deeper sheen to it than eggshell, helping it call attention to certain areas of the home. Good on trim. It usually costs $30-$50 per gallon.
• Semi-gloss: this paint has a much higher gloss, which makes it reflect a lot of light and makes it easier to clean. It’s commonly used on the trim. It usually costs $40-$60 per gallon.
• High-gloss: this paint has a very glossy, reflective finish. It works well on doors and some types of trim. It usually costs $50-$70 per gallon.

Spray Paint vs. Rolling Paint

Many professional painters use paint sprayers to quickly and efficiently over the exterior of the home. While these sprayers have higher upfront costs for the painter, they cut down significantly on the amount of labor that they need to perform to evenly coat your home with paint.

While for some areas, such as trim, the paint should still be applied manually, to cover large areas in a relatively short amount of time, the sprayer will save time and therefore money for you and the pro. A job that may take 4-6 days with rollers could be accomplished in 2-3 days with a sprayer. Because painters charge by the hour, this can be a significant saving for large jobs. For small, detailed jobs, however, a roller will often do the best work. This does vary by painter, as some prefer to use brushes and rollers, especially in high wind areas, and some prefer to use the sprayer. In general, rolling will cost between $40 and $60 per hour and painter, while spraying can cost $30-$50 per hour and painter.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Mold Remediation

You may find when you go to paint your exterior that there is mold in some areas. In this case, you may need to hire a mold remediation team to take care of it. Mold remediation has costs starting at $500, depending on how large the issue is.

Repair or Replace Siding

Sometimes your siding may be in such poor condition that some of it needs to be repaired or replaced prior to painting. If this is the case, you can expect further costs of around $600-$1,200.

Window Caulking

Exterior caulk around windows needs to be replaced if it begins to crack or fail. This has a cost of around $50.

Lead Paint

If your home was built prior to 1978, it may have lead paint still on the siding. If you believe this to be the case, you may need to pay for testing and removal to safely paint the home. This has costs starting around $10,000.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Having the exterior of your home painted will not require a permit. However, if you are having some of your siding replaced before painting, this may require a permit depending on the scope of the job. Permit costs for this start at around $255.
• If you have a permit pulled, you will need to have the job inspected. If this is done, you may have additional fees of $100-$200 depending on local rules.
• While not recommended, it is possible to paint your home yourself. Make sure the siding is clean and scrape off any old, loose paint. Use a primer meant for the material, and always use the best quality paint you can afford.
• Most types of exterior paint require an ambient temperature of around 50 degrees in order to cure properly. For this reason, the best times to have your home painted are usually in the spring and fall, but hot climates may do best in the winter.
• If you are making the switch from a light color to a dark color or a dark color to a light color, you will need more coats of paint, which will increase the cost of the project.
• Make sure you confirm all details of the job in writing before the work begins. Always get at least three estimates before hiring your painter.
• You can help keep your exterior looking its best between paint jobs by performing some basic cleaning and maintenance as needed. This includes inspecting your exterior yearly for signs of damage, wood rot, insect activity, or mold. Addressing these issues quickly can help prevent them from getting worse. You can clean and remove dirt, debris, and moss from your siding using a pressure washer as needed.
• Depending on where you live and how far your home is from their location, your painter may charge you a travel fee. This can be up to $50 in some instances, depending on time and distance.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others

² Fiber cement: A building material made with cellulose fiber, concrete, and recycled materials such as glass

³ Primer: Preparatory coat applied to materials (drywall, wood, metal, etc.) before painting to ensure paint adhesion, extend paint durability, and help seal and protect the surface to be painted

⁴ Roofline: (Also known as Soffit) Construction material, typically composed of vinyl or aluminum, used to enclose the underside of eaves and ceilings

⁶ Caulk: A chemical sealant used to fill in and seal gaps where two materials join, for example, the tub and tile, to create a watertight and airtight seal. The term "caulking" is also used to refer to the process of applying this type of sealant

⁷ Sanding: Process of removing the top surface of a material, such as wood, using sandpaper and/or a specialized sanding machine (for large surface areas)