Here’s How Much It Could Cost to Paint the Exterior of Your House
You should get your home’s exterior painted every 5-10 years, according to experts. So it’s important to be aware of how much this might cost you.
On average, it costs around $3–$4 per square foot to paint the exterior of a home. Some painters will be cheaper than this amount, and others will be more expensive. For an average-sized house (2,300 square feet in the U.S.) that’s $6,200-$9,200.
Price is sometimes indicative of quality, but what’s more important is to choose painters who are well-versed in exterior home painting best practices such as thorough cleaning, sanding, and prep, knowledge of the right paint, primer, and materials for different applications, and expert rolling, spraying, and brushwork skills.
Here's what else you should know…
What Factors Influence How Much Exterior Home Painting Costs?
Here’s a list of factors that can make the actual price of painting your home’s exterior a lot cheaper (or a lot pricier!) than the averages listed above.
Pricing Model
Some painters charge a flat fee. Others charge by the hour. Most charge by the square foot. The way a painting company charges for its services and how much it charges will have one of the biggest impacts on the price you pay to have your home’s exterior painted.
Surface Area/House Size
If your home is bigger, you’ll pay more to have it painted than if it’s smaller.
Trim & Millwork
Lots of trim and detailed millwork will increase the price you pay to have your home’s exterior painted because it requires extra time, effort, and care to properly paint.
Region of the Country You Live In
Certain areas of the country and types of areas may have higher or lower average prices. For instance, if you live in a fairly urban area, you’ll probably pay more than if you live in a rural area. The climate of the area also may impact how easy it is to have your house painted and, by extension, how much you pay.
Type and Quality of Paint
Acrylic and oil-based paints will cost more than latex-based paints, with oil-based paints usually being the most expensive. What’s more, different brands offer varied “lines” of paint for varying levels of coverage and different surfaces. For instance, there is specialty paint for doors, porches/patios, gutters, roofs, siding, and masonry/stucco.
Home Condition/Prep Work
If your house is in good condition and you’ve had it repainted as recently as 5-10 years ago, chances are it will be less to paint than if it’s in poor condition and therefore requires more prep work. The right technique aside, painting a home isn’t necessarily difficult. But prepping a home for paint and doing so with care and attention? That takes both expert knowledge and time.
Labor
It normally takes about 2-3 days to paint an average-sized home with a team of 2-3 people. But if more labor time is required, or a bigger crew is needed, you will pay more in labor costs. The inverse is also true.
FAQs
How much should it cost to paint the exterior of a 2,000-square-foot house?
At an average cost of $4 per square foot, a 2,000-square-foot house would cost $8,000 to paint.
How much does it cost to paint a 1,500-square-foot house exterior?
At an average cost of $4 per square foot, a 1,500-square-foot house would cost $6,000 to paint.
How do I calculate the cost of painting the exterior of a house?
It depends on how the painting service charges. For square-foot pricing, multiply the cost per square foot by the number of square feet. For hourly pricing, multiply the price by the hour by the number of hours completed.
Why is exterior house painting so expensive?
It requires a lot of time, effort, and expertise to “do right”.
Many say that painting, whether it’s exterior home painting or interior painting, is 90% prep work and knowledge and 10% execution.
Get Your Exterior Home Painting Quote Today
Ready to refresh the exterior of your home with a fresh coat of paint? Now that you know how much it is to paint the exterior of a house, on average, check out our services and get a customized price quote to see how much it could cost to paint the exterior of your particular home.
