How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior?

The exterior paint on a house helps to seal out rain water, ice, melting snow, and to protect against UV radiation. But over time, exterior paint can chip, peel, or fade, requiring the home to be repainted about once every five to 10 years. The cost to paint a house exterior ranges from $1,811 to $4,436 with an average cost of about $3,089. This includes the cost of paint supplies, permits, prep work, and local labor rates.

The cost to paint a house exterior can vary depending on the size of the project, number of stories of the home, the siding type, the project type, and even the location of the home.

Exterior Painting Cost Factors

Size of the Exterior Painting Project

As with any painting project, the amount of time and material required depends on the size of the project. When it comes to an exterior painting project, as the size of the paintable area increases, the average cost to complete this work also increases. Typically, you can expect to pay about $1.50 to $4 per square foot to paint the exterior of the home.

Paintable Area (Sq. Ft.)	Average Cost
1,000	$1,500 to $4,000
1,500	$2,250 to $6,000
2,000	$3,000 to $8,000
2,500	$3,750 to $10,000
3,000	$4,500 to $12,000

Number of Stories

The more stories a home has, the higher the cost to complete this project, because each additional story increases the square footage of the paintable area, so more paint and painting supplies are required to finish the job. It will also take longer for a painting crew to complete the painting project, leading to increased labor costs.

For instance, it costs about $1,500 to $3,500 for a single story house, $3,000 to $6,200 to paint the average two-story home, and it costs $4,500 to $10,000 to paint the exterior of a three-story home. Taller homes are also more difficult to access, so painting crews may charge extra depending on the height of the home.

Height	Cost Increases
Above 8 Feet	30%
Above 13 Feet	60%
Above 17 Feet	90%
Above 19 Feet	120%

Siding Type

The cost to paint a house exterior can also vary depending on the type of siding. Common options include wood, vinyl, brick, metal, stucco, and concrete.

Wood Siding: Painting the exterior of the home with wood siding will cost about $700 to $3,000 and should be completed about once every three to seven years.
Vinyl Siding: Plan to paint vinyl siding about once every five to 10 years. This project will cost about $600 to $3,500.
Brick: A high-quality paint job over brick can last eight to 17 years before the exterior of the home will need to be repainting. However, painting brick costs more than painting wood or vinyl, with an average cost of $3,500 to $10,000.
Metal: Adding a new painted finish to metal or aluminum siding will generally cost about $400 to $3,500. This paint job will typically last about five to 10 years.
Stucco: Painting stucco can be difficult due to the texture of this exterior finish. Homeowners should expect to pay about $1,400 to $6,000 to paint the exterior of a stucco house. Plan to repaint the stucco exterior about once every five to 10 years.
Concrete: A concrete exterior isn’t as difficult to deal with as stucco, so it only costs about $500 to $3,000 to complete. Similar to brick, concrete won’t need to be repainted for about eight to 17 years.

Siding Type	Average Cost (Per Sq. Ft.)
Wood	$1 to $3
Vinyl	$1.25 to $3
Brick	$1.50 to $4.50
Metal	$1.50 to $2.50
Stucco	$1.80 to $3.60
Concrete	$1 to $3.50

Exterior Painting Project Type

When planning the painting project, consider the cost of any additional exterior surfaces that should be painted at the same time, such as the trim, window sashes, gutters, or exterior doors. If these parts of the home are not repainted at the same time as the rest of the exterior, they can stand out from the new paint, giving the home a worn or unfinished look. Speak to the painting company or contractor to plan the best way to tackle these additional painting projects at the same time to renew the appearance of the entire home exterior.

Exterior Painting Project	Average Cost
Trim	$2 per linear foot
Soffit and Fascia	$2.50 to $6 per linear foot
Window Sashes	$150
Gutters	$500
Exterior Doors	$150 to $500 each
Porch	$1,200
Deck	$975
Garage	$1,500 to $3,000

Local Labor Rates

One of the main costs involved in an exterior painting project is the cost of labor. Labor rates can vary between contractors, painting companies, and even locations, so it’s important to get at least three estimates from well-researched painting companies or contractors. This will help ensure that you are getting a fair price for the project.

On average, you can expect to pay about $1 to $3.50 per square foot, which works out to about $25 to $100 per hour for each painter on site. Most painting crews will use two to three painters to complete an exterior home painting project.

Exterior Painting Prep Work

You can save money on this painting project by tackling some of the prep work on your own, such as removing old paint, sanding cracked, flaking, or bubbling paint, and washing the exterior of the home. Depending on your level of experience, prep work can be difficult and time-consuming, especially in hard-to-reach areas, like a second floor exterior wall. If you choose to leave this work to the pros, be prepared to spend about $0.50 to $2 per square foot for the professional painters to take care of any preparations.

Location

Cities with high population densities tend to have a higher demand for painting projects, so the painting companies and contractors can afford to charge higher prices for their services. Painting materials may also cost more in these locations, depending on the supply and demand in the area.

Rural locations with a lower population density will typically have more affordable rates because the services are not in as high of demand. However, it should be noted that the prices can also fluctuate based on the geographic region.

Region	Average Cost
Plains	$2,300
Southwest	$2,400
Rocky Mountains	$2,900
Great Lakes	$3,000
Southeast	$3,315
Mideast	$4,300
Far West	$4,500
New England	$4,800

Permits

A permit isn’t necessarily required to complete an exterior painting project. Check with the local permit office or speak to your professional painting contractor to determine if you need to get a permit before work can commence. Typically, you will spend about $200 to $300 for permits to paint the exterior of the home. Additionally, you should check with your HOA, if applicable, to determine if there are any other permits or permissions you need before painting.

Painting Supplies

Most professional painting companies and contractors will purchase their own painting supplies, though the fees for these supplies may show up on your bill. If you opt to paint the exterior of the home on your own, you can save on labor costs, but you will still need to purchase painting supplies to complete the project. On average, basic painting supplies will cost about $200 to $400, though if you need any special tools or equipment, you could end up paying up to $2,000 for painting supplies.

Painting Supplies	Average Cost
Buckets	$3.50
Masking Tape	$3.50
Sandpaper	$3.50
Caulk	$5
Paint Pan	$6
Paint Scraper	$17.50
Drop Cloth	$20
Paint Roller	$22
Paint Brush	$45
Ladder	$200
Paint Sprayer	$1,050

DIY vs. Professional Exterior Painting

Painting the exterior of a house is a project that experienced DIYers can complete on their own. Taking on this job as a DIY project will cut the cost of labor, saving you about $25 to $100 per hour for each painter. This works out to about $1 to $3.50 per square foot. However, you will still need to pay for permits and painting supplies.

The drawback to completing this project on your own is that it will take more time to complete than if it was left to a professional crew. Additionally, the quality of a DIY paint job typically falls short of the high-quality finish produced by trained, experienced painters. Professional painters will also come prepared with all necessary tools and supplies, so you don’t need to worry about purchasing a ladder, paint sprayer, power roller, drop cloths, or any other painting supplies.

How to Save on Painting a House Exterior

Painting the exterior of the home will typically cost about $1,811 to $4,436, depending on the a variety of factors, including the size of the project, number of stories, siding type, and local labor rates. However, there are ways to keep the project costs low, so that you can update the exterior paint while keeping more money in your wallet.

Get several quotes from at least three well-researched companies or contractors. This can help you figure out the approximate cost of the project and it will ensure that you are getting a fair price for the work.
Plan the project for the off season to get reduced rates on paint, primer, and other painting supplies. Painting companies may also offer reduced prices for projects completely in early spring or late fall, but they may charge a fee if the project takes place during inclement weather.
Tackle prep work on your own to reduce the labor costs for the project. DIYing prep work, like cleaning or sanding the siding, means that the painters spend less time at your home, leading to lower labor costs.

FAQ

How many coats of paint does the exterior of a house need?

Typically, the exterior of the home should be painted with at least two coats for proper coverage and protection against rain, sleet, ice, and snow.

How long does it take to paint the exterior of a house?

Depending on the size of the home and the number of people working to complete the project, it typically takes about three to four days to paint a three- or four-bedroom home.

How long does exterior paint last?

After painting, you can expect the exterior paint to last about five to 10 years before it needs to be repainted, though this depends on the type of siding, the weather, and the quality of paint. If you paint exterior wood surfaces, like a deck or fence, plan to repaint in about three to seven years, while a painted brick surface can last eight to 17 years before it needs to be repainted.