Painting Exterior of House

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

In a market where houses are getting cash offers and selling sight unseen less than a week after going up for sale, it’s no surprise many Americans are considering selling their homes.

5 Gallon Paint Bucket

Whether you’re interested in selling or want to give your home a makeover, the best thing to do to increase your home’s value is to add a fresh coat of exterior paint.

Changing the exterior color of your home can add significant value. It also affects the energy and the way you feel about your home.

What does it cost to paint the exterior of a house? The answer is usually complicated. Fortunately, this handy guide we’ve created will answer all of your house painting questions.

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What Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?

Many homeowners want to know the average cost of painting the exterior of a home. We can tell you that the average exterior painting cost is $3,000. However, exterior painting costs can range between $650 and $6,200.

Workman in uniform painting wall with yellow paint indoors

To be honest, knowing the average cost to paint the exterior of a house really won’t help you understand the cost of painting your particular home.

That’s because every house is unique and requires different accommodations. This is also true of homeowners. Not everyone’s house can be painted in the same way and not every homeowner wants the same type of paint job.

Square Feet National Average Total Cost
1,000 Sq. Ft. $700 – $2,750
1,200 Sq. Ft. $790 – $3,700
1,500 Sq. Ft. $880 – $4,700
3,000 Sq. Ft. $1,800 – $7,000
4,000 Sq. Ft. $2,500 – $7,800
5,000 Sq. Ft. $2,500 – $8,250

Let’s talk about the different factors that come into play when determining the cost of exterior house painting.

You’ll need to take into consideration the square footage of your home. The cost to paint a 2,500 square foot home versus a 1,500 square foot home will vary in a significant way.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of labor. Will you hire an individual contractor to tackle the job or a team of painters? Will you paint the house yourself?

Finally, you’ll need to think about the type of paint you want to use and the tools associated with painting. Different qualities, colors, and brands of paint come at different prices.

Now that you understand how many details factor into exterior painting costs, let’s dive deeper into each aspect.

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Cost to Paint Outside of House Based On Square Footage

The square footage of your home is a major factor in determining the cost of exterior painting.

It’s also worth noting that the taller the home, the higher the exterior painting prices. Higher up, harder to reach areas require additional equipment, like scaffolding, as well as set up and clean up.

The average cost to paint a single-story home between 500 and 1,500 square feet can range between $1,000 and $3,600.

Cost to Paint Exterior of a 2-Story House Exterior vs. 1 Story Ranch

House Size Square Footage Total Cost Range
Single Story – Ranch          . 1,000 – 1,500 Sq. Ft. $1,700 – $3,600
Two Story House 1,500 – 2,500 Sq. Ft. $2,800 – $5,000
Three Story House 2,500 – 3,000 Sq. Ft. $3,100 – $7,000+

A two-story home with square footage between 1,500 and 3,000 feet can cost on average $1,700 to $3,600.

If you want to paint a three-story home between 3,000 and 6,000 square feet you’ll be looking at an average cost of between $2,500 to $7,000 or even as much as $10,000.

Remember that the square footage of your home doesn’t always equal the square footage of the paintable exterior. A 2,500 square foot home might, on average, have anywhere from 1,600 to 2,700 square feet of paintable exterior walls.

Exterior House Paint Cost by Siding Type (2000 Sq. Ft.)
Stucco Paint $2,900 – $5,400
Vinyl Paint $1,600 – $3,560
Woo Paint $1,000 – $2,870
Concrete Paint $1,000 – $1,800
Metal/Aluminum Paint $1,300 – $3,000
Brick Paint $2,900 – $7,000

If you want to calculate the amount of paintable exterior square footage on your home, try the following method.

First, measure the perimeter of your home and multiply it by the height. This will give you the total finished area.

Next, measure the area of the doors and windows. A standard door measures 21 square feet. A standard window measures 12 square feet.

Now, subtract the total area of the doors and windows from the total finished area you calculated earlier. The total finished area minus the doors and windows will give you the total paintable area.

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Cost of Labor

Painting a house is no easy task, and there are many common mistakes to make. If you’re considering tackling your exterior house painting on your own, it’s a costly risk you will likely end up regretting.

painting contractors

At the end of the day, you’ll be much happier going with an experienced professional. It’s not worth buying all the equipment and materials, finishing the job, and realizing you should have hired a professional in the first place.

Professional painters will know exactly what type of paint to use for your exterior. They’ll also get a professional discount on the paint. This can be as much as 25 percent of the cost.

A professional painter will also know how to properly prep your home before painting.

When you do hire a professional house painter, it’s important to know what factors into the cost of labor.

Most professional painters charge by the hour. On average, painters will charge between $25 and $100 an hour, depending on their experience. Hiring a team of painters will get the job done faster, but the cost per painter also doubles.

To give you an example of what it might cost, a two-person team of painters will take about 16 to 32 hours to paint a single-story 1,500 square foot home.

The good news is, if your exterior doesn’t require priming, the cost of painting almost gets cut in half.

Cost of Paint

As we discussed before, the square footage of your home will be a big factor in determining the cost of the paint. However, there are other things to consider when choosing the paint you’ll use on your home.

Primer

Surfaces that are getting their first coat of paint typically require a coat of primer before painting. This is also true if you are painting your home a color that is significantly different from its current color.

Exterior House Paint

Primer is a coat of paint that goes on before the color paint. It helps the new paint adhere better to the exterior surface. It also helps ensure the paint will last longer.

Primer also helps prevent discoloration. For example, if you’re painting cedar you should be aware that cedar sap can bleed through paint. A coat of primer before painting will help to minimize that.

There are four types of primer: adhesive, oil, shellac, and latex.

Adhesive primer costs between $15 to $60. Oil primer costs between $20-$50. While shellac costs between $20 to $60 and latex primer costs between $20 to $80.

Types of Paint

Paint is usually sold by the gallon. One gallon of paint can cost anywhere from $20 to $80.

There are different types of paint, as well as different types of primer. The three types of paint include acrylic latex, latex, and oil. Oil paint is the most expensive.

Each of these types of paint works best on different types of exterior surfaces.

Red Paint

Acrylic latex paint is best for glossy surfaces like vinyl siding. It is easy to clean up with soapy water. The downside to acrylic latex paint is that it is not long-lasting, nor is it good for wet climates.

Since water-based latex paint comes in many colors it is a versatile choice for many homes. Latex paint dries quickly and is environmentally friendly. It also holds its color and doesn’t yellow over time.

If you’re painting wood siding, the best paint to use is oil-based paint. It is much smoother to apply and provides more thorough coverage. However, oil-based paint requires a much longer drying time and is very difficult to clean up.

Whatever you have as a budget, you’ll want to get the best quality paint you can afford. Cheap paint will decrease the durability of the paint job. You’ll end up with chipped paint within a few years and feel the need to paint it again.

Types of Siding

The amount of paint required to cover your home’s exterior will also depend on the type of siding on your home. It is very important to choose the right paint for the job.

Yellow Exterior Paint

As a general rule, non-porous materials require less paint than porous materials. Materials like stucco and brick tend to cost about 10 percent more to paint than wood or vinyl.

Materials that are in good condition will also require less paint than damaged materials. Old and rotting wood, for example, tends to absorb the paint and requires sanding beforehand, and many coats of paint to look good.

Additional Features

If you decide to paint other features on your house’s exterior, such as doors, window trim, or gutters, this will also add to the overall cost.

The average cost to paint doors can range from $70 to $150. Painting gutters ranges between $200 and $800. Porches cost between $500 to $2,000, and window trim costs one to two hundred dollars on average.

Choosing A Contractor to Paint Your Home

Now that you’ve read our guide on the cost to paint the exterior of a house, you probably have a much better idea of what the process entails. Square footage and the type of paint you use all factor into the total cost.

If you are interested in hiring a team of professional painters to give your home a fresh look, fill out this quick form to get a quote from a contractor in your area today!

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1 Comment
  1. Our service provision process is focused on providing high-quality services to all property owners, big or small. Based on your preferences and demands, we carefully select a team of expert painters highly skilled and well capable of meeting and surpassing those demands. All our painters are fully trained and certified. They operate under a strict code that expects them to uphold the highest professionalism and maintain quality standards. Call us today and book your appointment.

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