December 3, 2023

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2020 Cost to Paint a House | Avg Exterior Painting Per Sq Ft

2020 Cost to Paint a House | Avg Exterior Painting Per Sq Ft

Paint the exterior of your home to boost its curb appeal, change a color you don’t like or refresh a dilapidated paint job. It’s a large job that requires proper planning, preparation and tools. In most cases, it’s best left to a pro. But before you call one, consider a few factors that will affect your project’s budget.

Average Cost to Paint a Home Exterior

Average Cost $2,847
Typical Range $1,710 and $3,992
Low $650
High $6,200

Cost to Paint a House

Painting an average home between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet can cost between $1,000 and $6,000. Professionals provide estimates primarily based on the area of walls or siding they’ll paint, , not the home’ssquare feet. Pricing depends heavily on a few factors:

  • Material type. Wood and vinyl cost $1 to $2 per square foot less than brick or stucco.
  • The taller the building, the higher the price. Harder to reach areas require extra equipment, setup time and cleanup. Extra time means extra cost.
  • Expect regional price differences to reflect cost of living.

How to Estimate a Painting Job’s Area

It’s important to understand that a 2,500 square foot home does not always have 2,500 square feet of paintable walls. More likely, you’ll end up with anywhere from 1,600 to 2,700 square feet of paintable area for this home size. Use these two simple steps to determine to total coverage area:

  1. Total Finished Area: measure the perimeter of your home and multiply by the height.
  2. Total Paintable Area: Subtract the area of doors and windows from the total finished area. A standard door is 21 square feet. A standard window is 12 square feet.

Once you have the total area, head over to our paint calculator to find out how much you’ll need. If you have multiple gables or other difficult-to-measure architectural elements, contact a professional for a detailed quote.

Home Size Square Footage (Estimated) Total Cost Range
Single story 1,000-1,500 $1,500-$3,500
Two story 1,500-2,500 $3,000-$6,200
Three story 2,500-3,000 $4,500-$10,000+

A two-story home can cost as much as 50 percent more to paint than a one-story home. The harder it is to reach an area; the more time spent adjusting scaffolding and ladders. More time spent on a job equals higher costs.

The cost to paint a small house runs $500 to $4,000. A 1,000-square-foot home with little prep on one story might only take $500 in some areas while the same square footage in a two-story house with limited accessibility might reach $4,000 or more. Height adds cost. Expect these increases:

  • Add 30% above 8 feet.
  • Add 60% above 13 feet.
  • Add 90% above 17 feet.
  • Add 120% above 19 feet.

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Exterior Paint Price Per Gallon

A single gallon of paint can run anywhere from $20 to $80 per gallon. Professionals get a contractor discount of anywhere from 25 to 50 percent. For rough siding, like stucco, you’ll need to use 10 to 20 percent more paint. Some textures, like wood and stucco, require extra paint because they have more surface to cover in a tiny area comparied to smooth siding. . Use the highest quality exterior paint your budget will allow for your project. It will look the nicest and save you money by offering better coverage and durability. Better coverage means fewer coats and fewer work hours. You’ll also go a few years longer without needing to shell out more cash for a new coat. How do you know how much paint you’re paying for? Here’s some helpful math:

Exterior Paint Labor Cost

Most of a projects price is the cost of labor at $25 to $75 per hour. However, most contractors bid out based on the entire project which includes all work hours. Hourly rates are only useful if your pro asks to do the job as “time and materials.” However, be wary of this pricing structure, it usually shows the contractor is uncertain how long the project will take.

Average Costs to Paint Siding

You’ll spend anywhere from $1 to $4.50 per square foot to paint the exterior siding of a home. Material type plays a large role in the type of paint and amount of time spent on your project.

Paint Cost by Siding Type*
Stucco $1,400-$6,500
Vinyl $600-$3,500
Woo $700-$3,000
Concrete $500-$2,000
Metal/Aluminum $400-$3,500
Brick $3,500-$10,500

*based on 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

Cost to Paint a House Exterior Stucco

You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,400 to $6,000 to have stucco revitalized with paint. Installing new stucco siding costs only slightly more at $1,750 to $6,500. For damaged siding, consider simply replacing it.For the total finished area, you’ll pay $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. There are multiple reasons for the increase in price:

  • Stucco siding requires extensive preparation work (cleaning, caulking, filling in cracks, etc.).
  • It’s very rough, meaning paint that would cover 350 square feet of smooth area might only cover 150-200 square feet of stucco.
  • Done properly, it takes slightly longer than typical siding.

Cost to Paint Vinyl Siding

Expect to pay between $600 to $3,500 or $1.25 to $3 per square foot to coat vinyl, with prices likely increasing for the finish. It is one of the more inexpensive siding materials to have repainted, especially with recent innovations in materials. Changing the finish on your siding is not recommended unless it’s completely degraded and worn away by the weather. You can save nearly half the vinyl siding installation cost of $4 per square foot by painting rather than replacing. Before adding a new coat to vinyl siding,

  • clean and repair any damage.
  • replace clapboards or vinyl sections that have blown off because of climate conditions.

Cost to Paint Wood Siding

You can expect to pay between $700 to $3,000 to paint wood siding. You’ll end up spending $1 to $3 per square foot, but typically you’ll find this material is cheaper than brick or vinyl. Wood requires some type of sealant, be it paint, stain or oil. Lumber takes well to a wide variety of coverings giving you endless options for modern, contemporary or classic looks. Some things to consider when choosing wood:

  • Wood requires more frequent maintenance, typically every 3-5 years for stains and 5-10 years for paint – or when it begins to visibly peel.
  • Although wood is easy to repair, rot and other damage does increase the price.

House Painters Cost for Concrete Siding

You’ll spend between $500 and $3,000 or $1 to $3.50 per square foot to paint concrete. However, expect to pay $2 to $7 per square foot since concrete almost always needs a coat of primer first. Double that price if the concrete requires stripping. Concrete is porous. Sealing it not only helps blend foundations and walls with your home’s aesthetic, but also seals it against water. Repairing or resurfacing concrete costs $300 to $500 for every 100 square feet.

Paint Metal/Aluminum Siding

The cost to paint metal siding falls between $400 and $3,500. Most metals, even corrosion-resistant types like aluminum and galvanized steel, can use a protective coat of paint. Consider the following before beginning your project.

Painting a Brick Home

Painting a brick house costs $3,500 to $10,500. At $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot, it’s one of the most expensive materials to cover. Because brick is porous and rough, a gallon only covers about 250 square feet. Like concrete, brick requires a primer to help it adhere.

Cost to Repaint a House

Repainting a home costs anywhere from $1 to $5 per square foot or $1,000 to $10,000 total. There are several cost factors to consider:

  1. Size and configuration of the home. Expect complex layouts to increase the price.
  2. Multiple stories and hard to reach areas increase the time it’ll take.
  3. Prep work can double the cost. Preparing a home requires fixing siding, filling holes, sanding, power washing, scraping and priming the surface.

Exterior Paint Estimator

When determining the total cost of a home’s exterior project, you’ll want to include things like the trim, a garage, foundation, windows and doors. All work is calculated by square footage and sometimes by the linear foot, such as in the case of trim. Your contractor will give you a price for the entire project unless you specifically ask for each item separately.

Cost to Paint a Garage

The average 18-foot by 20-foot garage with 10-foot-high walls costs $600 to $300 to paint. Material type and whether it is attached or not help define the price. You can also choose to simply update the door, floor and driveway for inexpensive curb appeal.

Cost to Paint Exterior Trim or Window Trim

Painting trim costs $1 to $3 per linear foot. If you’re getting your trim done at the same time as the siding, your contractor includes this in the quote.

Fascia, Soffit & Eaves

Painting a fascia and soffits $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot. Replacing fascia or soffits costs $600 to $6,000. Check with your professional, but it’s often more cost-effective to replace them altogether.

Cost to Paint Shutters

Painting shutters costs $50 to $150 each. When combined with your entire exterior, it’ll fall within the $1 to $4.50 per square foot range. Pro’s include this in the project quote.

Deck & Patio Staining or Painting

Staining a deck costs $540 to $1,000. Covered porches might hit $2,000. Consider negotiating the price a bit lower by combining it with a full exterior job.
Painting Handrails Painting handrails can run anywhere from $1 to $2 per linear foot, depending on whether it’s wood, metal or some other material. Although you might think this is an easy $30 to $100 job, most pros charge a minimum fee regardless of the size of the project. You’ll probably end up paying at least $150.

Painting Additional Exterior Features

If you decide to paint additional features around your home, some professionals might include them as part of a package. Others will charge for them separately. Check with potential professionals on these items before settling on a contract. Costs will likely fall in the following ranges:

Door Painting Costs $70-$350
Fascia $500-$1,000
Gutters & downspouts $200-$800
Porches $500-$2,000
Shutters $150-$800
Window sashes $100-$200

Painting Prep Work Costs

Prepping a house costs anywhere from $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot. This is almost always included in the total project price. However, the DIYer might negotiate some discounts for completing this work on their own. Be warned, proper prep is key to the quality and durability of the finish. If you do this work yourself, the contractor might no guarantee to finished product.

  • Patching: $0.50-$1.50 per square foot.
  • Repairs varies by the material type but expect to pay anywhere from $25-$50 per hour.
  • Scraping, sanding and stripping: $0.50-$2.50 per square foot.
  • Power washing costs $220-$380.
  • Caulking and masking: $0.50-$1 per square foot.
Still Have Questions? Talk to Nearby Painting Professionals.

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