How much does it cost to paint a house?

In a nutshell

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint can give it a much-needed face-lift and dramatically boost its curb appeal and value. The cost to paint a house’s exterior can add up, though, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.

• The national average cost to paint a house’s exterior ranges from $1,810 to $4,511, according to Angi, a home services online marketplace. The bigger the house, the more it’ll cost.
• If you choose to paint your house yourself, the materials and paint will cost approximately $750.
• The exact cost of painting your home’s exterior depends on its size, condition, location and siding type.
• There are several options for financing home renovations like painting.

It may be time for a fresh look for your house 

Let’s face it: Your home’s exterior is the first thing visitors see when they roll into the driveway. If your home is older — or the exterior hasn’t seen a fresh coat of paint in five to 10 years — it may be time for a new paint job.

Likewise, if your exterior paint is peeling, blistering, chipping, rusting or shows other signs of deterioration, you might consider repainting it. But before you break out the ladder and paint brushes, having an idea of how much it costs to do it yourself — versus hiring a professional — can help you narrow down your options.

Your home’s square footage will determine how much paint you need to buy, and professionals use it to provide labor estimates. On average, you’ll pay $1.50 to $4 per square foot for an exterior paint job, according to Angi. Keep in mind that larger homes with more stories and hard-to-reach features can increase costs by 50% per level.

Based on that average per-square-foot cost, here’s how that breaks down for homes of various sizes.

Source: Angi

Factors that will affect the cost of exterior house painting work

Square footage

As noted, your home’s size is one of the biggest factors in calculating exterior painting costs. The bigger the home, the pricier the job is. Plus, hard-to-reach areas or multiple stories can add up to 50% per level in additional costs.

Paint type

Exterior paint comes in three types: latex, acrylic and oil-based paint. 

• Latex is water-based, making it the least toxic option, and it spreads easily and is durable. You’ll pay $20 to $70 per gallon for latex paint, according to This Old House.
• Acrylic paint can be water-based or a hybrid of other chemicals. It’s often more durable than latex paint, but it doesn’t spread as evenly or easily so you may need more paint to cover large surfaces. Acrylic paint also costs $20 to 70 per gallon.
• Oil-based paint isn’t as popular a choice for exteriors because it dries with a very hard finish (and, as a result, the surface is not very flexible). Over time, this makes it more susceptible to damage. Oil-based paints run about $30 to $90 a gallon and are best suited for painting trim work and doors.

Paint finish type

A paint’s finish can impact the cost of painting your exterior. A paint with a shinier finish will be slightly more expensive than matte paint. According to data compiled by This Old House, here’s what you can expect to pay for each finish type:

• Flat: Paint with a flat (also called matte) finish spreads easily but also has the shortest life span. It typically costs $20 to $40 a gallon.
• Eggshell: A popular option for exterior walls, eggshell finish has a little shine but is more durable than flat paint. It is also less prone to damage. Eggshell finish paint cost about $30 to $60 a gallon.
• Satin: Paint with a satin finish is noticeably shinier than eggshell and costs roughly $30 to $60 a gallon.
  Semi-gloss: For noticeable durability and shine, semi-gloss is the finish to choose for exteriors in areas with a lot of dust or mud. This finish costs about $40 to $80 a gallon.
• High-gloss: For a reflective look with the strongest durability, a high-gloss finish is ideal. High-gloss paint is usually used for smaller areas — such as window frames, doors and trim work — because of the price. It’s the most expensive finish at $50 to $90 a gallon.

Siding type

The building material of your home’s siding is relevant when estimating exterior paint costs. Paint adheres much better to specific materials, such as vinyl siding and concrete; brick or stucco may take more coats or specialized paint formulas, which means more time and higher costs.

Here’s Angi’s breakdown of average exterior paint costs by siding type:

• Concrete: Painting concrete costs between $500 and $3,000 because of its porous, rough texture, which requires a coat of primer before painting.
• Wood: It costs $700 to $3,000 to paint a wood exterior, which requires maintenance every three to seven years. Maintaining wood requires cleaning stains, dealing with peeling issues and applying sealant.
• Vinyl: You can expect to pay between $600 and $3,500 to paint a home with vinyl siding, making it a relatively inexpensive material.
• Metal: Expect to shell out $400 to $3,500 for metal siding, which can appear dull over time. You might consider a simple pressure washing to give it a fresh, clean look — without the expense and hassle of a new paint job.
• Stucco: On average, you’ll pay $1,400 to $6,000 to paint a stucco exterior, which is almost as much as it costs to install it new. If your exterior shows signs of cracking or water damage, you might consider installing new stucco instead of refreshing the paint.
• Brick: Painting a brick exterior costs between $3,500 and $10,000, making it the most expensive siding type. Brick’s high porosity requires primer and more paint than vinyl or wood siding.

Labor

If you don’t have the time or desire to paint your home’s exterior solo, expect to pay $1 to $3.50 per square foot — or roughly $25 to $100 per hour — for each painter on the job, data from Angi shows. Most of your total costs are used to compensate workers for their time and skill.

Location and time of year can also impact the labor amount painters charge. For instance, painters tend to be busiest in spring and fall, so rates tend to be higher. You might receive more competitive quotes as demand wanes at other times of the year. 

Prep work

Your home’s condition will determine how much prep work is needed. For example, if old paint is flaking, bubbling or cracking, painters must use tools to strip those flaws before applying a fresh coat. Depending on the amount of stripping work, this can cost 50 cents to $2 per square foot.

Additionally, most home exteriors need priming before the actual painting is done, with average primer costs averaging $15 to $80 per gallon (not including labor), according to Angi.

Location

If you live in a high-cost area where contracting services are in high demand, you’ll likely pay more to hire a professional. Additionally, if your home is located in a homeowner’s association (HOA), you may have to jump through extra hoops to get paint colors approved. You might also be limited to choosing from an HOA-approved color palette or risk potential HOA fines.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) vs. hiring a pro

Costs of DIY painting

Doing the job on your own means you’ll only need to buy supplies. Aside from the paint estimates above, here’s a look at the items you need to paint your home’s exterior:

• Primer: $20–$40 per gallon.
• Paint brushes: $3–$20.
• Paint rollers: $10–$20.
• Painter’s tape: $3–$10.
• Paint trays: $3–$5.
• Sandpaper: $5–$30.
• Scraper: $5–$20.
• Ladder: $80–$300.
• Drop cloth: $5–$30.
• Paint sprayer rental: $30–$50 per day.

Costs of hiring a professional painter

You’ll pay a reputable local painter about $1 to $3.50 per square foot — or roughly $25 to $100 per hour — for each painter on the job. Many established professional painters carry liability insurance and provide their supplies. They sometimes include the cost of paint in their bids because they often get better discounts on paint and primer than consumers do. 

How to save money on exterior house painting costs

Painting the outside of your home can breathe new life into a worn facade and dramatically boost its curb appeal. Here’s how to save money on the costs before you hit the paint store:

• Get estimates from at least three different reputable contractors and compare bids, services and labor warranties. 
• Hire a professional to ensure you get a high-quality paint job. Painters also get much better deals on paint than you will at a paint store.
• Use a contract to get your agreement in writing; outline the scope of the job, costs, materials and start and end dates, if possible.
• Take on some of the prep work yourself, such as pressure washing, scraping off chipped paint, removing shutters, doorknobs or exterior finishes and applying primer. This can trim the job scope and save you money.
• Schedule your painting during a slower season, such as late fall or winter, if you live in a climate with moderate temperatures.
• If you go the DIY route, rent a paint sprayer and pressure washer. This will speed up your paint time and cut down on supply costs.
• Avoid waiting until your exterior siding is in bad shape; this will require more repairs ahead of time and add to your total project costs.

Related: The average cost of a home renovation

The AP Buyline roundup 

Painting a house is a great way to add serious curb appeal and freshen up your home’s appearance. It could also be a good investment. The cost to paint your home depends on whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. Other factors — such as the paint type and finish, siding type, location, square footage and condition — are all part of the total cost equation. While doing it yourself undoubtedly saves you money, hiring a pro may take less time and hassle — and it ensures the project is done right the first time. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long should an exterior paint job last?

An exterior paint job should last between five and 10 years. This time frame depends on the paint type and finish used, your home’s siding material and the local climate.

How long should an exterior house painting job take?

On average, it takes three to four days for a team of two to three painters to paint the exterior of an average-sized home (three to four bedrooms). Larger homes, with multiple stories and bonus spaces, can take up to a week to complete. Ask your contractor for a more precise timeline before signing a contract.

When is the best time to have your house painted?

The best time to paint your house is when the weather is dry and moderate. This is usually in the spring or fall months. Ideally, painting an exterior is best when temperatures range from 40 to 90 degrees.