How Much Does It Cost To Paint a House?

Looking for a fresh coat of paint on your house? If you are thinking of giving your home a fresh new look, it’s normal to worry about the cost. Painting your house is a surprisingly cost-effective way to enhance your curb appeal and revitalize your house exterior. While prices vary depending on labor, type of paint, and location, the average cost to paint a house exterior is $4,197. Most painters charge an average of $2.75 per square foot, but an exterior painting project can range between $1.75 and $5.50. We look at the basics of how much painting a house costs and explain the main factors and additional costs that determine pricing.

What Is the Average Cost of Painting a House?

The average cost to paint a house exterior is $2.75 per square foot. For a 1,500-square-foot house, you can expect to pay approximately $4,197 to have the exterior of your house painted.

The cost range for exterior house painting is between $2,676 and $8,268. These prices include the hourly rate for the painters, the price of paints and materials, and any additional costs related to exterior painting jobs. However, the total cost can vary greatly depending on a number of factors.

These include the size of your home, the quality of the paint, and the skill level of the painting professional, among other factors. For example, budget painting for a small house may cost as low as $948. In contrast, luxury painting on a large home could cost more than $12,000.

The Cost of Painting a House Exterior at a Glance:

• National Average: $4,197
• Average Range: $2,676 – $8,268
• Extreme Range – $948 – $12,000+

It’s always best to get an estimate from a professional painter to get a more accurate cost for your specific exterior painting project. They will assess your house and provide a detailed outline of painting costs. Also, they can discuss your painting options and make recommendations to keep your house painting project within your budget.

House Size Cost Guide

Most painters charge by the square foot. However, this doesn’t mean the square footage of your house. It’s actually the size of the paintable surface.

The paintable surface is calculated by multiplying the length of each exterior wall by the height of your house. The non-paintable areas like windows and doors are then subtracted to determine the total paintable square footage.

The paintable surface for the average home size ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. A small house may have as little as 500 feet of paintable surface, while large ones can have 4,000 or more.

It’s worth noting that these prices are only rough estimates. They do not take into consideration other factors like the complexity of the project or the regional labor costs.

What Factors Determine the Cost of Painting a House?

One of the main concerns of painting a house exterior is the cost. From the size of the house to the quality of the paint being used, many factors can affect the final price. But, what exactly determines the cost of painting a house? When it comes to cost, here is what most painting contractors consider when quoting exterior paint jobs.

Labor

In most cases, the cost of labor is the single biggest factor in the total price of painting a house. Professional painters typically charge an hourly rate of $25 to $100, which can end up being nearly half of the overall cost. However, the actual price can vary widely in certain regions.

Some painters will do an entire house themselves, while others work with a crew of other painters. In the end, the costs tend to balance out, but the benefit of a large crew is that they complete exterior painting projects faster.

Size of the House

After labor, one of the biggest factors in the cost of painting a house is the overall square footage of your house exterior. The larger your house, the more time and effort are required to paint it. The number of stories is a key factor here, with two- and three-story housing costing more due to their additional height.

As mentioned above, the paintable surface is the total area that needs painting. On average, most houses range from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. That total size includes the exterior walls as well as the soffit and fascia, gutters, window and door trim, shutters, and other features.

The size also relates to the number of gallons of paint needed to complete the job. A larger house requires more materials, so it will cost more than a smaller one.

Condition of Existing Surface

Another key cost factor is the condition of the existing surface. If your exterior has seen better days, the painter may need to sand flaking paint, fill gaps with caulk, or make siding repairs before they can start painting.

Most professional painters require a power washing to remove dirt as well. While this may seem unnecessary, it’s important to prep the surface properly. Otherwise, the new paint will only last a short time. Depending on the condition, this can lead to a number of extra costs.

Paint Quality and Options

While the amount of paint you need depends on the size of your house exterior, you have some control over the quality and other options.

While economy exterior paints are available, most house painters suggest mid-grade paints for their overall look and durability. The paint finish will also slightly impact the total cost, with satin and eggshell finishes usually costing less than glossy paints.

Most professional painting companies will also use a primer to help seal your home and make the top coat last longer. The type of paint, number of colors, paint trim options, and other paint factors can also impact the total cost. However, paint color usually will not affect the price.

Siding Material

While it may seem odd, the exterior siding material of your house can impact the cost. This is because certain materials require specific paints or take more effort to paint properly. For example, oil-based paints last longer on wood surfaces, while latex and acrylic paints are better for most vinyl or metal siding.

Although many materials are easy to paint, painting brick or stucco exteriors can be challenging. It can take more coats of paint to completely cover their textured surface.

Local Climate

Also related to the paint, your local climate can impact the total cost. Harsh weather conditions like extreme sun, freezing temperatures, and salty coastal air will determine what paints they need to use. Your painting contractor can explain the specifics of choosing the right paint for your area.