Exterior Painting Cost: $1,819–$11,617 (Average $3,177) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·6 min read·3 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Exterior painting typically costs $1,819 to $11,617, averaging about $3,177 nationally, or roughly $1.50 to $5.28 per square foot as a blended national range across sources. A typical 2,000 sq ft one-story home runs $4,400 to $8,800. House size, siding material, number of stories, and prep work drive most of the difference.
- ✓The national average cost to paint a house exterior is $3,177, with most projects falling between $1,819 and $4,551 (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Per square foot, exterior painting costs $1.50 to $5.28 as a blended national range depending on the source; specific siding materials can run higher, up to $5.80 per square foot for wood, vinyl, and fiber cement (Fixr).
- ✓A typical 2,000 sq ft one-story home costs $4,400 to $8,800; the same home with two stories jumps to $6,900 to $12,700 (This Old House).
- ✓Siding in poor condition can cost over 60% more to paint due to added prep and repair work (Fixr).
How much does exterior painting cost?
National average
$3,177
total project
Typical range
$1,819–$11,617
Most projects
Whole project
$4,400–$8,800
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| wood siding (per sq ft) | $1 | $6 |
| vinyl siding (per sq ft) | $1 | $6 |
| stucco (per sq ft) | $2 | $5 |
| brick (per sq ft) | $2 | $5 |
| aluminum/metal siding (per sq ft) | $2 | $4 |
| fiber cement (per sq ft) | $1 | $6 |
| concrete/masonry (per sq ft) | $1 | $5 |
| stone (per sq ft) | $2 | $5 |
| engineered wood (per sq ft) | $1 | $2 |
What affects the cost?
- House size and total paintable square footage (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
- Number of stories -- height adds an estimated 30-120% to cost; This Old House prices a 2,000 sq ft one-story home at $4,400-$8,800 versus $6,900-$12,700 for the same footprint with two stories (This Old House, HomeAdvisor)
- Siding material -- wood, vinyl, brick, stucco, fiber cement, and metal all price differently per square foot (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House)
- Siding condition -- painting walls in poor condition can cost over 60% more due to added prep and repair work (Fixr)
- Paint quality and type -- quality exterior paint runs about $20-$80 per gallon (HomeAdvisor)
- Labor rates -- typically $25-$100 per hour per painter, or roughly $1-$3.50 per sq ft (HomeAdvisor); This Old House cites a narrower $40-$100 per hour per painter
- Prep work -- pressure washing, scraping, caulking, and minor repairs run about $0.50-$2.50 per sq ft (HomeAdvisor)
- Additional surfaces -- trim, soffits, gutters, and fascias add to the total beyond wall area (Fixr)
- Geographic location -- regional averages for a 1,500 sq ft home range from about $2,300 to $4,800 (HomeAdvisor)
- Access difficulty and climate exposure at the site (This Old House)
Why does exterior painting cost so much?
Cost mainly comes down to square footage, siding material, and how many stories need to be reached. The national average sits at $3,177, with most projects falling between $1,819 and $4,551 (HomeAdvisor). Per square foot, estimates range from $1.50 to $5.28 as a blended national figure across sources (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House); specific siding materials can push the per-square-foot rate higher, as detailed below. For a typical 2,000 sq ft one-story home, expect $4,400 to $8,800; add a second story and that climbs to $6,900 to $12,700, since crews need scaffolding or lift equipment and more time per square foot of wall (This Old House). Some whole-exterior estimates run as high as $6,242 to $11,617 for larger homes with extensive trim, soffit, and gutter work included (Fixr). That $11,617 figure anchors the headline range above; it excludes the most extreme multi-story scenarios, such as a three-story 2,000 sq ft home, which This Old House prices at $8,300 to $15,200. Siding material matters too, though it doesn’t split cleanly into cheap and expensive categories: engineered wood tends to price lowest, while wood, vinyl, brick, and fiber cement can all reach the highest per-square-foot rates depending on the source (HomeAdvisor, Fixr).
What affects the cost?
A few factors explain most of the gap between a $1,800 job and one that costs $10,000 or more:
- House size. More paintable square footage means more material and labor hours (HomeAdvisor, Fixr).
- Number of stories. Height adds an estimated 30-120% to the total, since taller walls require scaffolding or extended ladder work (HomeAdvisor). A 2,000 sq ft home goes from $4,400-$8,800 at one story to $6,900-$12,700 at two stories (This Old House).
- Siding material. Per-square-foot rates vary widely by material and source: wood ranges from about $1 (HomeAdvisor) up to $5.80 (Fixr); stone runs $2.40-$5.00 (HomeAdvisor); brick and fiber cement can reach $5.40-$5.80 in some estimates (Fixr).
- Siding condition. Walls in poor shape, with peeling paint, rot, or damage, can cost over 60% more once extra prep and repair are factored in (Fixr).
- Paint quality. Quality exterior paint runs about $20 to $80 per gallon, and higher-grade paint typically lasts longer between repaints (HomeAdvisor).
- Labor. Painters typically charge $25 to $100 per hour, or roughly $1 to $3.50 per square foot (HomeAdvisor); This Old House cites a narrower $40-$100 per hour per painter.
- Prep work. Pressure washing, scraping, caulking, and minor repairs add about $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot before paint goes on (HomeAdvisor).
- Region. Regional averages for a 1,500 sq ft home range from about $2,300 to $4,800 (HomeAdvisor).
How to lower your exterior painting cost
- Handle basic prep yourself where safe. Pressure washing and minor scraping can trim some of the $0.50-$2.50 per square foot prep charge, though leave repairs and high ladder work to a pro.
- Address siding damage early. Since poor-condition siding can add over 60% to the job, fixing rot or peeling paint before it worsens keeps the project closer to the base rate (Fixr).
- Get quotes that separate stories. Because height alone can add 30-120% to cost, ask contractors to break out labor for upper stories so you can see where the premium comes from (HomeAdvisor).
- Compare siding-appropriate paint grades. Paint runs $20-$80 per gallon; a mid-range quality paint often balances cost and longevity better than the cheapest option, which tends to need repainting sooner (HomeAdvisor).
- Bundle trim, soffits, and gutters into one quote. Handling these alongside the main walls in a single visit is typically cheaper than paying for a separate trip later (Fixr).
- Get several local bids. Given how much reported averages vary by source and region, two or three in-person quotes will give a more accurate number for your specific home than any national figure.
Prices vary by region, home size, siding material, and number of stories, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Confirm what each quote includes, prep, paint grade, trim, and number of coats, before comparing bids.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a house exterior on average?+
The national average is about $3,177, with most homeowners paying between $1,819 and $4,551 (HomeAdvisor). Larger or multi-story homes can run well beyond that, with some sources quoting whole-exterior projects up to $11,617 (Fixr).
How much is exterior painting per square foot?+
Expect to pay roughly $1.50 to $5.28 per square foot as a blended national range across sources, depending on condition and region. Rates for specific siding materials can run higher, up to $5.80 per square foot for wood, vinyl, and fiber cement (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
Does the number of stories affect the price?+
Yes, significantly. For a 2,000 sq ft home, This Old House prices one story at $4,400-$8,800, two stories at $6,900-$12,700, and three stories at $8,300-$15,200, since added height means more scaffolding, ladder work, and labor time.
Which siding material is cheapest to paint?+
Wood and engineered wood tend to sit at the low end, starting around $1 per square foot (HomeAdvisor), though wood's quoted range varies a lot by source, from about $1.70-$3.60 per square foot (This Old House) up to $3.10-$5.80 per square foot (Fixr). Stone runs $2.40-$5.00 per square foot (HomeAdvisor), while brick and fiber cement can reach $5.40-$5.80 per square foot in some estimates (Fixr).
What's included in the cost besides the paint itself?+
Most quotes bundle in pressure washing, scraping, caulking, and minor repairs, typically $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot, plus labor at $25 to $100 per hour per painter (HomeAdvisor). This Old House cites a narrower $40-$100 per hour per painter.
Why do cost estimates vary so much between sources?+
Different guides assume different home sizes, siding conditions, and scopes of work. HomeAdvisor's average reflects a broad range of project sizes, while Fixr and This Old House lean toward larger whole-exterior jobs, which pushes their averages and per-square-foot rates higher.
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- HomeAdvisor — National average $3,177; typical range $1,819-$4,551. Cost per sq ft $1.50-$4. By siding material per sq ft: vinyl $1.25-$3, engineered wood $1-$2, concrete $1-$3.50, wood $1-$3, steel $1.50-$2.50, fiber cement $1.20-$3.20, stucco $1.50-$4, aluminum $1.50-$2.50, brick $1.50-$4.50, stone $2.40-$5. Height/stories can add 30-120% to cost. Regional range for a 1,500 sq ft home $2,300-$4,800. Paint quality $20-$80/gallon. Labor $1-$3.50 per sq ft or $25-$100 per hour. Prep work $0.50-$2.50 per sq ft.
- Fixr — Whole-exterior range $6,242-$11,617. Cost per sq ft $2.84-$5.28. By siding material, per sq ft and whole-home: brick $2.90-$5.40 ($6,367-$11,850); wood $3.10-$5.80 ($6,837-$12,725); stucco $2.70-$5.05 ($5,966-$11,104); vinyl $3.10-$5.80 ($6,837-$12,725); metal $2.30-$4.30 ($5,073-$9,442); masonry $2.90-$5.40 ($6,372-$11,858); fiber cement $3.10-$5.80 ($6,837-$12,725). Painting walls in poor condition costs over 60% more. Additional surfaces (trim, soffits, gutters, fascias) add to project cost.
- This Old House — Cost per sq ft $2.20-$4.40. Typical 2,000 sq ft home $4,400-$8,800, average project cost around $6,600. By stories for a 2,000 sq ft home: one story $4,400-$8,800; two stories $6,900-$12,700; three stories $8,300-$15,200. By siding material per sq ft: wood $1.70-$3.60, aluminum $2.10-$4.20, stucco $2.50-$4.80, brick $2.60-$5.00, vinyl $2.80-$5.20. Labor $40-$100 per hour per painter.
Sources diverge significantly on total-project cost, largely because they assume different home sizes and include different scopes of work. HomeAdvisor cites a national average of $3,177 (typical range $1,819-$4,551) at $1.50-$4 per sq ft. Fixr quotes a much higher whole-exterior range of $6,242-$11,617 at $2.84-$5.28 per sq ft. This Old House prices a typical 2,000 sq ft one-story home at $4,400-$8,800 (average about $6,600) at $2.20-$4.40 per sq ft, rising to $6,900-$12,700 for two stories and $8,300-$15,200 for three stories on the same footprint. national_average_usd uses HomeAdvisor's explicitly stated average; range_low_usd uses HomeAdvisor's typical-range low and range_high_usd uses Fixr's whole-exterior high -- this excludes This Old House's most extreme multi-story figures (e.g. $8,300-$15,200 for a three-story 2,000 sq ft home, which exceeds range_high_usd); project_low_usd/project_high_usd reflect This Old House's typical 2,000 sq ft one-story project. by_type figures are per-square-foot rates combining the low-to-high spread across sources for each siding material -- multiply by exterior square footage to estimate a project total; stone and engineered wood figures come from HomeAdvisor only. Figures generally include materials and standard labor; heavy repairs, extensive prep, and multi-story access equipment can push costs above the ranges shown.