Estimated exterior painting cost: $3,350, ranging from $2,550 to $4,600.
Estimated exterior painting cost
low confidence
$3,350Materials and labor, before contingency
$2,550 lowhigh $4,600
What makes up the typical figure
Painting and preparation labor$1,800
Paint — mid grade exterior$680
Pressure washing$330
Staging, ladders, and masking$220
Everything else$300
United States average
+10% contingency advised
Assumptions 2026.07.1
Why low: no state was resolved, so national averages were used; the modeled range spans about 61% of the typical value.
Quick facts
Surface area to paint
1,512 sq ftPerimeter of a 1,600 sq ft footprint times 9 ft per storey.
Cost per square foot
$2.20($1.70 – $3.06)
Paint needed
11 gallons
Estimated labor
29 hours
Share of labor that is preparation
18.2%Preparation is what decides how long the finish lasts, and it is the first thing a cheap quote cuts.
Materials only, if you do it yourself
$682($528 – $880)
Cost breakdown
Estimated cost of each component, with low, typical, and high values.
Component
Low
Typical
High
Paint — mid grade exteriorMaterials11 gallons for 2 coats over 1,512 sq ft, at 300 sq ft per gallon.
$530
$680
$880
Painting and preparation laborLabor29 crew-hours at $63/hr billed, of which about 5 are preparation.
$1,100
$1,800
$3,000
Pressure washingLabor
$180
$330
$570
Doors (2)Labor
$90
$160
$280
Staging, ladders, and maskingEquipment
$90
$220
$480
Site protection and cleanupOther
$60
$140
$300
Estimated exterior painting cost
$2,550
$3,350
$4,600
Recommended contingency (10%)Exterior contingency is mostly for rot found behind failed paint — trim, sills, and fascia that need replacing rather than coating.
$260
$340
$460
Total to budget
$2,810
$3,690
$5,060
The low and high columns above will not add up to the headline range. Each line has its own uncertainty, and every line landing at its worst case at the same time is unlikely, so the total combines them as partially independent rather than summing the extremes.
What moved your estimate
↓
Vinyl siding — decreases the estimate
The fastest common surface to coat. Use a paint rated for vinyl — darker colours than the original can cause the siding to warp in sun.
↑
Trim work — increases the estimate
Trim is brush-and-cut work at roughly 26 linear feet an hour. On a detailed house it can rival the cost of the walls.
How this number was produced+
Surface areaperimeter × 9 ft × 1 storeys1,512 sq ft
Paintarea × 2 coats ÷ 300 sq ft per gallon11 gallons
Totalcomponents combined as partially independent uncertainties$3,331
Adjustments applied
Regional labor — national×1.00
National 47-2141 Painters, Construction and Maintenance mean wage of $26.64/hr (BLS OEWS May 2025), times the contractor burden multiplier.
Vinyl siding×1.00
Coverage rate relative to vinyl, which is the fastest common surface to paint.
Surface condition — chalking×2.10
Preparation hours relative to sound siding.
Height and complexity×1.15
Moderate — some gables, dormers, or wraparound, 1 story, easy — level ground all round.
Notes and sources3 notes, 2 sources
Worth knowing
Exterior coverage of 300 sq ft per gallon assumes previously painted, sound siding. Bare wood, stucco, and brick absorb considerably more.
We do not deduct for windows and doors. Cutting around an opening takes about as long as coating the wall it replaced.
Weather is not modelled and it matters: paint applied below roughly 50°F or in direct sun will not cure properly, which shortens the life of the whole job.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), State cross-industry estimatesprimaryMay 2025retrieved 2026-07-31
PlainTotal editorial baseline for exterior work, reviewed against publicly advertised supplier pricing, manufacturer specifications, and published trade guidanceassumption2026 national baselineretrieved 2026-07-31
Coating a sound wall is fast; scraping a failing one is not. This calculator prices preparation as its own line so you can see how much of the quote is the part that decides whether the finish lasts.
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Methodology
How this calculator works
Working out the surface area
If you give a footprint and a storey count, we estimate the perimeter as 4.2 times the square root of the footprint — a shape factor for a moderately rectangular house — and multiply by nine feet of wall per storey.
No deduction is made for windows and doors. Painters generally do not make one either, because cutting around an opening takes about as long as coating the siding it displaced.
Why preparation is its own line
Coating rate varies about threefold across common sidings — vinyl runs at roughly 210 square feet an hour, wood shingle at 105. Preparation varies far more than that: sound siding needs about a tenth of an hour per hundred square feet, widely failed paint needs fifteen times as much.
That is why two quotes for the same house diverge so sharply. A cheap quote is usually not cheaper labour, it is less preparation, and it shows up three winters later rather than on the invoice.
What is not modelled
Weather, which decides whether the coating cures properly and is the single biggest determinant of how long the job lasts. Lead paint, which in pre-1978 housing brings containment requirements that can add substantially. And rot behind failed paint, which is what the contingency is for.
Location and data
Where the numbers come from
Location is optional, and we only ask for a ZIP code or a state — never a street address. A ZIP code is matched to its state using published postal prefix ranges, and that state is used to look up labor and price rows in the tables below. If you leave it blank, or your ZIP cannot be matched, the estimate falls back to a national average and says so on the result.
Nothing you enter is transmitted or stored. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, and the only place your inputs appear is in the page URL, so you can bookmark or share a result if you choose to.
primaryMay 2025v2025.05
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), State cross-industry estimates
Hourly mean wage (H_MEAN) for each trade. These are employee wages, not billed contractor rates. Billed rates are derived in the engine by applying a documented burden-and-overhead multiplier; see docs/calculator-methodology.md.
assumption2026 national baselinev2026.07.1
PlainTotal editorial baseline for exterior work, reviewed against publicly advertised supplier pricing, manufacturer specifications, and published trade guidance
These are NOT published statistics. As with the interior material baselines, no public agency publishes exterior material prices at this granularity and proprietary construction cost databases cannot be reproduced. Every figure is material only, delivered to a metropolitan supply yard, before regional adjustment and before sales tax. Labor rates are crew-hours or per-unit production rates for a competent crew in normal conditions. See docs/data-sources.md for the full limitation statement.
These are the figures we chose rather than measured. For each one we record the range of values found across references, what we selected, and why — because an estimate you cannot interrogate is not much better than a guess. The 1 marked high risk are the ones most likely to be wrong and most consequential when they are.
Surface preparation hours per 100 sq ft by conditionhigh risklow confidence+
Observed range
0.05 — 3 (typical 0.3)crew-hours per 100 sq ft
Why this value
The widest-range assumption in this calculator and the one that most separates two quotes. Washing sound siding is under a tenth of an hour per 100 sq ft; scraping, sanding, and spot-priming widely failed paint can exceed three. We selected values across a fifteenfold band. Preparation is what decides whether the finish lasts eight years or two, and it is the first thing a cheap quote cuts.
Applies to
United States. Sun-exposed elevations in high-UV regions fail faster and need more preparation.
Known limits
Condition is self-assessed from a dropdown, and homeowners systematically underestimate it. Lead paint in pre-1978 housing brings containment requirements that can multiply preparation cost and are not modelled at all.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed annual
Site access difficulty multiplierlow confidence+
Observed range
1 — 1.5 (typical 1.12)multiplier on labour
Why this value
Level open ground round the whole house is the 1.0 case. Landscaping, decks, slopes, and overhead lines each cost setup time on the affected elevation. We capped the shipped high case at 1.3 because beyond that a lift is usually hired, which is an equipment cost rather than a labour multiplier.
Applies to
United States.
Known limits
Self-assessed from a dropdown with no objective definition. The weakest input on this calculator.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Exterior coverage per gallon per coatmedium confidence+
Observed range
180 — 400 (typical 300)square feet
Why this value
Manufacturer labels state 300-400 sq ft per gallon on primed, sound siding. Real coverage falls to about 180 on bare wood, rough-sawn cedar, stucco, and unsealed masonry. We ship the lower end of the manufacturer band as a single value rather than a range, because the user knows their substrate and the calculator does not — and we say so on the page.
Applies to
Not regionally variable.
Known limits
A single point value understates gallons needed on porous substrates by up to 40%. Stucco and masonry users should expect to buy more than the estimate shows. This is disclosed in the notes but not modelled.
Sources
Manufacturer published specifications and coverage figures
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Coating production rate by siding typemedium confidence+
Observed range
70 — 280 (typical 160)square feet per hour
Why this value
Spray-and-backroll on flat vinyl reaches roughly 280 sq ft/hr in ideal conditions; hand-brushing wood shingle with deep reveals falls to about 70. The selected per-surface values sit at the centre of each material band. The threefold spread across materials is larger than the spread across contractors, which is why this is modelled per surface rather than as one rate.
Applies to
United States. Crew skill varies more than region.
Known limits
Assumes spray application where the surface allows it. A brush-and-roll-only specification, common in dense neighbourhoods and some HOAs, runs 30-50% slower and is not modelled.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Exterior paint price per gallon by quality tiermedium confidence+
Observed range
22 — 140 (typical 62)USD per gallon
Why this value
Shelf pricing spans roughly $22 for contractor-grade five-gallon-equivalent economy paint to $140 for top-tier exterior acrylics. We selected mid-band values per tier. Premium exterior paint holds film integrity and colour years longer outdoors, where the difference matters far more than it does inside — so the tier gap is a genuine durability choice rather than only a finish one.
Applies to
United States. Regional variation enters through the material index, not this figure.
Known limits
Sampled from advertised retail rather than contractor account pricing, which is typically 10-25% lower. Five-gallon pails are cheaper per gallon than single gallons and are not modelled separately.
Sources
Publicly advertised big-box and trade supplier pricing, sampled across several metropolitan markets; Manufacturer published specifications and coverage figures
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed annual
Trim and fascia production ratemedium confidence+
Observed range
14 — 50 (typical 26)linear feet per hour
Why this value
Brush-and-cut trim work runs 14 ft/hr on detailed multi-profile trim to 50 ft/hr on simple flat fascia within easy reach. We narrowed to 18-38 as the range covering typical residential trim. On a trim-heavy older house this line can rival the wall cost.
Applies to
United States.
Known limits
Trim length is user-entered and routinely underestimated — people count fascia and forget window casings, corner boards, and rake trim.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Site protection and cleanup per jobmedium confidence+
Observed range
40 — 400 (typical 140)USD per job
Why this value
Drop cloths, plant protection, masking removal, chip collection, and disposal. Higher where lead-safe practices apply or landscaping is extensive. Selected band covers typical residential work.
Applies to
United States.
Known limits
Lead-safe cleanup in pre-1978 housing is materially more expensive and is not modelled.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Number of finish coatshigh confidence+
Observed range
1 — 3 (typical 2)coats
Why this value
Two coats over a sound, similar-coloured surface is the standard specification. One coat is only adequate as a refresh over a recent identical colour. Three is needed for dramatic colour changes or porous new substrates. Exposed as a user input rather than fixed, because it is a specification decision rather than a property of the house.
Applies to
Not regionally variable.
Known limits
A one-coat quote against a two-coat quote is the most common apples-to-oranges comparison in exterior painting. The calculator cannot tell the user which their bidder assumed.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks; Manufacturer published specifications and coverage figures
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Staging, ladders, and masking per jobmedium confidence+
Observed range
60 — 800 (typical 220)USD per job
Why this value
Ladder-only single-storey work carries almost no equipment cost beyond consumables; three-storey work needing rented staging or a lift can exceed $800. We scale the selected band by the storey multiplier rather than exposing it as an input.
Applies to
United States. Lift rental pricing varies by metro.
Known limits
A boom lift, sometimes necessary on steep sites or tall elevations, is a step change rather than a smooth increase and is not modelled.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks; Publicly advertised big-box and trade supplier pricing, sampled across several metropolitan markets
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed annual
Pressure washing per square footmedium confidence+
Observed range
0.08 — 0.5 (typical 0.22)USD per square foot
Why this value
Sampled washing-only pricing runs $0.08 to $0.50 per sq ft depending on soiling, height, and whether the crew already has equipment on site. We narrowed to $0.12-$0.38 because the extremes describe standalone jobs rather than washing done as part of a paint contract, where the mobilisation is already paid for.
Applies to
United States. Higher in humid regions with heavy mildew growth.
Known limits
Assumes washing as part of a larger paint job. A standalone wash carries its own mobilisation and would cost more.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed annual
Exterior primer price per gallonmedium confidence+
Observed range
22 — 70 (typical 40)USD per gallon
Why this value
Bonding and stain-blocking exterior primers span roughly $22 to $70. We selected a mid-band value. Primer is modelled as one full coat when selected, at the same 300 sq ft per gallon coverage as finish paint.
Applies to
United States.
Known limits
Spot-priming after scraping — far more common than full priming — uses a fraction of a full coat and is not separately modelled, so selecting primer overstates cost for that case.
Sources
Publicly advertised big-box and trade supplier pricing, sampled across several metropolitan markets; Manufacturer published specifications and coverage figures
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
Paint waste allowancehigh confidence+
Observed range
0.02 — 0.12 (typical 0.05)share of ordered material
Why this value
Exterior paint waste is low compared with sheet materials — it is overbuy and unusable remainder rather than offcuts. 5% covers the rounding to whole gallons plus touch-up reserve. Higher figures reflect colour changes mid-job rather than normal practice.
Applies to
Not regionally variable.
Known limits
Gallons are already rounded up to whole units, so this allowance is partly double-counted for small jobs. The effect is under 3% of the paint line on a typical house.
Sources
Published trade production-rate guidance and contractor estimating handbooks
Last verified
2026-07-31 · reviewed biennial
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Cost factors
What changes the price most
Surface condition
The largest variable. Scraping and spot-priming failed paint can exceed the cost of the coats themselves.
Siding material
Vinyl coats twice as fast as wood shingle. Masonry also absorbs far more paint than the coverage figure suggests.
Storeys
Above two storeys a crew needs staging rather than ladders, adding setup on every elevation.
Trim and detail
Slow brush work priced by the foot. On a Victorian it can exceed the wall cost.
Paint quality
Premium exterior paint costs roughly twice builder grade but holds colour and film integrity years longer outdoors, where the difference matters more than it does inside.
Lead paint
Not modelled. Pre-1978 housing may require certified containment, which is a separate and significant cost.
Questions
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?
+
For a typical single-storey home with about 1,600 square feet of footprint and sound vinyl siding, expect a figure in the low-to-mid four figures nationally. A two-storey house with peeling wood siding can easily be three times that, almost entirely because of preparation. Enter your own details above for a state-adjusted figure.
How often should a house be repainted?
+
Typically seven to ten years for wood, ten to fifteen for fibre cement, and longer for vinyl that is painted rather than replaced. Sun exposure decides more than anything else — a south or west elevation usually fails years before the north side.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace siding?
+
Painting is almost always cheaper up front — often a quarter to a third of replacement. Replacement wins when the siding itself is failing, because paint over deteriorated substrate does not last and you pay twice. Our siding replacement calculator prices the alternative.
Do I need to pressure wash before painting?
+
Yes in nearly all cases. Paint does not bond to chalk, dirt, or mildew, and washing is cheap relative to a failed finish. The exception is badly deteriorated wood, where high-pressure water drives moisture into the substrate and hand cleaning is safer.
How many coats does an exterior need?
+
Two over a sound, similar-coloured surface. Three if you are making a dramatic colour change or coating a porous surface such as fresh stucco. One coat is only adequate as a refresh over a very recent, identical colour.