How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House in 2025?

Exterior House Painting Cost Factors

Aside from the actual cost of paint and the labor required to apply it, various other cost factors influence the final price of your house exterior painting project. Location, climate, and the amount of prep work all directly impact how much your contractor will charge.

House Size

House painting is charged per square foot, so the larger your house, the more you'll pay to have the exterior painted. However, when working out the square footage, you need to find the total paintable area, not the actual square footage of your home. 

To do that, calculate the square footage of the exterior walls and subtract the square footage occupied by windows and doors. A standard door measures 21 square feet, and an average window measures 12 square feet. 

Per Square Foot

Painting a house exterior costs $1.50 to $4 per square foot. The cost depends on the job's complexity, property accessibility, and the amount of prep work required to clean the existing exterior and prepare it for painting. If the contractor uncovers problems such as rot or damaged siding and sheathing, they'll need to fix them before they can paint, which adds to labor costs. 

The table below gives you common paintable area sizes and their associated costs. Add 10% to 15% to these figures to give yourself a buffer in case of unforeseen problems that need remediation.

Per Floor

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

Painting a small house runs from $1,500 to $3,500. A 1,000-square-foot home with little prep on one story might only take $1,500 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

Location

Your geographic location impacts the project’s total cost. For example, in Deltona, Florida, the average house painting cost is $1,400 to $3,300. However, the same job in Los Angeles typically costs $2,900 to $6,200. 

Climate

The climate impacts the type of paint, the working conditions, and the cost. Working in adverse conditions, such as extreme heat or cold, can increase labor costs by 50%. Additionally, specialist paint, such as that used in storm-prone climates to withstand repeated batterings from bad weather, storm damage, and moisture damage, is up to twice as expensive as standard exterior paint. 

Paint Quality

Outdoor paint costs from $20 to $80 per gallon. However, some types of paint and some surfaces, such as stucco and wood, require additional coats to achieve a good finish. 

Purchase the best-quality paint you can for this project. It'll last longer, look better, and provide more protection for your home. When shopping for paint, remember that good quality tends to come with a higher price. More expensive paint typically has a higher volume of solids and better-quality ingredients. Ask hardware store associates for paint recommendations to decide what will work best for your project. 

Amount of Trim

Painting trim costs $1 to $6 per linear foot. Remember to account for both window and door trim for a cohesive finish. If you’re getting your trim done at the same time as the siding, your contractor will include this in the quote.

Other Exterior House Painting Cost Factors

In addition to the above factors, the cost of labor, permits, prep work, and paint stripping should be considered when budgeting for exterior house painting.

Labor

The cost to hire a painter ranges between $1 and $2 per square foot, equating to $25 and $100 per hour per painter. This includes the cost of priming and painting. If the exterior doesn't need priming, you can reduce this cost by 50%. However, if remedial work is necessary, the labor cost can increase by 100% or more, depending on the problem. 

Permits

Permits for this type of work generally cost around $200 to $300. While standard exterior painting doesn't require a permit, remedial work, such as replacing siding, likely will. 

Prep Work

Prepping a house costs anywhere from $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot. The total price almost always includes prep work, which is key to the quality and durability of the finish. Common prep work fees include the following:

• Patching: $0.50–$1.50 per sq. ft.

• Repairs: $25–$50 per hour

• Scraping, sanding, and stripping: $0.50–$2.50 per sq. ft.

• Power washing: $200–$400

• Caulking and masking: $0.50–$1 per sq.t.

Paint Stripping

Stripping paint costs $0.50 to $2 per square foot. It may not be necessary for the entire exterior, but bubbled, flaky paint sections may require stripping before painting begins. 

A home built before 1978 may still have lead paint on the exterior siding. Specialist intervention is required to keep everyone safe and reduce the risk of contaminating the soil around the home. Lead paint removal costs $8 to $17 per square foot.

Cost of Exterior House Painting by Siding Type

Painting siding costs between $0.50 and $5 per square foot, depending on the type of siding. Different siding varieties require differing prep work, number of coats, and quantities of paint to get a good finish.

Vinyl

Painting vinyl siding costs $1 to $3 per square foot. To paint 1,000 square feet, expect to pay between $500 and $2,500. If the vinyl is in reasonably good condition, painting rather than replacing it can save you a significant sum, given that the cost to replace vinyl siding is between $3 and $12 per square foot. 

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood siding costs between $1 and $2 per square foot to paint, so the cost to paint 1,000 square feet is between $1,000 and $2,000. Engineered wood is usually pre-primed, so unless you're making a drastic color change or there's a lot of damage that needs fixing, it shouldn't need priming, which helps minimize costs. 

Concrete

Painting concrete siding costs between $1.20 and $2.70 per square foot in ideal conditions. Painting 1,000 square feet of pain tintable area costs anywhere from $1,200 to $2,700. 

However, because concrete is porous, costs often increase. A good finish usually requires stripping, priming, and additional layers of paint, which can double the project costs. Concrete may also need resurfacing and sealing. Resurfacing concrete costs $3,000 to $5,000 per 1,000 square feet.

Wood

The cost to paint wood siding is $1 to $3 per square foot, or $1,000 to $3,000 for 1,000 square feet of paintable area, not including trim. Even the best wood siding is prone to rot and moisture problems, so it might require repair or remedial work before priming and painting. This can increase costs but is generally easy to paint and care for.

Steel

Painting steel siding costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot or $1,500 to $2,500 per 1,000 paintable square feet. Steel siding is extremely durable and non-porous, so it doesn't need painting. However, it is paintable and doesn’t usually require priming. 

Fiber Cement

Painting fiber cement siding costs between $1.20 and $3.20 per square foot. To paint 1,000 square feet of fiber cement siding, expect to pay $1,200 to $3,200. Fiber cement requires less paint because it's non-porous. It also generally comes pre-primed, helping to keep costs down.

Stucco

Painting stucco siding costs between $1.50 and $4 per square foot, totaling $1,500 to $4,000 to paint a 1,000-square-foot area. Given the similar cost of installing new stucco siding, it may be more cost-effective over the long term to replace the siding rather than repaint it. 

Before painting can begin, stucco siding usually requires extensive and time-consuming prep work, including repairs like caulking and filling gaps. Additionally, because the surface is so heavily textured, it requires around 50% more paint than smoother surfaces.

Aluminum

The cost to paint aluminum siding is between $1.50 and $2.50 per square foot, or $1,500 to $2,500 for 1,000 square feet. While not essential, a coat of paint can further protect the siding from moisture damage and weather extremes. Generally, aluminum siding requires minimal prep work, but if the existing paint is badly chipping and flaking, it may require stripping and priming before painting. 

Brick

Painting brick siding costs $1.40 to $4.20 per square foot or $1,400 to $4,200 per 1,000 square feet. It's among the most costly to paint because brick is porous and has an extremely rough texture. It requires priming and uses more paint than smoother, non-porous surfaces. 

Stone

Painting stone siding costs $2.40 to $5 per square foot or $2,400 to $5,000 per 1,000 square feet. Stone veneer siding doesn't require painting, but if you want to change the look of the siding or get a different finish without the cost of replacing it, painting over stone is a valid option. Stone is porous and rough, so it requires sealing and takes much more paint than smooth siding. 

Additional Exterior Painting Costs 

Aside from the prep work and painting the siding and trim, there are many other painting costs you may want to factor into your budget. 

Does Painting the Exterior of a House Increase Home Value?

Painting the exterior of a house can increase home value by up to 5%. The total increase depends on your location, paint quality, and current market conditions. Adding fresh paint enhances your home’s curb appeal and makes it look well-maintained, attracting potential buyers. Most homeowners will receive a return on investment of over 50% for exterior painting jobs. 

Budgeting for Exterior House Painting 

While painting a home's exterior can be a costly project, there are several steps you can take to save money when hiring a pro for this job:

• Maintain your siding: Keeping your home's exterior clean and in good repair reduces the prep work your chosen pro has to do before they can start painting. 

• Choose the best quality products you can afford: Spending more saves you money in the long run. High-quality paint lasts longer and better protects your home from the elements. Buying the lowest-priced paint means your siding may suffer water or weather damage. Plus, you'll have to have your home painted more frequently, costing you more in supplies and labor. 

• Wait until the off-season: Be flexible with your timing and avoid booking the project during peak times. You can save a lot by waiting until winter or watching for special promotions run by local house painters around major holidays. 

• Do the prep yourself: Save money by doing as much as possible yourself. Clear the area around your home and give your siding a thorough clean. Sand away any flaking or bubbling paint and look for minor damage you can repair yourself.

• Get multiple quotes: Interview potential contractors and look at their itemized quotes before deciding. 

• Consider bundling jobs: Instead of having your home's exterior painted now and then the interior painted six months later, consider doing it all at once. You may get a substantial discount by doing both jobs together.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed over 30,000 real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.