That's our range to have a house exterior professionally painted, per square foot of paintable wall area, typically about $3. A 2,000 sq ft home has roughly 1,700 sq ft of paintable siding by HomeGuide's estimate, so plan on about $5,100 typical.
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2]. Planning numbers, not quotes. Brick, stucco, two stories and heavy prep push toward the high end.
Bars run from our Low to High figure; the dark tick marks Typical. Same numbers as the table below.
Exterior painting cost by home size
Painters price by the paintable area of the walls, not the floor area of the house. HomeGuide's paintable-area estimates for common home sizes, priced at our blended per-foot range:[1]
| Home size | Paintable area Sourced | Our range Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home | about 800 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,400 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | about 1,200 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,600 | $3,600 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | about 1,700 sq ft | $3,100 – $6,500 | $5,100 |
| 2,500 sq ft home | about 2,100 sq ft | $3,800 – $8,000 | $6,300 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | about 2,500 sq ft | $4,500 – $9,500 | $7,500 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. We pooled HomeGuide's $1.50 – $5.00 and Angi's $1.50 – $4.00 per sq ft. See How we build our ranges.
By siding material
| Siding | Our range Estimate | Typical Estimate | What the sources publish Sourced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1.65 – $3 | $2.55 | HomeGuide $1.50 – $4.50; Angi $1.25 – $3.00[1][2] |
| Wood siding | $1.65 – $3.20 | $2.50 | HomeGuide $1.50 – $5.00; Angi $1.00 – $3.00[1][2] |
| Stucco | $2.20 – $3.90 | $3.15 | HomeGuide $2.00 – $5.00; Angi $1.50 – $4.00[1][2] |
| Brick | $2.65 – $4.30 | $3.40 | HomeGuide $2.50 – $5.00; Angi $1.50 – $4.50[1][2] |
| Aluminum or metal siding | $2 – $3.05 | $2.25 | HomeGuide $2.00 – $4.50; Angi $1.50 – $2.50[1][2] |
What the sources say Sourced
HomeGuide puts a 2,000 sq ft house at $3,000 – $10,000.[1] Angi's average exterior paint job is $3,178, with most between $1,819 – $4,551.[2]
Extra costs to check for in your quote
| Item | Cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Trim | $1.75 – $2.90 per ft Estimate | Blend of HomeGuide $1 – $4 per ft and Angi's $2 per ft[1][2] |
| Power washing | $240 – $400 Sourced | Angi[2] |
| Stripping failed paint | $0.50 – $2.00 per sq ft Sourced | Angi[2] |
| Walls above 8 ft | +30% Sourced | Angi's height adder; two-story homes can cost up to 50% more[2] |
What drives the price
- Height. Second stories need taller ladders or scaffolding; Angi adds about 30% above 8 ft.[2]
- Siding material. Porous brick and stucco take more primer and paint than vinyl or aluminum.
- Prep. Scraping, sanding, caulking and wood repair are where cheap and careful bids differ most. Homes built before 1978 may need lead-safe work practices.
- Trim, doors and shutters. Detail work is slow and often priced separately.
- Paint quality and coats. Two coats of a premium paint last longer but cost more.
Regional differences Estimate
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical, 1,700 sq ft paintable Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $5,200 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.15 15% above U.S. | $5,900 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $4,900 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $5,100 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 1.01 1% above U.S. | $5,200 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $4,600 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.01 1% above U.S. | $5,200 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.91 9% below U.S. | $4,600 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.97 3% below U.S. | $4,900 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.05 5% above U.S. | $5,400 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our exterior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for six exterior projects (vinyl and fiber-cement siding, vinyl and wood windows, wood and composite decks) by the national average and averages the six ratios.[3] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Exterior Projects Budget Workbook
Plan painting together with siding, windows or roof work, with our ranges pre-filled and a payment schedule.
Get the templateCosts in your city
Our local cost pages adjust these national ranges for 25 metro areas using local construction wages, and add each area's housing age, climate zone and permit office: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Tampa, Washington. See all local costs →
Exterior painting FAQ
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a house?
Our range is $1.80 to $3.80 per sq ft of paintable area, typically $3. For a 2,000 sq ft home, that's about $5,100 typical. HomeGuide puts it at $3,000 – $10,000 and Angi's average job is $3,178.[1][2]
Is it cheaper to paint vinyl siding or replace it?
Painting is far cheaper: about $2.55 per sq ft typical by our blend, versus several dollars more per sq ft to replace siding (see our siding guide). Use paint rated for vinyl and avoid colors much darker than the original to prevent warping.
How often should a house exterior be painted?
Angi says most homes need it every six to 10 years, with wood siding needing more frequent attention.[2]
Does a two-story house cost more to paint?
Yes. Angi adds about 30% for walls above 8 ft and says two-story homes can cost up to 50% more than one-story homes.[2]
What should an exterior painting quote include?
Power washing, scraping and sanding, caulking, priming bare spots, the number of coats, the paint brand and line, trim and doors, and cleanup. Bids that skip prep are cheaper but don't last as long.
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Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide, “How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?” (updated Jul 9, 2025). homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-paint-exterior-of-house (accessed Oct 13, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House? [2026 Data]” (updated Jul 20, 2026). angi.com/articles/cost-paint-house-exterior.htm (accessed Oct 13, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.