Low Estimate
$420 – $560
|
Average Cost Estimate
$2,800 – $3,600
|
High Estimate
$3,850 – $4,950
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Home Size | 1400 – 1800 | 1400 – 1800 | 1400 – 1800 |
Cost Per Square Foot | .35 cents /sqft | $2 / sqft | $2.75 / sqft |
Exterior Condition | Good / Average | Average / Fair | Average / Poor |
Primer / Surface Prep | Minimal | Average | Average / Extensive |
Coats of Paint Applied | 1 – 2 | 2 – 3 | 2 – 3 |
Number of Floors / Stories | 1 | 1 – 2 | 1 – 2 |
Paint Quality | Good / Average | Average / Better | Average / High |
DIY or Pro | DIY | Pro | Pro |
Additional Tools / Supplies | $0 – $550 | None / Provided | None / Provided |
Permit & Inspection | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Painting a home’s exterior is a fast, affordable way to dramatically change its appearance. Paint can be applied to almost any siding, so it’s a versatile option too. On wood and fiber cement siding, paint is more than just aesthetic. It also protects the siding from moisture damage. The downside of painting is that it must be repeated every three to ten years depending on climatic conditions where you live and the type of siding beneath. The upside is that it really freshens up a home and gives you the opportunity to change its look more frequently than with other exterior options.
This page of Costimates brings together the total cost to paint a house including materials and the labor required to prep it and apply exterior house paint. Important factors that affect exterior painting cost are listed to help you determine where on our spectrum your price will fall. To improve the accuracy of your exterior house painting estimate, we check and compare costs from other online estimating services. We also include submissions from homeowners around the country on their total cost, for you to compare.
Note on homes built before 1978: Lead paint application was outlawed in 1978. If your home was built before 1978 and needs significant scraping prior to repainting, lead abatement might be required. A widely quoted cost from the US EPA is $8-$15 per square foot for lead abatement which shows just how expensive this can be. Those costs are not included in this estimate of exterior painting costs.
The size of your home and its condition are the two key factors in exterior painting costs. Others on the list have less impact:
Here are costs for DIY jobs. You might not use all supplies and tools listed. The list also gives you an idea of the paint and supply costs that form part of any house painting quotes you get from pros.
Note: These costs cover average repairs and preparation plus painting the house. Significant house repairs such as replacing siding boards or panels before painting are a separate expense.
Permits and Inspection Cost
While you don’t need a permit from your city or county, do you need permission from your homeowner’s association? If you’re in an HOA, check its bylaws about paint colors and schemes. Some can be quite particular, and neglecting the bylaws can lead to legal trouble or the need to repaint part or all your home.
Related Costs and Installation Time
So far, our exterior painting costs have covered supplies and tools. Let’s consider estimated labor costs for those that plan to hire a paint contractor for the work.
Cost will be on the lower end of the range when less preparation and repair is needed. They’ll be on the higher end for small homes and when more prep and repair is needed.
Exterior House Painting Time Schedule
If the siding needs a lot of scraping, wood filling, cleaning and caulk replacement, the prep time might be as long as the paint time. Here’s an idea of the timeframe you can expect for a crew of 2 or 3 people.
Painting is a project that many homeowners may be able to do on their own. Aside from basic skills, the hardest thing about painting your own house is the prepwork, standing on ladders, and getting the tools to do the job right. If you’re a handy homeowner who owns a single story home, this is not a hard project. That stated, there are some downsides to DIY exterior painting .
I have painted my own home once. Our current home has wooden shake siding and I will never do it again. 🙂 I’ll hire a painting contractor every time due to the speed they get it done, the advice on colors and durability, as well as the quality of the finished product.
I Suggest Hiring a Painter, What do you think?
In order to give you a fair comparison of costs, we found these other places around the web who share estimates as well.
Average
|
Cost Range | |
---|---|---|
Costimates | $2 / sqft | $2,800 – $3,600 (1600sf) |
HomeAdvisor | $2 / sqft | $1,700 – $3,900 |
PaintersChoice | $1.50 – $2.10 / sqft | $1,800 – $2,500 |
FixR | $1.60 – $2.30 | $2,500 to $3,500 (1500sf) |
Suggest a Cost Comparison from Another Website |
Costimates.com is an online library of home improvement cost estimates, to help homeowners learn, plan, budget and compare repair pricing and replacement costs around their house.
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