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Exterior House Painting Cost in 2026 (Prices by Size and Siding)
Painting the outside of a house costs about $3,000 to $10,000 in 2026, or $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot. See prices by siding, home size and DIY costs.
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Paint is the first thing that keeps water out of your siding. When it cracks and peels, moisture gets in, wood rots and the repair bill climbs. A fresh coat also changes how the house looks from the street more than almost anything else you can do for the money.
Here is what exterior painting costs in 2026, what drives the quote up or down, and what you will spend if you do it yourself.
Quick answer: how much does it cost?
Most pros charge $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot of exterior wall. A full house usually comes to $3,000 to $10,000, and large or complicated homes go beyond that.
| Home size (living area) | Typical professional cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $4,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $2,500 to $6,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $3,500 to $8,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $4,500 to $10,500 |
| 3,000+ sq ft | $6,000 to $14,000+ |
Ranges are estimates built from 2026 per-square-foot figures: $1.50 to $4.50 (Resident and NerdWallet), $2.20 to $4.37 (HomeWyse, May 2026), and up to $7 for high-end work (Signal SCV). NerdWallet puts a typical job at $1,800 to $4,500, with an average near $3,200. Numbers differ by source, so treat them as planning ranges and get quotes.
Cost by siding material
Different surfaces need different prep and paint.
| Siding | Typical cost per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | $2 to $5 | Needs scraping, sanding and priming. Most prep work. |
| Vinyl | $1.50 to $3.50 | Needs vinyl-safe paint, lighter colors work best. |
| Fiber cement (Hardie) | $2 to $4.50 | Holds paint for 10 to 15 years. |
| Stucco | $1.50 to $4.50 | Needs patching, and a sprayer or thick roller. |
| Brick | $2 to $4.50 | Painting brick is hard to undo. Think twice. |
| Aluminum | $1.50 to $3.50 | Needs a good primer. |
Per-square-foot figures by siding are typical published ranges, spot-check with local painters.
What changes the price
- Prep work. Scraping, sanding, caulking, patching and priming often take as long as painting. A house with lots of peeling paint costs much more than one needing a light clean and coat.
- Number of stories. Two-story homes need lifts or scaffolding. Add 20% to 30%.
- Trim and details. Shutters, columns, fascia and railings each add time.
- Paint quality. A premium exterior paint costs $50 to $80 a gallon. A builder grade paint is $25 to $40. The better one often lasts several years longer.
- Color change. Going from dark to light usually means an extra coat.
- Repairs found along the way. Rotted trim or siding boards cost extra, usually $50 to $100 per board to replace and more for big sections.
- Region. Labor is the main cost, so big metro areas pay more.
Pro painting vs DIY
| Professional | DIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, 2,000 sq ft home | $3,500 to $8,500 | $700 to $1,800 |
| Time | 3 to 7 days | 2 to 4 weekends |
| Finish | Even, with warranty (often 2 to 5 years) | Depends on you |
| Risk | Low | Ladder falls, uneven coverage |
DIY supply list: about 10 to 15 gallons of paint and primer for an average house ($300 to $1,000), plus brushes, rollers, tape, drop cloths, caulk, scraper, ladder or extension pole and a pressure washer rental ($50 to $100 per day).
DIY works well for a single-story house, a small area like a porch or garage, or trim only.
Hire a pro for two or more stories, lots of peeling, lead paint risk (homes built before 1978), or if you do not want to be on a ladder for weeks.
When to paint
- Temperature: Most exterior paints work best between 50 and 85 degrees F. Check the can.
- Dry weather: No rain for 24 hours before and after, and low humidity.
- Best seasons: Late spring and early fall in most of the US.
- Avoid: Direct hot sun on a wall (paint dries too fast), cold nights, windy days.
Painters get booked from May to September. For a spring job, call in February or March. Off-season slots in late fall sometimes come with small discounts.
How to get a fair quote
- Get 3 written quotes for the same scope.
- Ask what prep is included: washing, scraping, caulking, priming, number of coats.
- Ask for the paint brand and line by name.
- Check insurance and license, and get references from recent jobs.
- Be careful with very low bids. Cutting prep is how they get there, and peeling follows within two years.
- Get a warranty in writing.
- Pay a deposit of 10% to 30%, not half upfront.
Ways to save money
- Wash the house first yourself. Dirt and mildew prep is a few hours with a hose, brush and cleaner. See pressure washing cost.
- Do the prep and have the pro paint. Scraping and taping yourself can cut a few hundred dollars from the bill. Ask first.
- Paint every other side if only some sides are failing. South and west faces weather fastest.
- Buy good paint. Cheap paint means repainting sooner.
- Pick a color close to the current one to avoid a second coat.
- Spot repair instead of a full repaint when the paint is mostly sound.
- Time it. Book off-peak and compare 3 quotes.
How long does exterior paint last?
| Surface | Typical life |
|---|---|
| Wood siding | 4 to 8 years |
| Stucco | 5 to 10 years |
| Fiber cement | 10 to 15 years |
| Vinyl | 5 to 10 years (when painted) |
| Brick | 15 to 20 years |
South and west facing walls fade and peel first. Dark colors fade faster than light colors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a 2,000 sq ft house? Usually $3,500 to $8,500 with a pro, depending on prep, stories and trim. DIY materials run about $700 to $1,800.
Is it cheaper to paint or side a house? Painting is much cheaper. New vinyl siding commonly costs $10,000 to $20,000 or more.
How many coats are needed? One coat of primer where needed, plus two coats of paint. A same-color repaint over sound paint can sometimes use one.
Do I need to pressure wash before painting? You need a clean surface. A gentle wash is fine. Hard pressure on old wood can damage it.
Does painting increase home value? It helps curb appeal and sale price, and keeps the house from losing value to rot.
The bottom line
Expect $3,000 to $10,000 to hire a pro to paint a typical house exterior, or $700 to $1,800 in materials to do it yourself. Prep decides how long the job lasts, so pay for it or do it carefully. Book in late winter for a spring job.
Also see our guide to interior painting cost and the full Spring Home Maintenance Checklist.
Sources: Resident, NerdWallet, HomeWyse and Signal SCV 2026 exterior painting cost guides.
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