By Ben M.
Exterior house painting runs $3,500 to $9,000 for a standard single-family home, with most contractors pricing between $3.00 and $6.00 per square foot of paintable wall surface. Unlike interior work, the estimate is dominated by two things: what the siding is made of, and how much repair the surface needs before any paint goes on.
Quick Reference: Exterior Painting Costs
- Whole-home range: $3,500 to $9,000 for a 1,500-2,500 sq ft single-family home.
- Per square foot of paintable wall: $3.00 to $6.00.
- Single story vs two story: expect a meaningful premium for staging and ladder work.
- Prep-heavy jobs: scraping, wood repair, and priming can rival the cost of the coating itself.
Note: these are 2026 regional averages. Final pricing always comes from an on-site assessment.
How Exterior Pricing Is Calculated
Estimators use actual paintable wall surface, not interior floor area. Estimating standards from the Paint and Decorating Contractors of America define what counts: wall faces minus openings, plus trim, soffits, fascia, and any railings or shutters in scope.
That is why a compact two-story can cost more than a sprawling ranch with the same floor area — more wall, more height, more access equipment.
How Siding Material Changes the Price
- Fiber cement: smooth and stable, the most economical to coat and the longest-lasting result.
- Wood siding: needs the most prep — scraping, sanding, spot priming — and repaints most often.
- Stucco and masonry: porous, so material consumption climbs and elastomeric systems cost more.
- Vinyl and aluminum: minimal prep but requires vinyl-safe formulations, which limits color choice.
- Brick: heavy material draw and a one-way decision, since painted brick must stay painted.
Our guide on how often to repaint breaks the intervals down by the same materials.
What Else Moves the Estimate
- Prep condition: failed caulk, rotted trim, and peeling paint are labor line items before painting starts.
- Height and access: second stories, steep grades, and tight landscaping all add staging time.
- Color change: going dramatically lighter or darker means primer plus additional coats.
- Trim and detail: shutters, railings, columns, and multi-panel doors are slow, separate work.
- Weather window: tight seasonal windows compress schedules, which our post on painting temperature explains.
Common Questions About Exterior Painting Costs
What weather does exterior painting require?
Temperatures consistently between 50 and 85°F, humidity under 70 percent, and no rain forecast for 24 to 48 hours after application.
Is pressure washing included?
In most professional scopes, yes — it is prep, not an add-on. Confirm it appears in the written scope, along with the number of coats.
How long does an exterior repaint take?
Typically 4 to 7 working days for an average home, longer if the surface needs heavy scraping or carpentry repairs first.
Does one coat ever make sense?
Rarely. A single coat over existing paint without primer lasts 2 to 4 years, while primer plus two coats lasts 8 to 12. The upfront saving is usually a false economy.
Get an Exterior Estimate
Exterior estimates hinge on what the walls need before painting. That is a walk-around assessment, not something a square footage calculator can price.
Contact That 1 Painter to schedule a detailed, obligation-free on-site estimate. Every home is different, so final pricing always comes from an in-person assessment of materials, prep, and surface condition.