PAINTING
How Much Does Exterior Painting Cost?
Estimate exterior house painting cost per square foot — paint material, prep and labor — with the free calculator.
Exterior paint protects the most exposed surfaces of a home, and pricing it right means accounting for surface area, prep and the number of stories. This guide covers the cost per square foot and a calculator to price the job.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Exterior painting runs $1.50–$4.50 per sq ft, or $2,500–$6,500 for a typical 1,500 sq ft home. Paint material is $1–$2 per sq ft; prep, masking and labor make up the rest.
Materials and cost per sq ft
Paint quality drives durability. 100% acrylic latex is the standard for exteriors — it flexes with temperature changes and resists fading. Primer, caulk and prep materials add cost but are non-negotiable for a lasting finish.
- Paint: $1–$2 per sq ft
- Prep (washing, scraping, caulking): $0.50–$1.50 per sq ft
- Labor: $1–$3 per sq ft
- Total: $1.50–$4.50 per sq ft installed
The prep is the difference
Power washing, scraping loose paint, caulking gaps and priming are most of the hours on an exterior job. A clean, dry, primed surface is what makes the paint last 5-10 years instead of 2.
Stories and access add cost
Two-story homes require ladders, staging or a lift, which adds labor and risk. Trim, fascia, soffits and window frames are extra surfaces that most quotes price separately.
Try the calculator with your walls
Enter the exterior surface area, paint price per sq ft and labor per sq ft to see the total.