Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House in 2026

Painting the exterior of a house costs $3,000–$12,000 in 2026 with a $6,500 national average, or $1.50–$4.50 per sqft. Here's the breakdown by house size, siding material, and what drives the price.

Quick answer

Painting the exterior of a house costs $3,000–$12,000 in 2026, with a national average around $6,500. That's $1.50–$4.50 per sqft of siding surface, or roughly $2–$5 per sqft of home footprint (single-story) to $3–$8 per sqft of footprint (two-story).

Under $3,000 for a full exterior repaint on any house over 1,000 sqft is a red flag — skipped prep, one-coat coverage, or an unlicensed painter. Over $12,000 usually means large homes (3,500+ sqft), difficult access (steep grades, multi-story), extensive prep (peeling paint, wood rot), or high-cost metros.

Cost by house size (national averages, 2026)

House size	Single-story	Two-story
1,000 sqft	$2,500–$5,500	$3,500–$7,500
1,500 sqft	$3,500–$7,500	$4,500–$9,500
2,000 sqft	$4,500–$9,500	$5,500–$12,000
2,500 sqft	$5,500–$11,500	$7,000–$14,500
3,000 sqft	$6,500–$14,000	$8,500–$18,000
4,000 sqft	$8,500–$17,000	$11,000–$22,000

Cost by siding material

Different siding takes different prep, primer, and paint — which changes the per-sqft rate:

Wood siding (cedar, redwood, engineered wood): $2–$5/sqft. Highest labor — needs sanding, priming, and sometimes rot repair.
Vinyl siding: $1.50–$3/sqft. Easiest to paint — clean, prime with vinyl-safe primer, spray. Not all vinyl accepts paint well; check with the painter.
Fiber cement (Hardie Board, LP SmartSide): $1.50–$3.50/sqft. Comes primed from the factory; recoats cleanly.
Stucco: $1.75–$4.50/sqft. Textured surface needs more paint and thicker application. Crack repair often adds $500–$2,000.
Brick (painting): $2.50–$5/sqft. Requires masonry primer + specialty paint. Painting brick is permanent — once painted, you're maintaining paint forever. Think twice.
Metal siding: $1.75–$4/sqft. Needs rust treatment and specialty primer.

What's actually in the exterior paint bill

On a $6,500 typical project (average 1,800–2,200 sqft single-story home), the breakdown is roughly:

Labor: ~65% ($4,225). A 2–3-person crew takes 3–5 days — pressure wash (day 1), scrape and prep, prime bare spots, cut around trim/windows/doors, spray or roll body, second coat, cleanup.
Paint + primer: ~18% ($1,170). Roughly 15–25 gallons of exterior-grade paint at $50–$85/gal. Premium exterior paint runs $75–$110/gal and adds a real durability difference.
Other materials: ~5% ($325). Caulk, patching compound, masking, tarps.
Overhead + profit: ~12% ($780). Truck, sprayer maintenance, ladders/scaffolding, insurance, margin.

How we know: BLS cross-check

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2025 data, the national median wage for a painter is $23.75/hr. Exterior work covers 150–250 sqft/hr when spraying (faster than interior rolling) but requires 20–30% more prep time. On a 2,000 sqft single-story home (~2,000–2,500 sqft of siding surface), a 2-painter crew invests 45–80 hours. At $52–$71/hr fully-loaded labor cost, that's $2,300–$5,700 in labor — matching the range every published cost source (HomeGuide, Angi, Homewyse) cites for a 2,000 sqft exterior repaint.

What pushes the exterior price UP

Second story: add 25–40% for ladder + safety time and slower cutting around windows.
Extensive prep. Scraping peeling paint, wood rot repair, siding replacement: $500–$4,000 depending on scope. Old lead-paint remediation adds even more.
Difficult access. Steep grades, no driveway proximity, close neighbors requiring hand-brushing over spray — all slow the crew down. Add 10–25%.
Multiple colors. Body + trim + accent is standard and included. Adding a fourth color (shutters, front door custom) adds $200–$500 per surface.
Premium paint (Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh): add $500–$1,500. Real durability difference — 15–20 year lifespan vs. 8–12 for standard.
Location. California coast, Florida, and Pacific Northwest — humid or salt-air conditions require higher paint spec. High-cost metros add 30–50%.

Spray vs. brush vs. roll: which and why

Most exterior painters spray body coats and brush/roll trim and cut-ins. Reasons:

Spray is 4–6× faster than brush on open siding — the main way exterior jobs stay affordable.
Brush is used on trim, corners, tight spots, and any overspray-sensitive areas (close neighbors, cars, plants).
Roll is used on some surfaces (rough stucco, brick) where spray coverage is uneven.

A quote that includes "brushed and rolled body" instead of spray is usually 30–50% more expensive. Fine on a small house or if you have unusual conditions; on a normal suburban home it's overkill.

How often should you repaint the exterior?

Wood siding: 5–8 years
Fiber cement: 10–15 years
Vinyl: 15+ years (usually only if you're changing color)
Stucco: 8–12 years (crack repair as needed)
Painted brick: 5–8 years (and be prepared to keep painting forever — removing is expensive/impossible)

Sun exposure (south + west facing walls) fades faster and often needs a touch-up cycle 2–3 years before a full repaint. Peeling anywhere = time to plan a repaint within 12 months.

FAQ

How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a 2,000 sqft house?

A single-story 2,000 sqft home runs $4,500–$9,500 in 2026, with $6,500 being the national midpoint. A two-story 2,000 sqft home runs $5,500–$12,000. Bay Area, NYC, and LA prices can be 30–50% higher.

How much does exterior painting cost per square foot?

$1.50–$4.50 per sqft of siding surface for a standard 2-coat repaint. Vinyl is cheapest ($1.50–$3); wood, stucco, and brick sit at the top. See our full exterior painting cost per square foot breakdown.

Do exterior painters charge more for second-story work?

Yes — typically 25–40% more per sqft on second-story areas due to ladder/scaffolding time, slower cutting around windows, and OSHA safety requirements. On a two-story home, expect the total to be 25–35% higher than the same square footage on a single-story.

Should I pressure wash the house before painting?

Yes — pressure washing is standard practice and included in any legitimate quote. It removes chalking, mildew, and loose dirt so paint adheres properly. If a quote skips it, that's a corner-cutting sign. Some painters charge $250–$500 extra if the house is unusually dirty.

What's the best time of year to paint the exterior?

Late spring through early fall in most climates — daytime temps 50–85°F with no rain in the 24-hour forecast. Painters discount 10–20% in shoulder months (late April, September) to keep crews busy before/after peak season. Avoid painting exteriors in winter almost anywhere — modern paints have wider temp windows but curing is unpredictable.

Can I paint the exterior myself?

Technically yes; realistically it's the hardest DIY paint job. A DIY exterior repaint on a 1,500 sqft single-story house takes 60–100 hours of labor over 3–4 weekends, requires a sprayer rental ($200–$400) or extremely long roller time, and any second-story work needs proper ladder skills and safety gear. Materials-only cost is $500–$1,200 saving $2,500–$8,000 in labor — attractive if you have the time and comfort with heights.

See our detailed exterior painting cost per square foot breakdown for the underlying $/sqft math. For interior: interior painting cost per square foot and cost to paint a 1,500 sq ft house interior. See what painters earn on our painter rates pages (all 51 states).

Updated August 2026. Sources: BLS OEWS 2025 (472141 Painters), Angi, HomeGuide, Homewyse, TaskRabbit.