Exterior painting costs $1,800 to $10,000 a job in 2026
Exterior painting costs $1,800 to $10,000 for a house in 2026. NerdWallet lists an average of $3,177 and a range of $1,800 to $4,500, or $1.50 to $4 a square foot. Resident Magazine lists $3,000 to $10,000 or more. Size, number of floors, siding and prep work move the price. Get three written quotes before you pick a painter, and compare what each one covers.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| NerdWallet | NerdWallet lists an average of $3,177, a range of $1,800 to $4,500 and $1.50 to $4 per square foot for exterior painting, updated February 2026. |
| Resident Magazine | Resident Magazine lists $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot and $3,000 to $10,000 or more for a full exterior repaint. |
| Signal | The Signal lists exterior painting at $2.50 to $7 per square foot and says labor is 60 to 75 percent of the cost. |
Exterior painting price by house size
| House size | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $1,500 to $4,000 | NerdWallet |
| 2,000 square feet | $3,000 to $8,000 | NerdWallet |
| 3,000 square feet | $4,500 to $12,000 | NerdWallet |
| Small home, 1,000 to 1,500 square feet | $3,000 to $5,500 | Resident Magazine |
| Medium home, 1,500 to 2,500 square feet | $4,500 to $8,000 | Resident Magazine |
| Large or multi story home | $7,000 to $10,000+ | Resident Magazine |
| Per square foot | $1.50 to $7 | All three |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| House size | NerdWallet lists $1,500 to $4,000 for 1,000 square feet and $4,500 to $12,000 for 3,000 square feet, so bigger homes cost more. |
| Number of floors | Resident Magazine says stories and roofline shape change the price. Tall homes need ladders and lifts, which adds labor time. |
| Siding type | Wood, stucco, brick and fiber cement need different prep and paint. Rough or damaged siding costs more to paint. |
| Prep work | Scraping, sanding and priming take time. Resident Magazine says the more prep, the closer the price will be to the top of the range. |
| Labor and paint | Signal says labor is 60 to 75 percent of the cost and materials are 25 to 40 percent. Better paint costs more. |
What the price includes
A typical quote covers washing, light scraping, caulk, primer where needed and two coats of paint on siding and trim. Many painters also cover plants and clean up. Big repairs, rotted wood, lead paint work, a lift for tall homes, and extra colors can cost more. Ask for a written quote that lists each task. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
Painting the outside yourself saves the labor cost, which The Signal says is 60 to 75 percent of a pro job. You still pay for paint, primer, brushes, rollers, a ladder and your time. It is slow, hard work, and high walls are risky. A pro works faster, has the right gear and can fix problems. DIY can make sense for a small, one story house with sound siding. For a tall home, a big job or old paint that may have lead, hire a pro.
How to tell you need it
Look for peeling, cracking or bubbling paint, chalky color that rubs off, faded spots or bare wood. Dark spots can mean mildew, which should be cleaned. If water gets into bare wood, it can rot. Paint is a shield for your siding. Most homes need a fresh coat every several years. Painting early costs less than fixing rot later.
How to judge your quote
- Ask for a written quote that lists prep, primer, number of coats and trim.
- Ask what repairs are included and what the price is if the painter finds rot.
- Ask for the brand and type of paint, and how many years it should last.
- Ask about the warranty, and check the painter's license and insurance.
- Compare the total with the range above: $1,800 to $10,000 per job for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Get at least three written quotes. Prices vary by painter and by house, so compare what each quote includes, not only the total.
- Paint a single story home in a mild season. Painters may have more open time and lower prices outside the busy summer weeks.
- Do simple prep yourself, such as moving plants, clearing the walls and washing off dust, if the painter agrees.
- Fix small rot or caulk gaps before the painters come. Early repairs cost less than major wood work found in the middle of a job.
- Pick good paint, not the cheapest. Better paint lasts longer, so you wait more years before you pay for the next paint job.
Why this costs more in 2026
Trade labor now runs about $75 to $150 an hour in most of the US. Lumber, steel, copper, PVC and concrete all cost more than in 2024, and freight went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Exterior painting costs more in 2026 because labor is most of the bill and skilled painters charge more for prep and finish work.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from NerdWallet, Resident Magazine and Signal. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a house?
Most jobs cost $1,800 to $10,000. NerdWallet lists an average of $3,177. Resident Magazine lists $3,000 to $10,000 or more for a full repaint.
How much is exterior painting per square foot?
Sources list $1.50 to $4 at NerdWallet, $1.50 to $4.50 at Resident Magazine and $2.50 to $7 at The Signal. The spread comes from prep work and siding.
How much does it cost to paint a 2,000 square foot house?
NerdWallet lists $3,000 to $8,000 for a 2,000 square foot house. Two story homes and rough siding cost more. Get written quotes.
What part of the price is labor?
The Signal says labor is 60 to 75 percent of the total cost, and materials are 25 to 40 percent. That is why prep work matters so much.
When is the best time to paint the outside?
Pick dry, mild days. Rain, wet wood and cold can hurt how paint sticks. Ask your painter which weeks are best in your area.