Exterior house painting costs $1,800 to $12,000 per project in 2026
Exterior house painting costs $1,800 to $12,000 per project in 2026. NerdWallet lists an average of $3,177. Inch Calculator lists a national average of $6,000, and Fixr lists $6,242 to $11,617 for a 2,200 square foot home. The sources do not agree, so get local quotes. Price moves with home size, floors, siding, prep work, and the number of coats.
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 exterior average of $3,177, a range of $1,800 to $4,500, and $1.50 to $4 per square foot. |
| Inch Calculator | Inch Calculator lists a national average of $6,000 and a typical range of $2,000 to $12,000. |
| Fixr | Fixr lists $6,242 to $11,617 for a 2,200 square foot home and $2.84 to $5.28 per square foot. |
Exterior painting price by home size and source
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average exterior job | $3,177 | NerdWallet |
| Typical range | $1,800 to $4,500 | NerdWallet |
| 1,000 sq ft home | $1,500 to $4,000 | NerdWallet |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $3,000 to $8,000 | NerdWallet |
| One story home | $2,000 to $5,000 | Inch Calculator |
| Two story home | $4,000 to $12,000 | Inch Calculator |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $5,675 to $10,561 | Fixr |
| Cost per square foot | $2.84 to $5.28 | Fixr |
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 |
|---|---|
| Home size | More wall area means more paint and time. NerdWallet lists $1,500 to $4,000 for 1,000 square feet and $4,500 to $12,000 for 3,000 square feet. |
| Number of floors | Two stories need ladders and scaffolds. Inch Calculator lists $2,000 to $5,000 for one story and $4,000 to $12,000 for two stories. |
| Siding type | Wood, brick, and stucco need different prep. Fixr lists $2.30 to $5.80 per square foot, depending on the siding material. |
| Prep work | Scraping, washing, and repairs add labor. Inch Calculator lists painters at about $60 per hour, so more prep means a bigger bill. |
| Paint quality | Better paint costs more but can last longer. Inch Calculator lists $25 to $70 per gallon for standard paint and $50 to $100 for premium paint. |
What the price includes
A quote often covers labor, paint, primer, and basic prep like washing and scraping. NerdWallet lists $1.50 to $4 per square foot for exterior work. Big repairs to rotted wood or siding, lead paint work, and extra coats may cost extra. Ask if trim, doors, and shutters are in the price. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
Most painters give a flat quote for the whole job. The quote is often based on the square feet of wall to paint. NerdWallet lists $1.50 to $4 per square foot, and Fixr lists $2.84 to $5.28. Some painters bill by the hour. Inch Calculator lists about $60 per hour. Ask for a written quote that lists the prep work, the paint brand, the number of coats, and the start date. Most painters ask for a deposit and the rest when the job is done.
When you need this
Repaint the outside when paint peels, cracks, fades, or chalks. Bare spots let water in and can rot the wood underneath. A fresh coat also helps when you want to sell your home. Paint protects your siding and makes the house look better. If you see soft wood or mold, fix that first, then paint.
How to judge your quote
- Does the quote list square feet, number of coats, and the brand of paint?
- Does the price include washing, scraping, caulking, and repairs?
- Are trim, doors, shutters, and the garage in the price?
- Does the painter offer a written warranty and proof of insurance?
- Compare the total with the range above: $1,800 to $12,000 per project for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Get at least three written quotes with the same list of work, then compare the price per square foot.
- Ask for quotes in the slow season. A painter with open dates may offer a better price, so ask each one if a discount is possible.
- Do the prep yourself. Washing the walls and moving plants can cut the hours a painter bills at about $60 per hour.
- Fix small wood rot first, or ask a handyman. A painter's repair work is billed at the same hourly rate as painting.
- Choose a good paint but skip premium extras you do not need. Inch Calculator lists standard paint at $25 to $70 per gallon.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from NerdWallet, Inch Calculator and Fixr. 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?
NerdWallet lists an average of $3,177. Inch Calculator lists a national average of $6,000, and Fixr lists $6,242 to $11,617 for a 2,200 square foot home.
How much does it cost per square foot?
NerdWallet lists $1.50 to $4 per square foot. Fixr lists $2.84 to $5.28.
How much for a one story house?
Inch Calculator lists $2,000 to $5,000 for a one story home. NerdWallet lists $1,500 to $4,000 for 1,000 square feet.
How much for a two story house?
Inch Calculator lists $4,000 to $12,000 for a two story home. Fixr lists $5,675 to $10,561 for 2,000 square feet.
How much does exterior paint cost per gallon?
Inch Calculator lists $25 to $70 per gallon for standard paint and $50 to $100 for premium paint.