There are many benefits to painting the exterior of your home. 

Perhaps you’re looking to increase the resale value with a little facelift. Or, maybe you purchased the house, and the color isn’t what you would have picked. Whatever your reason for painting a house’s exterior, you may have put off the project because it sounds like such a big job.

It is a big job!

Not only that, you wonder – how much is it going to cost you?

From the size of the house to the prep work required to the painting surface, this guide breaks down everything you need to know when it comes to calculating the cost of painting your home.

Table of Contents

Calculating the Average Cost to Get a House Painted

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably been wondering: “what is the average cost to paint a house?”

There isn’t a simple answer.

Many factors, from the material of the building to how much prep work needs to be done, go into calculating the average cost to paint a house exterior. 

The most important factor for calculating the project’s total cost is how much area needs to be painted. 

How Much Does it Cost to Professionally Paint a House?

The average cost to paint a house’s exterior is $2.50-$4.00 a square foot. The median size of a single-family home in 2019 was just over 2,300 square feet. That would mean professionally painting a house of that size would typically cost $5,750+.

The cost to professionally paint a house is calculated by adding:

  • Labor costs (including painting and prep work)

AND

  • Materials, such as:
    • Paint (This can range from around $20-$75 per gallon, depending on the quality)
    • Primer
    • Ladders/scaffolding
    • Pressure washer
    • Sander
    • Paintbrushes and rollers
    • Paint sprayer

5 Factors That Will Determine the Cost to Paint a House

Painting your house may not cost the same as what your brother paid to paint his home across the country or even what your neighbors paid to paint their home just across the street. 

Several factors are at play when determining the cost to freshen up a house with a paint project, including:

  1. Material type
  2. Building 
  3. Location
  4. Labor
  5. Prep work

#1: Material type

Homes are built from a variety of materials, including:

  • Vinyl
  • Stucco
  • Wood
  • Metal or aluminum 
  • Concrete 
  • Brick

The difference in building material may play a role in the:

  • Type of paint
  • Amount of paint
  • Time necessary

To complete an exterior paint project. Those differences will be reflected in the price of the project.

Average Cost to Paint Vinyl

Vinyl siding is relatively inexpensive to paint—plan on paying between $1.25-$3.00 per square foot to paint this material.

In terms of prep work, vinyl siding will need to be cleaned and repaired (if necessary) before painting.

Average Cost to Paint Stucco

Due to its unique texture, stucco requires special paint and materials to do the job well. 

Average costs to paint stucco range from $1.75-$3.50+ per square foot. This is largely dependent on the amount of prep work necessary to begin painting. 

Cracks must be repaired, and stucco must be pressure washed for the paint to adhere correctly. Expect to wait up to 6 weeks after all stucco repairs have been made before applying paint to the surface.

Depending on your home’s stucco condition, it may be more cost-efficient to install new stucco rather than painting it.

Average Cost to Paint Wood

Wood is one of the more inexpensive materials to repaint. However, wood siding often needs the most prep work prior to painting. Wood needs to be:

  • Scraped and sanded
  • Free of any wood rot (which must be repaired or replaced)
  • Free of any cracks/holes (which need to be filled)

Additionally, you may need to have a house with wood siding repainted more frequently than homes built with other materials.

Average Cost to Paint Metal or Aluminum

The average cost to paint metal or aluminum exteriors is roughly $1.50-$2.50 per square foot.

Before painting metal or aluminum, it’s necessary to:

  • Remove any loose coatings and rust by scraping or sanding
  • Pressure wash the surface to ensure siding is clean and free of residue

Average Cost to Paint Concrete

Concrete is one of the more affordable exterior materials to paint. Costs range from $1.00-$3.50 per square foot.

Average Cost to Paint Brick

Brick is arguably the most expensive material to paint. 

Because brick is both rough and porous, you’ll need a lot more paint and primer than you would when painting another material. 

You’ll need to budget between $1.50-$4.50 per square foot.

While painting brick is expensive upfront, you may save money over the long run. On average, brick only needs to be painted every 20-25 years.

#2: Building Height/Architecture

When it comes to exterior painting, the taller the building, the higher the price. 

Multi-story buildings require extra equipment such as:

  • Extension ladders

AND EVEN

  • Scaffolding, in some cases

Not only that, painting additional stories means additional paintable space, adding to the cost of both paint and labor.

#3: Location

Like most things, the cost of painting a home’s exterior may vary depending on where you live.

For example: 

The average price to paint a house in Portland, Oregon is $5,528.00; this includes $2.00-$4.00 per square foot for materials alone. 

Meanwhile, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the cost of living is higher, you can expect to pay around $7,885.00, including $3.00-$6.00 per square foot for materials.

A1 Paint Removal, Painting and Restoration is a family business with more than 25 years of experience in the Portland area. 

Not only are the experts at A1 familiar with Portland’s climate and how that impacts paint projects, but they also want to make their city beautiful by bringing vibrance and life back into Portland homes.

#4: Labor

When it comes to painting a house, labor accounts for the majority of the final bill. 

Painting a home’s exterior is typically a time-consuming project. 

Most professional painters will charge between $25-$75 an hour to prep and paint a house. These labor costs are worked into the entire project estimate. 

Depending on the size of your home, you may need more than one painter for the job.

#5: Prep Work

In order to paint the exterior of a house, the painter needs a clean, smooth surface.

This may mean some prep work is necessary before diving into the painting project.

Prep work may include:

  • Filling in holes and cracks
  • Caulking
  • Siding repair
  • Power washing
  • Sanding

You can opt to do this prep work yourself, however, when experienced professionals do the preparation work, they’ll ensure it’s done properly.

You can expect the pros to charge between $25-$50 per hour for prep work, depending on the building’s material and how much repair work is necessary.

How to Estimate a Painting Job’s Area

Looking to figure out just how big (or small) a paint job will be?

It’s not as simple as going by the size (square footage) of your home. However, your home’s square footage is a good place to start.

Here’s an easy way to get an estimate of the paintable area of your home’s exterior:

  1. Measure the perimeter of your house and multiply by your home’s height to find the This will give you the total finished area.
  2. Subtract the area of doors, windows, garage doors, etc. from the total finished area to determine the total paintable area.

What Is the Average Cost to Paint a 2,500 Sq. Ft House?

Let’s say your house is 2,500 square feet. Prices for this exterior paint project will range from roughly $3900-$8150. 

The large range takes into account:

  • Material type
  • Building 
  • Location
  • Labor
  • Prep work
  • And more

How Much Does it Cost to Paint the Exterior of a 2,000 Square Foot House?

Maybe your house is more like 2,000 square feet. If that’s the case, prepare to shell out $3100-$6500, depending on the factors already mentioned.

What Is the Average Cost to Paint an 1,800 Sq. Ft House?

If your home is 1,800 square feet, the price will likely be less, given there aren’t any significant repairs and prep work to be done.

Expect to pay approximately $2800-$5800 for a project of this size.

Exterior Painting With A1 Paint Removal, Painting & Restoration

Painting the exterior of a house is a big job, and you likely don’t have the equipment necessary to do the project right.

Leave it up to the professionals. At A1 Paint Removal, Painting & Restoration, full-service exterior painting is what we do.

Every home is different. When you hire A1 Paint Removal, Painting & Restoration, you can expect our team of experienced inspectors to evaluate your home’s needs, taking into account:

  • Age of the home
  • Base material
  • Finish

Once hired for the job, A1 Paint Removal, Painting & Restoration handles it all, including:

  • Removal of all rotten wood, rusted metal, and fixtures that won’t be painted.
  • Power washing to clean any dirt, dust, or residue on the house’s surface.
  • Sanding to smooth over any splinters and rough patches.
  • Priming with either a latex or oil-based primer selected specifically for your building material to protect it from the elements.
  • Caulking to seal gaps and cracks. This helps protect your home from water damage and reduces your monthly utility bill.

AND

  • Painting, which includes a combination of:
    • Double coating
    • Spraying
    • Back-rolling, and
    • Hand brushing

This attention to detail ensures that every single surface is painted evenly. 

If you live or work in the Portland area, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen our work.

Rest assured, you can trust A1 Paint Removal, Painting & Restoration for a fair price and a stunning result. Call today for a free consultation and estimate.