How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior?

Exterior house painting costs $3,177 on average nationally, with most homeowners spending $1,819 to $4,551. Per square foot, expect $1.50 to $5.00, with the exact rate depending heavily on your home's existing siding material and how many stories it has. See our siding replacement cost guide if your siding needs more than paint.

Cost by siding material

For a typical 2,000 sq ft home, total project cost generally runs $3,000 to $10,000, with brick homes landing toward the higher end due to the extra prep work masonry surfaces require.

What drives cost beyond square footage

• Number of stories — each additional story beyond the first typically adds roughly 50% more cost for that portion of the job, since ladders, scaffolding, and extra safety precautions slow the work down.
• Surface prep — peeling paint, rot repair, or pressure washing before painting all add labor beyond the paint application itself.
• Paint quality — premium exterior paints cost more per gallon but typically last longer, which affects how soon you're paying for this again.

DIY vs. professional

Painting a house exterior yourself in materials alone typically runs $400 to $1,200+, a fraction of the professional total — but exterior painting is physically demanding, often multi-story work with real safety considerations (ladder work, proper surface prep, weather timing). Many homeowners who DIY interior painting still hire out the exterior for this reason.

Related exterior maintenance

If your driveway is due for maintenance at the same time as a paint job, see Driveway Sealcoating Cost — a much smaller-ticket item worth bundling into the same season's exterior to-do list.

Prices on this page are researched ranges compiled from multiple public contractor-pricing sources, not quotes from us or a guarantee of what you will pay. Actual costs vary by region, material choice, and job complexity — always get itemized quotes from licensed local contractors before committing to a project. See How We Price for our sourcing methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does a house exterior need repainting?

Typical repainting intervals run 5-10 years depending on siding material, paint quality, and climate exposure — vinyl and fiber cement generally hold paint longer than wood, and homes in harsh climates (intense sun, coastal salt air, freeze-thaw cycles) need repainting more often.

What time of year is best for exterior painting?

Most paint manufacturers recommend temperatures between 50-85°F with low humidity and no rain in the forecast for at least 24-48 hours, which typically means spring through early fall in most U.S. climates. Painting outside the recommended temperature range can affect how well paint cures and adheres.

Does exterior paint color affect the cost?

Not significantly for standard colors, though very dark colors and some specialty finishes may require additional coats or premium paint formulations to achieve even coverage and resist fading, which can add modestly to material cost.

Should I paint or side my house if the current siding is in poor shape?

If the siding itself is cracked, rotted, or structurally compromised, painting is a cosmetic fix that won't address the underlying problem — in that case, see whether replacement makes more sense. If the siding is structurally sound but just faded or dated, painting is the more cost-effective choice.