House Paint job

Professional painters provide estimates primarily based on the square footage of your home. Painting an average home between 500 and 1, 500 square feet can cost between $1, 000 and $3, 000. However, factors such as number of stories and ease of access can also affect the overall price. Homeowners report that the average cost to paint a house nationally is $2, 581 and most pay between $1, 714 and $3, 682.

Home Exterior Painting Costs (in Square Feet)

The following chart will give you a rough estimate of how much you might pay to paint the exterior of your home:

Home Size	Square Footage (Estimated)	Cost Range
Single story	500 - 1, 500	$1, 000 - $3, 000
Two story	1, 500 - 3, 000	$3, 000 - $4, 500
Three story	3, 000 - 6, 000	$4, 500 - $6, 000+

However, the chart does not account for specific materials siding can be made from. Find more information on what you might pay to paint specific siding materials, according to research on professional quotes and previous jobs as reported by homeowners.

Average Costs to Paint Siding

Painting professionals might charge more or less to paint your home's exterior based on its construction material. Some materials cost more to paint than others because of their texture, the paint required to properly cover them, and whether specialized materials are required to prepare them for painting or the elements. Find more information on the various types of siding available, as well as how much it might cost to paint or prepare each.

Cost to Paint Concrete Siding

Concrete walls must always be prepared before painting, but in some cases previous finishes will also have to be removed so that paint doesn't peel or chip off. Additionally, special sealants, primers and paints may be applied to ensure concrete's endurance in face of the specific elements. Depending on the wall's condition and exposure to the sun, painting professionals will usually estimate between $500 (~250 sq. ft.) and $2, 000 (~1, 000 sq. ft.), depending on wall area to cover.

Cost to Paint Metal Siding

The cost to paint metal siding - most commonly aluminum and galvanized steel - will depend on a variety of factors. In some instances, a simple cleaning will suffice to prepare metal siding for painting. In worst cases, painting professionals will need to repair metal that is rusted, damaged or missing pieces due to climate conditions. In the case of severe damage, a professional will have to remove the old finish and paint to get to the original layer, which will add on to the final price. When you add the actual painting of the metal siding, you might be looking at a final bill between $400 (~250 sq. ft.) and $1, 500 (~1, 000 sq. ft.).

Cost to Paint Stucco Siding

Stucco is a specialized material that requires extensive preparation work (cleaning, caulking, filling in cracks, etc.). Additionally, paint suitable for rolling or brushing over stucco varies greatly depending on location and climate conditions. Some stucco paint varieties will chip and peel away in certain climate conditions, so painting professionals won't recommend them. These factors make stucco one of the more expensive siding materials to cover. You can expect to pay anywhere from $900 (~500 sq. ft.) to $3, 000 (~1, 500 sq. ft.) to have stucco revitalized with paint, depending on how much is needed to cover the home exterior.

Cost to Paint Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is one of the more inexpensive siding materials to have repainted, especially with recent innovations in painting materials. Homeowners will first need to vinyl cleaned and repaired, and any clapboards or vinyl sections that have blown off because of climate conditions will need to be replaced. Painting professionals will apply paint quickly and easily over the vinyl siding, much like an interior paint job. The finish, however, may require extensive work and regular maintenance. Expect to pay between $600 (~250 sq. ft.) and $2, 000 (~1, 000 sq. ft.), with prices likely increasing for the finish. Changing the finish on your siding is not recommended unless it's completely degraded and worn away by the weather conditions.

Cost to Paint Wood Siding

Homeowners with wood siding have the option of staining or painting siding that has been worn down by the elements - especially if they need to increase its defenses against the sun or extreme humidity. Holes, missing pieces or other problems will increase the overall cost of the painting project. You can expect to pay between $700 (~250 sq. ft.) and $2, 000 (~1, 000 sq. ft.) to paint wood siding, but this project will also help to protect the home's exterior from more extensive repairs down the road.

Exterior Painting Cost Factors

When determining the total cost of a home exterior paint project, you'll want to include the cost of materials like paint, supplies and other items you might want to cover in addition to the siding. If you know the average cost of these items in addition to your home exterior project cost, you'll have a good plan in place when you start calling for professional estimates. This also gives you the option to purchase or paint some items yourself to save money. Here are some of those cost factors and what you might expect to pay:

How Much Does Paint Cost?

You will want to use the highest quality exterior home paint your budget will allow for your project - not only because it will look the nicest, but also because it will save you money in the long term by offering better coverage and durability. Better coverage means fewer coats and fewer work hours for your painter; better durability means that you won't have to spend money to paint the exterior of your home again in just a few years.How do you know how much paint you're paying for? Here's some helpful math:

• A 2, 100 square-foot home will take about 12 gallons of paint (high-quality paint covers about 350 square feet in two coats).
• 2, 100 / 350 = 6 x 2 = 12 gallons.
• Always double the number you'll need because it takes two coats to cover a home exterior.

When you go to the home improvement store, find out how much 12 gallons of the paint you want would cost, and that will help you determine your cost. Maybe it's a low-quality paint that costs $30, in which case you're looking at about $360 for paint. If you choose high-quality paint that costs around $70, your total paint cost could be closer to $840.

Professionals also recommend that you add an extra 10 or 20 percent to your total square footage, depending on the type of siding you have. Some textures require extra paint because they're rough. This is especially true with wood and stucco siding.