Exterior House Painting Cost Calculator
Exterior house painting costs about $1.50–$4 per square foot of wall area in 2026 — roughly $3,000–$8,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home. Enter your wall area, house size, or trim details below for a low-to-high installed estimate.
Paintable wall ≈ home sq ft × 0.8 (1-story) · 1.0 (2-story) · 1.15 (3-story) · installed $1.50–$4/sq ft
Trim $1–$2/ft · shutters $50–$100 each · porch $1–$2.50/sq ft
Estimates only — not contractor quotes. Exterior painting costs vary by region, siding type, and access. Get 2–3 local quotes before committing.
How the exterior house painting cost calculator works
Exterior painting is priced per square foot of wall area — not floor area — and siding condition is the biggest lever on that rate: sound siding in good condition paints for about $1.50–$2.50 per square foot, while peeling, weathered siding needing scraping, caulking, and priming runs $3–$4. A 2,000 sq ft two-story home has roughly 2,000 sq ft of paintable wall.
What moves your number: wall area, stories (second- and third-story work needs lifts or scaffolding), siding condition and prep, trim linear footage ($1–$2/ft), shutters and doors, and paint quality — premium 100% acrylic costs more per gallon but stretches the repaint cycle by years.
total = wall × $/sq ft + prep + trim + shutters + porch · 2,000 sq ft home ≈ 2,000 sq ft of wall
Keep exploring
Painting inside too? Try the Interior Painting Cost Calculator. If the siding itself is past saving, compare with the Vinyl Siding Cost Calculator.
Exterior house painting cost calculator FAQ
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?
About $1.50–$4 per square foot of wall area in 2026. A 2,000 sq ft home has roughly 2,000 sq ft of paintable wall, so most projects land between $3,000 and $8,000 including prep and two coats.
How much does it cost to paint a 1,500 sq ft house exterior?
Roughly $1,800–$6,000. A 1,500 sq ft home typically has 1,200–1,500 sq ft of wall area; siding in poor condition needing scraping and priming pushes toward the high end.
How long does exterior paint last?
5–10 years depending on climate, sun exposure, and siding. Stucco and brick hold paint longest; south- and west-facing wood siding in hot climates may need recoating in 5–7 years.
Is it cheaper to paint a house or put siding on it?
Painting is far cheaper upfront: $3,000–$8,000 vs $10,000–$25,000+ for new vinyl siding. Paint wins when the existing siding is structurally sound; replace siding that is rotted, warped, or failing.
How many gallons of paint does a house exterior need?
About 350 sq ft per gallon per coat. A 2,000 sq ft wall area needs roughly 6 gallons per coat — about 12 gallons for the standard two-coat job, plus extra for trim.
What is the best time of year to paint a house exterior?
When daytime temperatures stay between 50°F and 85°F with low humidity and no rain for 24–48 hours. Late spring and early fall are ideal in most climates.
How is exterior painting cost different from interior?
Exterior runs about $1.50–$4 per square foot of wall area vs interior at roughly $2–$6 per square foot of floor area — exterior needs weather-rated paint, more prep, and often lifts or scaffolding for second stories.