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How much does exterior house painting cost?

US national rangeUpdated Prices checked October 20261 source

Exterior house painting costs $1,819 to $4,551 in the US, with a typical job around $3,178. Basis: per house: typical range of customer-reported jobs. Figures from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

US national range, per house: typical range of customer-reported jobs

Low
$1,819
Typical
$3,178
High
$4,551

Exterior painting cost: low, typical and high

Each row says exactly what the figures are and where they come from.

Exterior painting cost: low, typical and high
EstimateLowTypicalHighBasisChecked
US national range$1,819$3,178$4,551Per house: typical range of customer-reported jobs (HomeAdvisor)October 2026

What drives the cost of exterior house painting

  1. Paintable area

    Square footage of siding after windows and doors are subtracted.

  2. Stories and access

    Two-story homes can cost up to 50% more than one-story homes.

  3. Siding material

    Brick, stone and stucco usually cost more to paint.

  4. Prep work

    Patching, power washing, stripping and caulking add labor.

  5. Paint quality and climate

    Better paint and harsher climates raise material cost.

Permits and what's included

Permit note

Standard exterior painting typically doesn't need a permit. Where one is required, it generally costs about $200 to $300; siding repairs found during prep likely will need one.

What’s usually included

  • Power washing and surface prep
  • Primer and paint
  • Trim painting (confirm on the quote)

Scopes vary. Get the scope in writing on every quote.

Exterior painting cost: questions

How much does exterior house painting cost?

Exterior house painting costs $1,819 to $4,551 in the US, with a typical job around $3,178. Basis: per house: typical range of customer-reported jobs. Figures from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

What affects the cost of exterior house painting?

Paintable area: square footage of siding after windows and doors are subtracted. Stories and access: two-story homes can cost up to 50% more than one-story homes. Siding material: brick, stone and stucco usually cost more to paint. Prep work: patching, power washing, stripping and caulking add labor.

Do I need a permit for exterior house painting?

Standard exterior painting typically doesn't need a permit. Where one is required, it generally costs about $200 to $300; siding repairs found during prep likely will need one.

What is usually included in the price?

Power washing and surface prep; Primer and paint; Trim painting (confirm on the quote). Always get the scope in writing on the quote.

Where do these prices come from?

The low, typical and high figures come from HomeAdvisor (“Exterior painting cost”, updated June 17, 2026). We checked them in October 2026. They are national estimates, not quotes.

Sources

Checked October 2026. Figures are estimates, not quotes.

  1. HomeAdvisor: Exterior painting cost · page updated June 17, 2026 · checked October 2026Primary source. Used for: Low, typical and high; drivers; permit.
These are published estimates, checked October 2026. They are not quotes. Typical range shown: $1,819 to $4,551. Editorial policy

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