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How much does exterior house painting cost in Chicago, IL?

US national rangeUpdated Prices checked October 20261 source

Exterior house painting costs $1,819 to $4,551 nationally, typical $3,178. We have no documented price index for Chicago for this job, so this is the US national range from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

US national range, not adjusted for this city

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

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Exterior painting cost in Chicago, IL

We have no documented price index for Chicago for this job, so the table shows the US national range.

Exterior painting cost in Chicago, IL
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 in Chicago

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.

Rules are set locally; confirm with Chicago’s building department.

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.

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Top-ranked painters in Chicago

The top 3 of 429 painters we rank for Chicago, IL, by CR Score. Paid placement never changes rank.

  1. #1
    Studio W.I.P. - Uptown Chicago
    CR Score 674.9from 965 Google reviews
  2. #2
    Improovy Painters Chicago
    CR Score 664.8from 358 Google reviews
  3. #3
    Bottle & Bottega by Painting with a Twist
    CR Score 664.9from 751 Google reviews

See all ranked painters in Chicago

Exterior painting cost in Chicago: questions

How much does exterior house painting cost in Chicago, IL?

Exterior house painting costs $1,819 to $4,551 nationally, typical $3,178. We have no documented price index for Chicago for this job, so this is the US national range from HomeAdvisor, checked October 2026.

Do I need a permit for exterior house painting in Chicago?

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. Rules are set locally, so confirm with Chicago’s building department.

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.

How many painters serve Chicago?

We rank 429 painters for Chicago, IL by CR Score. Get at least three written quotes for the same scope.

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.

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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