House Painting Guides

Choose a job: the outside of a house, the inside and cabinets, or a building for an HOA, a rental or a business.

Exterior painting600–5,000 sq ft Interior painting and cabinets100–4,000 sq ft HOA, rental or business500–50,000 sq ft

Typical: a one-story ranch, around 1,400 square feet of living area.

Small 1-story homeabout 1,000 sq ft TypicalTypical 1-story ranchabout 1,400 sq ft 2-story homeabout 1,900 sq ft Large 2-story homeabout 2,600 sq ft

Typical: stucco.

TypicalStucco$4.50–$8 per sq ft Wood or fiber-cement siding$5.50–$10 per sq ft Mixed stucco and wood$5–$9 per sq ft T1-11, hardboard or older panel siding$5–$9.50 per sq ft

Typical: one story.

TypicalOne storyIncluded Two stories+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft Three stories or a steep hillside lot+$1.50–$3.50 per sq ft

Typical: sound paint in a similar color. A pre-1978 home adds lead-safe time.

TypicalSound paint, same or similar colorIncluded Peeling or chalking areas, more scraping+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft Big color change (an extra coat)+$0.40–$1 per sq ft Pre-1978 home, lead-safe work practices+$0.75–$2 per sq ft

Skip any that do not apply; doors, fences and decks are priced by the piece or the foot.

Elastomeric coating on stucco instead of acrylic+$600–$2,200 Front and side doors+$100–$250 per door doors Garage door+$200–$600 Dry-rot spot repairs found in prep (allowance)+$300–$1,500 Fence staining or painting+$4–$12 per ft ft Deck staining+$1–$4 per sq ft sq ft Pressure washing as its own line+$150–$500

Typical: the main living areas, around 900 square feet.

One bedroomabout 150 sq ft Three roomsabout 450 sq ft TypicalMain living areasabout 900 sq ft Whole homeabout 1,600 sq ft

Typical: walls, trim and doors.

Walls only$2.50–$5 per sq ft TypicalWalls, trim and doors$3.50–$6 per sq ft Walls, trim and ceilings$4.70–$7 per sq ft

Tick everything that fits; none is fine.

Lots of patching or texture repair+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft Dark to light or bold colors+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft Vaulted or two-story ceilings+$0.75–$2 per sq ft Pre-1978 home, lead-safe practices+$0.75–$2 per sq ft

Skip any that do not apply; cabinets and doors are priced per door.

Kitchen cabinet painting+$100–$250 per door doors Interior doors+$60–$150 per door doors Wallpaper removal+$200–$600 per room rooms Move and cover furniture+$150–$450

Pick the building that matches yours.

HOA or condo building Rental unit turnover Office or retail space Warehouse or light industrial

Square feet of surface to paint. Typical: 4,000 sq ft.

Enter a size between 500 and 50,000 sq ft.

Typical: interior.

TypicalInterior$2–$4.50 per sq ft Exterior$2.50–$6 per sq ft Interior and exterior$4–$9 per sq ft

Tick everything that fits.

Occupied building, phased+$0.30–$1 per sq ft Lift or scaffolding needed+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft Pre-1978 building, lead-safe practices+$0.50–$1.50 per sq ft

Typical: after hours or on a weekend. No change to the price.

Skip any that do not apply.

Doors+$80–$200 per door doors Striping or curb painting (private property)+$300–$1,500 Color scheme proposal for board review+$250–$800

Optional: a short note or a photo of the building.