Painting your house siding is an excellent way to refresh the look of your home and increase curb appeal.
You can paint siding DIY, or hire a professional to complete the task.
Our Siding Painting Cost Guide outlines everything you need to know about painting your home exterior, including how much it will cost, what color to choose, DIY vs. hiring a professional, and more.
Average Cost to Paint a Home Exterior
The average cost to paint the exterior of a house is $3,000. Depending on a wide variety of factors, the price can ranges on average between $1,500 and $5,000.
A very affordable home painting job can cost as low as $600, whereas very high end projects can cost as much as $7,000.
| Average Cost | $3,000 |
|---|---|
| Average Cost Range | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Low End – High End Cost | $600 – $7,000 |
Cost to Paint a House Exterior Per Square Foot
Painting your house siding costs an average of $2 per square foot, and ranges between $0.50 and $3.50 per square foot.
One way to determine how much your painting project will cost is by determining the cost per square foot. The price per square foot is the square footage of siding multiplied by $2.
You can find the square footage by measuring the perimeter of your home and multiplying by the height.
Then, subtract the square footage of all windows and doors and you will get the total square footage of siding that will be painted.
| Average Cost per Square Foot | $2 |
|---|---|
| Average Cost per Square Foot Range | $0.50 – $3.50 |
Cost to Paint a Home Exterior by Number of Stories
The number of stories in your home will be one of the primary factors that determine the cost. In addition to the added square footage of a multi-story home, more safety equipment will be required to work on higher stories, which increases the cost.
The more stories on a house, the higher the cost will be.
| Story Number | Average Square Footage | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single Story Home | 1,000 – 1,500 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Double Story Home | 1,500 – 2,500 | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Triple Story Home | 2,500 – 3,500 | $4,500 – $10,000+ |
Cost to Paint a Home Exterior by Siding Type
The type of siding you are painting will impact the cost of the project because some siding types take much longer than others and require more expensive paints.
Brick is by far the most expensive siding type to paint, costing between $3,500 and $10,500, whereas concrete is one of the cheapest, costing only between $500 and $2,000 on average.
| Siding Type | Average Painting Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete | $500 – $2,000 |
| Metal / Aluminum | $400 – $3,500 |
| Vinyl | $700 – $3,500 |
| Wood | $7,000 – $3,000 |
| Stucco | $1,500 – $6,500 |
| Brick | $3,500 – $10,500 |
Even though painting concrete siding is cheap, you may need to put down a primer first, which will increase the cost. Also, if the concrete requires stripping, you should double the expected cost of the project.
Although metal siding does not need to be painted, painting it provides an extra level of protection against the elements.
Preparing metal siding for painting is easy–simply give it a deep clean and it will be ready to go. Sometimes, however, you may need to remove the existing coating.
If the metal is rusted or damaged, it will require repairs before it can be painted.
Vinyl is one of the more expensive siding types to repaint. Repainting vinyl siding is not recommended unless there is significant fading but otherwise the vinyl is undamaged.
If the vinyl is damaged as well as faded, it will likely be more financially worthwhile to replace the vinyl siding rather than repaint it.
Because vinyl is a short-lived material, you will likely need to replace your vinyl before you need to repaint it.
Wood siding, on the other hand, requires frequent repainting every five to ten years. Repainting wood is generally cheaper than options live vinyl, except if the wood requires repairs as well, in which case it will be costly.
Repainting brick is the most expensive because of how porous and textured brick is. Therefore, a large amount of paint only covers a small area, so you need a lot of paint to cover the brick siding. Also, brick may require a primer, which will increase the cost.
Cost to Paint a House Exterior by Paint Type
There are three main types of paint, each preferable for different siding types: acrylic latex, latex, and oil.
Acrylic latex costs between $20 and $40 per gallon, and is best suited for glossy surfaces such as vinyl. One advantage of the paint is that it comes in a variety of finishes.
Also, acrylic latex is easy to clean up with just soap and water. Acrylic latex only requires a few hours of drying time.
One disadvantage is that it is a shorter lasting paint than some other options and will chip or fade as time progresses.
Water-based latex paint is another popular choice. The cost is roughly the same as acrylic latex at $20 to $40 per gallon.
Latex paint is environmentally friendly, comes in a range of colors, and is quick drying. It is not recommended for use on wood siding.
Oil based paint is the most expensive option, costing between $20 and $70 per gallon.
It has a smoother finish but requires more time to dry. Oil based paint is not the best for the environment, and also has some issues with cracking and peeling.
However, it provides a deeper, more thorough converge than the other painting types.
Be sure to discuss with your contractor which paint type is best for your siding and your climate, as the answer can vary widely depending on local moisture levels in the air.
| Paint Type | Cost Per Gallon |
|---|---|
| Acrylic Latex | $20 – $40 |
| Water Based Latex | $20 – $40 |
| Oil | $20 – $70 |
DIY Cost to Paint House Siding
On average, painting a house DIY costs between $500 and $1,000, which is much cheaper than hiring a professional.
If you decide to paint your home exterior DIY, there are many items you need to factor into the cost. First and foremost is the paint itself. The cost of paint ranges between $20 and $70 per gallon, on average.
Be sure to also factor in the cost of primer, which ranges in cost between $20 and $50 per gallon.
You will also need to pay for other items such as brushes, pans, a ladder, and more, which will cost between $300 and $900 at a home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Buckets | $2 – $5 |
| Pans | $2 – $10 |
| Masking tape | $2- $5 per roll |
| Sandpaper | $5 – $15 |
| Rollers and rolling handles | $20 – $30 |
| Brushes | $20 – $70 |
| Caulk | $3 – $10 per tube |
| Ladder | $80 – $400 |
| Sprayer and power rollers | $150 – $2,000 |
| Scrapers | $7 – $25 |
Cost of Painting Exterior House Features
If you choose to paint other exterior home features in addition to the siding such as doors and trim, you will need to factor them into your total cost calculations.
Some professionals will charge separately to paint these features whereas others will include them in the package. The table below outlines the average costs of painting different home exterior features.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shutters | $150 – $700 |
| Doors | $100 – $500 |
| Porches | $500 – $2,500 |
| Gutters and Downspouts | $150 – $850 |
| Window Sashes | $100 – $200 |
What Color Should I Paint My House?
The exact color you choose will depend on your aesthetic style and desires. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing the color of your home’s exterior.
One important thing to consider is that although you may like the appearance of bold, dark hues, they do tend to fade faster, meaning they will require repainting sooner than other shades.
You should also keep in mind whether you plan to sell your home in the near future.
If you do, research what colors are in style at the moment and consider using one of those colors for your home as that may help it sell more quickly.
Another way to decide is by considering the color scheme of your neighborhood. Are most houses rich earth tones or pale neutral shades?
Are there a variety of colors used or do people tend to stick to a more neutral pallet? Answering these questions can give you a sense of direction when choosing your color scheme.
You can also try to match your siding colors with other non-paintable features such as your roof or even the natural landscape. This can give your home a sense of cohesion and a natural appearance.
All in all, though, the choice of siding color will primarily depend on your preferences.
When Does My Siding Need Repainting?
The amount of time between repainting will vary on siding type. Wood should be repainted every five to ten years, whereas materials such as vinyl will likely need to be replaced rather than repainted.
When to repaint your home will also depend on several other factors, including your local climate, how much sun your siding is exposed to, and how well you maintain your siding in between paint jobs.
Signs to look out for that your siding may need repainting include any damage to the paint. Some things you may notice are chipping, peeling, cracking, and fading. If you notice these signs, it is likely time for a new paint job.
If you wait too long, your siding may become damaged, which will significantly increase the costs when you next go to paint your house exterior.
It is better to nip the flower in the bud and paint the siding when you first notice signs of damage rather than weight and get a hefty bill down the line.
Do I Need to Use a Primer?
You may consider skipping the primer, especially if you are painting the home DIY. Generally speaking, skipping primer is a bad idea, and here’s why.
Primer has many key benefits that make it an essential part of the home exterior painting process. Primer reduces surface roughness and helps paint adhere to the surface.
Since primer improves adhesion, if you skip this step you may have trouble getting the paint to stick to the wall.
Also, primer reduces the number of paint coats you need to use. Since paint is much more expensive than primer, using it will actually cut down on your overall costs in the long run.
Primer is especially important on textured surfaces like wood and brick because it smooths out the bumps which reduces the number of paint coats you need.
You should use primer when painting any siding type, including wood, brick, stucco, vinyl, and metal siding.
DIY Exterior Painting vs. Hiring a Pro
You may be tempted by the lower cost of painting your home exterior DIY and consider taking it on as a home improvement project.
Painting a home exterior is a mid-level DIY project, so if you have some existing experience doing projects around the home you may be ready to paint your siding.
One thing to consider when tackling this DIY project is the cost of materials. In addition to purchasing basic supplies, you will also need to get equipment such as a ladder, which can be quite pricey.
You may also want to purchase a sprayer and power rollers to complete this project, which are also expensive. Be sure to factor in the costs of these when calculating whether doing the project DIY will actually save you money.
Another aspect to consider is the time you will spend on the project. Painting your home exterior will likely take you much longer than it would a professional, so be sure to consider the cost of your own time as well.
Professionals have years worth of experience painting homes under their belts, so by hiring a professional you significantly reduce the risk of costly mistakes.
You also don’t run the risk of safety related hazards, as professionals have extensive experience using ladders and safety equipment.
All in all, painting your home exterior DIY can be a good project for those with the right experience, but absolute beginner DIY-ers may want to leave it up to the professionals.
How To Save On Exterior Painting Costs
Painting your siding is an expensive project. You may want to cut corners, but it is important to not skimp on the costs of painting a home exterior in case you end up with a botched job.
That being said, there are a few ways to save while painting a home exterior.
One option is to paint your home the same color as the existing coat. This will reduce the number of paint coats required and cut down on the cost accordingly.
Another option is to paint the home a light color, as light colors require less layers and also need to be repainted less frequently.
Choosing a pale, neutral color is an excellent way to cut down costs during the initial painting job but also down the line.
To make sure you get the best deal around, it is always important to get quotes from several contractors.
This allows you to compare different packages and see which one is the most affordable and also which one covers your needs.
Some contractors, for instance, include extras like door painting in the overall quote, which might make it more costly. You can consider opting out of that service and doing the project yourself to save some money.
Overall, the best way to save money on house painting is by doing it in a timely manner. If you wait too long to paint your house, the paint may chip, peel, or crack by the time you get around to painting it.
If that happens, you will need to pay to remove the existing layer of paint before adding a new one, which can be pricey.
Also, painting your siding in the right time protects your siding from damage. Fixing siding damage is the costliest aspect of painting your home exterior, so it is important to paint your siding at the first signs of aging rather than waiting.
