Exterior House Painting Cost Calculator
Exterior repaint from measurable surface area, how many stories, siding material, and prep before primer and topcoats.
Your project
Paintable siding (sq ft)
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Surface
Include gables and soffits — many homes land between 1,500 and 3,500 sq ft of siding. |
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Building height
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Stories
Scaffolding and ladder time rise with height. |
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Siding type
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Siding
Rough cedar and stucco consume more labor than smooth lap. |
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Prep level
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Prep
Peeling, chalking, or mildew adds scrape, wash, and prime time. |
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Your state
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Your state
Scales midpoints for typical state-level labor and material costs versus the U.S. average. Not a local contractor bid. |
Options
How to use this calculator
- Estimate total siding square footage.
- Set stories, siding type, and prep level.
- Choose your state.
- Keep trim detail checked if fascias and soffits get separate colors.
Results explained
Trim detail adds a percentage of the base paint line when checked — a simple way to capture extra cut-in labor.
Quick reference: exterior paint
| Lap siding | Per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Base coat labor + paint | $2.15 |
| 2-story add-on | +$0.42 |
| Heavy prep add-on | +$1.05 |
How the estimate is built
(Siding rate + story + prep add-ons) × sq ft; trim option adds 22% of base when enabled; state scaled.
Example scenario
2,200 sq ft lap, two-story, typical prep, trim on ≈ $7,850 at U.S. average.
FAQ
Spray vs brush?
Midpoints assume pro spray with back-roll on critical areas.
Lead paint?
Homes pre-1978 may need EPA lead-safe practices — not priced here.
Power washing?
Light wash is in prep tiers; standalone pressure wash contracts differ.