Exterior house painting cost in 2026, and how to compare painting quotes
What exterior house painting costs per square foot and by house size in 2026, why prep work decides the price, and what an exterior painting quote should spell out.
Two exterior painting quotes for the same house can differ by thousands, and it is almost never the paint. It is the preparation — and prep is the part of the job you will not see until the paint starts failing.
Exterior painting cost in 2026
| House | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Per sq ft of wall | $2-$6 |
| Single-storey home | $3,000-$7,000 |
| Two-storey home | $5,000-$12,000 |
Prep decides the price
- Washing to remove dirt and chalking, so paint bonds.
- Scraping and sanding loose and peeling paint.
- Repairs: rotten boards and trim replaced, not painted over.
- Caulking gaps and priming bare wood.
A quote that skips prep is cheaper, looks the same on day one, and peels years sooner.
How wall area is measured
Exterior painting is priced on wall area: the house perimeter times wall height, plus gables, less large openings. The perimeter can be read from satellite imagery and storey count from a street photo, so a painter can give a first range before visiting.
What a painting quote must spell out
- Surfaces included: siding, trim, doors, shutters, soffits
- Prep steps, in writing
- Paint brand and product line, and number of coats
- Repairs, priced or explicitly excluded
- Protection of plants, windows and roofs
- Warranty, and what voids it
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?
$2-$6 per square foot of wall; $3,000-$7,000 single-storey, $5,000-$12,000 two-storey.
Why are painting quotes so different?
Preparation. Get it described in writing.
One coat or two?
Two, in most cases.
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