Do You Actually Know How Much it Costs to Paint a House?

If your house needs a makeover, painting can be a sure way to get a fresh look. But how much does it cost to paint a house? On average, a homeowner can expect to pay $2,201 to paint their home, according to Angi cost data. Price range, however, can vary depending on many factors, including the size of a house, the gallons of paint needed to complete the project, and what type of prep work is involved. In this guide from AD, we cover everything you need to know about the cost of painting a house

House painting costs vary based on many factors.

Photo: Getty Images

Like most interior design, when it comes to painting a house, every project is unique. “[The price] can really vary by scale of the space but also by details such as number of colors, nuances of the architecture, the quality of the painters chosen, and the market you live in,” Caleb Ebel, cofounder of Backdrop , tells AD. “We’ve seen projects that can run north of $20,000 to paint an entire home, but a couple of rooms can be done for a few thousand dollars.” Consider the following factors that contribute to the total cost of painting a home.

When it comes to interior painting cost, square footage is one of the most notable factors that impacts pricing. More square footage means a greater amount of paint is needed, and more prep work, time, and labor in order to get the job done. Naturally, this often also means a higher price. If you’re working with professional painters, cost per square foot is a common unit given for project cost quotes. “Figuring out how much your painting project will cost can be a complicated process,” says Mallory Micetich, Home Expert at Angi. “There are a lot of factors that go into determining the overall cost of the project, but you can get a good ballpark estimate by looking up the project cost per square foot.”

According to Micetich, the average cost per square foot for interior painting usually falls somewhere between $2 to $6 per square foot. Assuming a home has 2,000 square feet of wall surface area, interior painting might cost $4,000 on the low end and $12,000 on the higher end.

However, price per square foot is not always linear. As Ebel explains, “Most painters will consider the cost per square foot but also the time needed, which means that they will need to charge a full day rate for each day during the painting.” This can mean that smaller projects end up costing more per square foot compared to something bigger, even if the total cost is less.

Labor costs often make up the largest percentage of the total project cost.

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Depending on the market and the expertise of the painter, labor costs vary greatly between projects. “If you hire a pro, expect to pay between $20 and $50 an hour for labor costs,” Micetich says. “Interior painting can take several days to complete, so the labor costs can turn into a very significant portion of your overall project cost.” If you hire a painter with less experience, they may quote you a lower hourly rate, which, for some, may fit into a budget better. In every case, it’s best to compare both quality and cost when reviewing house painters’ quotes.

“The complexity of the project, such as number of windows to trim around, how many colors are being changed over, and other architectural elements like ceiling height or doors, [can impact price],” Ebel says. For this reason, two 2,500-square-foot homes may have different painting prices if one requires more specialized labor and complex tasks.

Most professionals recommend against skimping on paint quality.

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Before you can give your home a fresh coat of paint, you’ll of course need to buy the paint that will be used. Higher quality paint generally costs more than a lower quality alternative (however, it’s important to remember that a high price doesn’t necessarily mean a high quality paint). “The quality of a paint is very much a function of the raw material ingredients used in its formulation—not so different than cooking with high quality ingredients,” Ebel says.

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When choosing a type of paint for your home, it’s useful to do proper research on each option. Micetich says it’s important to choose a high quality, low-VOC paint and recommends shopping sales or asking contractors if they have any professional discounts to save money on this factor. “If you’re hiring a painter, most of the project cost will be in the form of quality labor and service,” Ebel adds. “The paint product itself tends to be 15 to 20% of the total project cost. So you shouldn’t skimp on the quality of the paint, as it’s a lesser share of the total project cost.”

When planning a DIY paint project, understanding the cost of quality materials is essential to achieving professional-looking results without unexpected budget surprises. “Opt for at least mid-grade paint and invest in high-quality brushes or roller covers,” says Julia McAuley, founder of Monarch Home Solutions. Mid- to high-quality paint costs $40–$100 per gallon for latex paint and slightly more for oil-based paint, she says.

Primer is available in a wide range of prices due to its varying qualities and styles. Expect it to start at $25 per gallon for standard multi-purpose primer and run upwards of $60 per gallon for bonding or specialty primers.

Here’s the average cost per gallon of paint based on quality, according to Angi.

In addition to the paint type, the sheen you select also affects the price you pay. Higher sheens, or glossier finishes, cost more due to higher levels of resins and additives in the paint. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to pay, according to McAuley.

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Though home size, labor costs, project complexity, and paint quality are among the most common factors that impact the cost of painting your home interior, there are some other considerations that pop up as well. If you leave prep work to the professionals—such as moving furniture, removing art, or laying drop cloths—it can add more time, and hence more money, to the project. “The paint color can also impact the price,” Micetich says. “If you’re painting over a dark wall with light paint, you may need several coats of paint to make it opaque. This will take more paint and labor time to paint correctly, resulting in a more expensive project.”

Number of coats needed, the amount of trim in the home (which is often charged on a cost per linear foot unit), application method, number of colors, height of ceilings, and texture of walls can also impact price. “Most paint contractors will have their own internal methods of developing a project quote and each painter’s method can be slightly different,” Ebel explains. “But it’s generally helpful to get a few quotes from a couple of well referred painters for comparison.”

Though there is often less to paint, exterior painting projects can be more costly because of the complexity of the task.

Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Painting your home’s exterior can be a fast and effective way to increase your property’s curb appeal. Like the inside of a home, exterior painting costs can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. “Exterior house painting is usually more expensive than painting the interior of a home,” Micetich says. “On average, it costs $3,108, or between $1.50 and $4 per square foot, to paint the exterior of a home.”

The same factors that impact the cost of interior painting—size, labor and material costs, and complexity—are often also considered when it comes to exterior painting. However, to determine a rough estimate for your project, you can take the average price per square foot and multiply it by the surface area of the exterior of your home.

“Exterior paint jobs tend to have fewer square feet to paint than all the interior wall surfaces, but those are sometimes challenging to get to and often require meaningful preparation efforts to protect surroundings and sometimes minor repairs to the home structure in preparation for painting,” Ebel says. “For example, if windows need to be removed or lifts need to be rented to reach high vertical surfaces—all of these factors will play into the cost of an exterior project.” Painting a single-story house may be cheaper than a two-story home or even three-story one, since it’ll require less equipment and surfaces are easier to reach. Some homes also require power washing and other prep work in order to paint, which can increase what painters charge.

If you feel adept at painting, you can DIY your project to save money.

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If you’re handy with a paint roller, DIYing your paint job may seem like a logical way to save money. But is it actually? According to both Ebel and Micetich, painting your home yourself will always result in a cheaper project, but there are things to consider outside of just cost.

“DIY interior painting usually costs between $200 and $300,” Micetich says. “However, I don’t recommend painting your home’s interior yourself unless you are a very seasoned painter.” The reason for this recommendation generally comes down to the quality of the finished job. Unless you’re a seasoned pro, you run the risk of uneven coats, air bubbles, streaks, and drips. Nonetheless, if you opt out of professional painting you only have to buy materials for the project—such as paint, primer, rollers, and drop clothes—and you can save a considerable amount of money on your total house-painting costs.

If you opt to paint your home yourself, the biggest expense will likely be the paint itself. In this case, it’s still important to buy high-quality paint, even if it means a slightly higher price point. Whether you plan to do the work or hire a pro to remake your walls, spend some time researching paint types and brands to best meet your needs. If you need a little extra help, consider this paint buying guide from AD.

DIY’ing the prep work can save time and money when hiring professional painters.

Photo: Getty Images

If the idea of saving money through a DIY project seems appealing but not at the risk of finished results, Ebel and Micetich suggest doing the majority of the prep work yourself to minimize the amount of labor you’ll have to pay for. “If you can take down photos or art on the walls or move furniture, it will save the painters work on-site,” Ebel says. Micetich adds that filling holes, sanding, applying painters tape, and laying cloths can be easy tasks that decrease the total cost. “Using this method, you can save money by doing some of the labor yourself without sacrificing the benefits of a professional paint job,” she says.

One of the biggest mistakes DIY’ers make when painting their home’s interior is underestimating how much time and material can be wasted without the right knowledge or preparation. Without proper techniques, what should be a weekend project can stretch into days of frustration and unnecessary expenses.

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Using cheap tools or skipping steps like taping and priming may seem like time-savers in the moment but often result in rework or disappointing finishes that take even more effort to fix. “Skipping primer may require additional coats for full coverage. And storing paint or tools incorrectly between coats can result in dried-out paint or ruined equipment,” said McAuley. Here are the interior painting tips she recommends.

Surface preparation is key: Preparation is the cornerstone of a successful paint job. Skipping surface prep can lead to poor paint adhesion, uneven textures, and visible flaws. Clean all surfaces thoroughly before painting; a quick wipe-down with a Swiffer can remove surprising amounts of dust and cobwebs from walls that appear to be clean.

Mind the gaps. “One of my favorite tips is to use paintable caulk to fill gaps between walls and ceilings, walls and trim, or joints in the trim itself,” said McAuley. Apply a small bead, then smooth it out with a gloved finger or a damp cloth for a seamless, professional look. Let it dry completely before painting.

Cover up more than you think: Protecting your home’s interior is also critical. Lay down clean drop cloths to cover the flooring and furniture, and switch to plastic sheeting if you’ll be sanding. Don’t underestimate how far paint can splatter—cover a little more than you think you need to avoid hours of cleanup later.

Prime, prime, prime. Primer is your friend—especially when working with glossy surfaces, patched drywall, or changing colors. It prepares the surface for paint and promotes adhesion. When in doubt, use it. And choose the right type: bonding primers for cabinets and trim, stain-blocking for dark or bold colors, and mold-resistant options for bathrooms, according to McAuley.

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When in doubt, plan it out. For ultimate efficiency and quality, plan your painting sequence like this: start with priming if needed, then trim (baseboards, doors, crown moulding, etc.), ceiling, and walls last. “For dark wall colors, I often wait to paint the base trim until last to avoid splatter,” said McAuley.

Cut in like a pro. When cutting in, use a good 2” or 2.5” angled sash brush and don’t overload it. Start about a half inch away from the edge or corner, then gently work the very end of the bristles up to the edge to form a nice, clean line. If you’re painting the ceiling white, McAuley recommends extending the white down onto the wall. That way, when you cut in with the wall color, you get a crisper line.

Lay it on thin. Use less paint than you think. Don’t overload the roller—if it drips, it’s too much. For brushes, dip only half the bristles into paint and wipe off the excess. Apply firm, even pressure to avoid lines. If needed, smooth over lines before reloading. Multiple thin coats look better and last longer than one thick one.

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