Exterior Painting or Staining
Protect and Refresh Your Home's Exterior
A fresh coat of exterior paint does more than boost curb appeal, it's a protective layer that shields your siding and trim from moisture, sun, and weather. Skipping it too long lets the elements damage the surfaces underneath, turning a paint job into a repair job.
Cost tracks with home size, surface material, and paint quality. A good painter explains why prep work matters, why premium paint lasts longer, and gives you an honest estimate rather than a lowball that skips the prep.
Abode connects you with local exterior painters. Compare pros, understand the cost, and give your home a durable, refreshed exterior.
Did You Know?
Quality exterior paint doesn't just look good, it seals out the moisture that causes wood rot, making a repaint one of the cheapest forms of home protection.
Exterior Painting or Staining Cost. How Much Do Projects Cost?
Most projects run between $3,000 and $10,000. The average price is typically around $6,000. The $3,000 to $10,000 range is a project total for repainting the full exterior of a typical single-family home of about 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, siding and trim, with prep included; a 2,000 sq ft home lands near $6,000. The rows below are per-square-foot rates and size tiers rather than project totals, so they read outside that band by design, and a large or three-story home runs past $13,000; a quote well under $3,000 usually means the prep, scraping and sanding and priming and caulking, has been left out.
Typical duration: 2 to 5 days
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home size | $1.50-$4.00 per sq ft of home size | A rate, not a project total; 1,000-1,500 sq ft runs $3,000-$6,000, 1,500-2,500 sq ft runs $5,000-$10,000, and 2,500+ sq ft runs $8,000-$15,000 |
| Number of stories | $5,844-$9,321 for a two-story home | A comparable single-story job is $3,988-$6,852 and a three-story $8,974-$13,491, driven by staging and ladder time |
| Surface material | $2.11-$5.02 per sq ft installed | Vinyl $2.11-$3.35, aluminum and metal $2.22-$3.52, brick $3.15-$5.02; a two-story stucco home runs $6,428-$10,253, and metal railings $4.08-$9.46 per linear ft |
| Prep work | $0.58-$0.93 per sq ft | Scraping, sanding, and priming, plus caulking at $0.46-$0.88 per linear ft and power washing at $50-$80 per hour; this is the line a low quote leaves out |
| Paint quality | $28-$58 per gallon | Mid-grade is $28-$35 and premium $48-$58, a few hundred dollars on a whole-house exterior |
Cost data verified August 26, 2026. How we source cost data.
08/26/2026
Signs You Need Exterior Painting or Staining
- Peeling, cracking, or fading paint
- Bare or weathered wood showing through
- Chalky residue on the siding
- A dated exterior color
- Moisture or rot starting on trim
Is It Right For You?
Who It's For
- Homeowners refreshing a weathered or dated exterior
- Anyone protecting siding and trim from the elements
Who It's Not For
- Minor touch-ups a homeowner can handle
- Homes needing siding replacement rather than paint
What to Watch Out For
Scraping, sanding, and priming add labor
Painting needs dry, mild conditions
Alternatives to Consider
| Alternative | Better When | Worse When |
|---|---|---|
| DIY painting | Saves on labor | Time-intensive and hard to match pro quality on a full home |
| New siding | Permanent refresh | Far more expensive than a repaint |
Is It Worth It?
A professional exterior paint job is worth it for both protection and appeal, sealing out moisture and refreshing the home for a fraction of a siding replacement.
Questions to Ask Your Pro
- How much of the quote is prep versus painting?
- What paint brand and grade do you use?
- How many coats are included?
Frequently Asked Questions
The main drivers are home size, the surface material, the quality of paint or stain, and labor, since larger homes need more product and time. Prep is the other big one: scraping, sanding, priming, and caulking runs $0.58 to $0.93 per square foot and is what a lowball quote skips.
Yes. A 1,500-square-foot home averages about $4,500 while a 3,000-square-foot home averages about $9,000, because it requires more paint, labor, and time.
Different materials absorb product differently: porous wood needs more stain, while brick may require special primers and sealers.
Often yes. High-quality paints and stains cost more but offer better coverage and durability, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups.
Professionals bring expertise, efficiency, and quality results at a cost, while DIY saves money but requires significant time and effort.
