How much does it cost to paint a house? A guide to interior and exterior costs

When you’re giving your current home a new look or are trying to make a new home feel like your own, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference. Changing up the paint color can give your space a new look and feel without having to change everything about it.

As with any other home updates, cost is a major consideration when you’re getting ready to paint your home. It’s important to understand the average cost to paint different spaces within your home, the different factors that can affect your painting costs and how to save money on your paint job.

How much does it cost to paint a house?

The cost of painting a house depends on several different factors. There are different costs associated with painting the interior of your home versus the exterior. The average cost also depends on the type of room, the type of paint, the type of siding and the square footage of your home.

Average cost to paint a house interior

The average cost to paint a house interior in 2023 ranges from $967 to $3,041, according to HomeAdvisor. The national average is $1,985, including the walls, trim and ceilings. The cost varies most by square footage and type of paint, but you can expect to pay around $2 – $6 per square foot for materials and labor. A fresh coat of paint inside your home can quickly boost its resale value.

With that in mind, your overall expenses can vary significantly depending on whether you’re painting a single room or your entire home’s interior. You could pay just a few hundred dollars to paint a small room while painting your entire house might cost upward of $10,000. You may pay less per square foot when painting your entire house versus just a single room since it's a bulk rate.

The cost of painting your home per square foot can also fluctuate based on where you live, the materials you use, the difficulty of the project, who you hire to complete the job or if you do it yourself (DIY). For example, you should expect the price of painting a room to go up if you’re also looking to refresh the trim, ceilings and walls since it's more laborious and requires more materials.

Average cost to paint a house exterior

Painting the exterior of your home has plenty of benefits, including helping to boost curb appeal. However, it can also come with a large price tag. The average cost to paint the exterior of a house ranges from $1,810 – $4,503, with the average cost falling around $3,141 for a 1,500-square-foot home. However, a large home could cost far more – roughly $13,000 for a 3,500-square-foot home.

Exterior paint generally costs more since it's made to withstand the effects of weather, mold or water damage due to constant exposure to the elements. Depending on your home’s makeup, you may need more paint overall – painting stucco and brick will use up about 50% more paint than aluminum siding.

Cost to paint a house by square feet

One of the most important factors that will impact the cost of painting your home is the square footage. Painting a home’s interior generally costs between $2 and $6 per square foot, with the average cost falling around $3.50 per square foot. The table below shows how much it would cost to paint homes of various sizes based on a per-square-foot cost of $3.50.

Cost to paint a house by type of room

The room you’re painting within your home can also impact the cost, largely because certain rooms tend to have larger square footage. For example, bathrooms tend to be some of the smallest rooms, while living rooms are typically much larger.

The table below shows the average cost to paint certain rooms based on their average square footage.

Cost to paint a house by type of paint

As with most things, the cost to paint your home depends partially on the variety and brand of the paint you choose. Some types of paint are simply more expensive. Similarly, certain brands may be more popular and, as a result, can charge a higher price tag.

The table below shows the average cost of a gallon of certain types of paint, including primer, flat paint, semigloss or high-gloss paint, and VOC-free paint.

Cost to paint a house by type of siding

As we mentioned, certain exterior materials may be more or less expensive to paint depending on the type of paint needed, the amount of prep work and the amount of paint required.

Generally speaking, materials like vinyl, engineered wood and wood tend to be the cheapest to paint. On the other end of the spectrum, materials like brick and stone are some of the most expensive. The table below breaks down the average cost per square foot for each type of exterior house material.

Factors that affect the cost to paint a house

The cost of painting your home depends on many different factors, including labor, your home’s size, the quality of the paint you choose, the amount of prep work involved and more. In the sections below, we’ll go into more detail about how certain factors can impact your overall cost.

Labor

The biggest cost you’ll incur when hiring a professional painter is their time and labor. In fact, labor typically makes up 70% – 85% of your final charge. Many professionals will charge an hourly rate for their services, while others charge a flat rate. You may also face additional fees to cover things like travel, short-notice jobs or excessive prep work.

Home size

As we’ve mentioned, the size of your home – or at least the size of the area you’re painting – is another important factor that affects your overall painting costs. Generally speaking, the larger the square footage you’re having painted, the more money you’ll spend.

Quality of paint

As with other things, not all paint is created equally. The cost of the paint you want to use for your home’s interior can vary based on factors like the finish, the color and whether you choose to use a primer.

Preferences like sheen – flat, eggshell, satin or semigloss paint – and whether you want to use latex or oil-based paint can also affect the price, with glossier paints on the higher end of the price range. Oil-based paint is typically more expensive than latex-based paint, but it’s also more durable and provides better coverage.

For the most part, if you can afford to invest in high-quality paint, it’s probably worth doing so. Not only will it look better, but it will also last longer against wear and tear, resist stains better and be overall easier to maintain and clean.

Amount of prep work

Painting comes with plenty of prep work to get your walls ready for painting. Prep work can include patching any holes or imperfections, sanding the walls down and ensuring walls are clean and free of dust. Prep work also includes removing outlets and switch plates and applying painter's tape, which can be quite time-consuming to do precisely.

Design intricacies

Another factor to consider when hiring a professional painter is the complexity of the job. Do you have trim or molding that needs to be painted separately? Are you planning on having a textured or accent wall in your newly painted home? Anything that adds time and complexity to the project can also increase the price tag.

DIY vs. hiring a professional to paint a house

Rather than hiring a professional to paint your house, you might consider DIYing the job to save money. Unlike many other home improvement projects, painting yourself can be just as safe and effective. However, going the DIY route is not right for everyone.

Because labor is the most expensive part of having your home painted, doing it yourself can be considerably cheaper. According to Angi, painting your own home could cost between $200 and $300. Compare that with the thousands you might spend to hire a professional.

However, money isn’t the only consideration. First, a professional can probably paint your house in considerably less time than you can. If you consider the value of your time, it might actually be more worthwhile to have the pro do it. Additionally, the skill that a professional painter has can ensure the job is done well. If you’ve never painted before, you might find that the finished product simply doesn’t look as good when you DIY.

How to save money on the costs to paint a house

Painting can come with a large price tag, especially if you hire a professional. The good news is there are several things you can do to save money.

• Shop for multiple quotes: Don’t just hire the first painter you speak with. Instead, shop around and get quotes from multiple painters to find the best price.
• Tackle prep work: You can reduce your painting costs if you do some or all of the prep work yourself – especially if there’s a lot to be done. You can prep the walls, remove switch covers and even put on the painting tape.
• Test paint swatches first: The last thing you want is to pay for a professional paint job, only to decide you hate the color. Test the paint swatches on large sections of the wall ahead of time to make sure you’ve got the right color.

FAQs on the costs to paint a house

Are you getting ready to paint your home, either by hiring a professional or doing it yourself? Here are a few more things you might want to know.

How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?

The cost to paint a house exterior in 2023 is $1.50 – $4 per square foot. For a 1,500-square-foot home, you can expect to pay around $3,113. The average ranges from $1,810 – $4,466. The cost of painting a home’s exterior is also affected by weather, property accessibility and the necessary prep work to ensure your home is clean, repaired and ready for paint.

Does painting your house increase its value?

Painting your house can increase its value by boosting its curb appeal and making it more appealing to buyers. Prospective buyers – especially those who want a move-in ready home – will appreciate a fresh coat of paint so they don’t have to do it themselves after they move in.

How much should I pay to have my house painted?

The amount you should pay to have your house painted depends on several factors. The best way to find out how much you should pay is to shop around for quotes from several painters to see what the going rate in your area is.

The bottom line: Painting your house pays off for years to come

As with any home improvements, it’s important to shop around to get the best price. Depending on how much painting you need to have done, you might pay anywhere from less than $1,000 to more than $10,000, but most jobs fall somewhere between those. You can DIY the job to save money, but it’s important to understand upfront what that entails.

If you need money to pay for painting or other home improvements, consider a cash-out refinance. Apply for a cash-out refinance to see if it’s the right financing option for you.