Cost To Paint A House

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House?

If you do it yourself, you can paint a house for around $1,500, you can hire a painting company for around $6,900-$13,388, or somewhere around $2.89 per square foot. Either way, the labor time will easily run you several days.

If you are asking yourself, “How much does it cost to paint a house?” this guide can help. Here are tips on budgeting for a house painting project. This chart will help address that question:

Calculate the Cost to Paint a House

House Size (total square footage)Avg. Cost Per Sq FtLow End $High End $
1,000  sq ft$4.57$3,499$5,120
1,600  sq ft$4.46$4,899$7,560
2,000 sq ft$4.39$6,275$9,210
2,400 sq ft$4.38$6,830$9,776
3,000 sq ft$4.21$9,499$12,220
*Price ranges by location, room, # of coats, and paint used

Investing in your home’s care and maintenance makes you a responsible homeowner. You understand the value of improving the design and function of your living spaces. That’s why you’re researching the costs of an upcoming paint job for your home. 

If you’re interested in the average cost to paint a house this year, you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below is your complete breakdown of material and labor costs for painting projects. 

Knowing these costs is in your best interest so that you can budget accordingly. After all, home improvement, in general, can become expensive pretty quickly if you don’t plan for the finances properly. Last year alone, the global home improvement industry generated over $762 billion in revenue. 

Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the potential costs of your upcoming painting job. Plan your budget ahead of time so you can make the most of your renovations without breaking the bank. Keep reading to know what to expect. 

Start with a Detailed Design Plan for Your New Living Space

Before we dive into the costs of painting a house, it’s important to get some more details. First, are you thinking about painting an area of your home’s interior or exterior? There are differences in both costs and materials you should use depending on the answer to that question. 

Of course, you’re obviously not limited to just one painting project in your home. If you have a lot of painting jobs that need to be done soon, it might be wise to make a list of priorities. Then, you can determine the cost of each project and budget accordingly. 

It’s worth noting that walls are not the only area in your home that might benefit from an updated painting job. Many homeowners paint things like their patio decks and fences in their lawn areas, for example.

When it comes to other indoor painting jobs, think about what rooms you want to tackle. For remodeling a kitchen, perhaps you can get the cabinetry a nice new paint job.

These simple touches can go a long way in boosting the atmosphere and attractiveness of your living spaces. How can you use a new painting job to upgrade your home?

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How to Calculate the Cost of Painting a House

Be it painting a small house or a larger 3000 square-foot home, there are a few different factors that go into the cost of any painting job. It’s important to remember costs can fluctuate with inflation in the economy or even increased prices of paint. In general, though, you can expect a pretty standard rate for painting your house. Get information on house painting prices by common house sizes below:

One important factor in the cost of a painting job is the price of the paint itself. Just like with every other product on the market, you’ll find variations in the quality of the material – and, therefore, variations in the quality of the price. 

Also, some paints might include primer already mixed in with the color. Since primer is an essential part of any painting job, this might save you money because you won’t have to buy a separate can of primer. Still, the combined color and primer will likely be comparatively more expensive than regular paint. 

Then, you’ll have to think about the size of the painting project in question. When painting contractors give you an estimated cost for the project, they’ll look at the square footage. 

Finally, a proper painting job will include the cost of labor. Outsourcing for this job, though, is going to be worth the investment. 

Why You Shouldn’t Try to Tackle Your Home’s Painting Projects By Yourself

In order to save on cost, you might be tempted to handle your home’s painting jobs on your own. You consider yourself somewhat handy, so you think you can manage this remodeling gig by yourself. 

We’d encourage you to reconsider, though. For one thing, hiring expert painting contractors will give you more of a chance that the job is done right the first time. If you make a mistake when painting, such as dripping on the floor or furniture, it can be a hassle to remedy. 

With skilled professionals, though, mistakes will be way less likely. Plus, reputable painting contractors will alleviate any unlikely accidents they do make when painting your home. Don’t underestimate the value of this peace of mind provided by hiring third-party painters.

Another thing to consider is the fact that sometimes, a painting job can present a safety issue. This is true, in particular, when a ladder is involved. 

Don’t put yourself or your family at risk by attempting to paint all of those nooks and crannies by yourself. Instead, hire painting experts to handle it on your behalf. Plus, they’ll already have all of the best tools so that you don’t have to go buy your own. 

What Is the National Average Cost to Have a House Painted? 

Though there are so many factors that can determine the specific cost for your upcoming painting job, let’s take a look at the national average. This range pertains to interior painting jobs. Still, we can consider it a fairly accurate reflection of what it might cost for exterior painting jobs, too. 

Based on data gathered from a ton of research, the national average cost of a home’s painting job ranges between $955 and $2,978. The reason this range seems so vast is due to the many factors listed above. The variance can be because of labor costs, material costs, or the square footage of the project in question. 

It’s also worth noting that the cost of labor can vary based on geography. Some rural areas might not have as much competition, so the cost of painting contractors could be less than in more expensive cities. The top companies in highly expensive cities might even be comfortable charging upwards of $100 an hour!

Painting contractors might base the price of the project on a couple of different things. If they’re going by the square footage alone, they might charge between $1 and $4 per square foot. If they’re charging by the hour, though, that price range can vary between $25 and $60 per hour.

How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a 1,500 Square-Foot House?

So, you’re looking at your 1,500 square-foot home and want more direct information about what it might cost to paint its entire interior. Well, even our best guess won’t encompass all of the details of your specific home. After all, even different rooms in the home can have different expected costs of painting them. 

That’s why it’s so worthwhile to get a reputable painting contractor’s estimate for the project ahead of time. In fact, we might even suggest that you seek two or more estimates from potential contractors. That way, you can pick and choose between expected costs. 

Still, here’s what you can expect for a typical 1,500-square-foot painting job. This should likely range between $3,000 and $3,500 including the costs of materials and labor. 

Again, you’re welcome to attempt to paint this entire project on your own. In that case, it would cost less than $1,000 even with the most high-quality paint options. As mentioned above, though, we encourage you to seek professional help to ensure the quality and safety of this painting endeavor. 

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How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a 2,000 Square-Foot House?

Perhaps your home is larger than that, and you’re looking at 2,000 square feet. In this case, remember that you have a lot more rooms to consider for this entire interior painting job. 

The average cost of this size of house painting project would be around $5,000. Of course, be prepared for that number to vary by over a thousand on either side. So, the range you can expect when it comes to the cost of painting the interior of a 2,000-square-foot home would be anywhere between $3,500 and $6,500

Factors that might determine the variation in this price would start with the general design of your home. Is there a lot of open floor design areas? In other words, how many dividing walls between rooms are actually in your home that would need to be painted?

Think about it. If your kitchen, dining room, and living room have an open design plan, there’s not as much wall square footage for updated paint. If they’re individual rooms, though, you’re looking at a higher painting project budget to cover all of those walls.

How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a 2,500 Square-Foot House?

Obviously, larger homes are only going to increase in the overall cost to paint their interiors (or exteriors). For homes with 2,500 square feet – or even more – be prepared to pay thousands of dollars to have the entire interior painted by expert contractors.

You’d spend about $2,000 on the materials and tools alone (if you’re trying to tackle this project yourself). Then, even with lower costs of labor in rural areas, this size of a project is going to cost a pretty penny. 

The materials will start to add up with larger painting projects, too. For the most part, you can expect one gallon of most paint brands to cover up to 400 square feet. For a 2,500-square-foot home, that means you’ll likely need at least seven gallons of paint just to be safe. 

Of course, then you have to think about getting primer as well as enough paint for additional coats if you want them. Knowing what to expect in regard to materials and labor costs will help you feel more secure in predicting the cost of this upcoming project. 

How Much Does Exterior House Painting Cost?

In many ways, the cost of painting a home’s exterior will be pretty similar to what it would cost to paint the interior. The labor costs of your chosen painting contractor, for instance, would remain the same.

The time it takes to paint a home’s exterior might actually be less than the interior, which is a good thing. That’s because it’s typically easier to access all of the painting spaces, as opposed to moving ladders all around a room to get every corner painted just right. Plus, you don’t have to worry about rearranging and/or protecting furniture as much when painting a home’s exterior. 

A single-story home’s exterior can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 to paint. That, of course, will mostly depend on the square footage. Some single-story homes can be several thousand square feet that the painters would have to cover. 

For two stories or more, the cost of materials and labor can add up all the way to around $15,000 to $18,000. Again, it’s going to vary based on square footage and ease of labor. It’s important to talk with your potential painting contractor about all of these variables ahead of time so that you’re on the same page. 

How Much Does It Cost to Have an Apartment Painted?

Maybe you don’t even live in a house and are more interested in the cost of painting an apartment unit. Well, considering the fact that you don’t have to worry about the home’s exterior, the overall painting space is much less. So, apartments typically cost less to paint than houses. 

The lower end of painting costs for studio apartments would be around $1,500. The higher end of painting costs for three-bedroom apartments would run around $4,800. So, you can plan for somewhere in between those numbers if you’re wanting to spruce up your unit.

How Much Does Painting Cost Per Room and Per Square Foot?

It’s no secret that the larger the project, the more you should expect to pay for a painting job. A three-bedroom house, for example, could cost around $1,600 to $5,600 for a complete painting job. A studio apartment, on the other hand, could cost less than $1,000 altogether if you’re lucky.

How can you break down the expected costs into even more detail, though? Let’s take a look at some of the more specific averages. 

Statistics indicate that the average painting cost per square foot runs between $1 and $3. Of course, this price can be higher in more expensive cities, as stated earlier in the article. 

The average painting cost per room throughout your home has a fairly wide range to consider, too. Again, a lot of the discussed variables will come into play here. Prepare to spend anywhere from $350 to $850 per individual room in your home when it comes to getting them professionally painted.

Plan Your Painting Project Budget Well in Advance

You now have a better understanding of what costs will be associated with your upcoming painting project. If you add up all of the labor and material costs in relation to the square footage that you might want to be painted, is there a sensible figure you think you can budget for?

Budgeting ahead when it comes to any home improvement project is essential. In fact, it can make or break the quality of the finished result altogether. If you have time to save up in advance, do so in order to optimize the end design with top-quality products and decor. 

Again, the best way to have a solid price in mind for your potential painting project budget is to reach out to contractors directly. Only their educated estimates will provide the insight you need for budgeting purposes. 

Different Kinds of Paint Used for Residential Homes

Once you start working with a painting contractor, you might have to make some decisions about the different kinds of paint that will be used. Remember, these contractors are experts in their field. Be willing to listen to their advice if they suggest you need certain kinds of paints for different projects. 

For instance, there’s a pretty noticeable difference between interior and exterior paint. Both of these products also sometimes need to consider the primer base before any color is added to the project in question. 

As for what different kinds of paint might look like, you have several finishing options to choose from. These finishes are typically more suited for indoor painting jobs, but not always. 

For shiny finishes that really make the color pop, consider semi-gloss or gloss finishes. On the other hand, a matte finish presents a nice subdued and soft color for your completed painting project. The most common paint finish in homes, though, is called satin, which is somewhat in between both gloss and matte in its appearance. 

The Importance of Getting Your Upgraded Interior Design Just Right

Maybe you’re wondering what all the fuss is about when it comes to making these detailed decisions about painting the interior or exterior of your home. Well, keep in mind that these details can make a huge difference in the overall attractiveness and comfort of your home in the long run. 

In fact, research indicates that interior design can affect our mental health. If you’re unhappy or feeling cramped in your home’s existing design, an upgrade might be just what you need. 

Upgrading your home’s painting job can also boost its resulting property value. This is essential for homeowners looking to put their properties on the market. Peeling and old paint jobs can deter potential buyers from considering the home worthy of purchasing.

If you refresh both the interior and exterior paint, though, families will be much more likely to want to move into such a well-maintained environment. At the end of the day, potential homeowners want to do as little work as possible on the property after they move in, so painting it for them will help their decision lean in your favor. 

Guidance When Considering Different Paint Colors

Speaking of trying to sell your home, this end result of your painting project might affect the colors you should use. A rule of thumb when choosing paint colors for selling a home is to go with appealing neutral shades. 

More obnoxious colors such as bright orange or lime green, for instance, can be off-putting. Rather, they might like a soft light blue, a light tan, or even beige to be the main color scheme. That way, they have more flexibility to decorate the rooms as they are. 

If you’re not preparing to sell your home, though, feel free to get creative when it comes to choosing between different paint colors. You deserve to feel as though your home’s interior design reflects your personal style and aesthetic. 

It might be worth considering the lighting available in the rooms you’re prepared to paint. For rooms with a lot of natural lighting, you have more flexibility when choosing a color.

For rooms like basements or dens without a lot of windows, though, be prepared for darker colors to really close in the feeling of the space. Brighter colors in windowless spaces, on the other hand, can be a great choice. 

Painting Buyers Guide

Be Willing to Ask Industry Professionals for More Guidance

If your upcoming painting job still seems overwhelming, that’s okay. There are industry experts at your disposal available to help you make the ideal decisions for your home’s painting upgrades. 

Take some time to browse through residential painting resources that might provide more guidance than you need. In addition, be willing to reach out to those industry professionals. 

Just remember to only work with painting contractors and experts worth your time. They should have a friendly customer service attitude, for one thing. Also, make sure they have plenty of experience with residential painting projects that they can show you. 

This is why we’ve compiled resources for families like yours to get the most out of their home’s painting projects. Are you ready to upgrade your home’s painting jobs to be the best they can be?

Keep Learning About the Cost to Paint a House

Now that you’ve learned more about painting costs, don’t stop here. You can have direct access to quotes and estimates from qualified painting contractors in your area. We’ve compiled all of the information for you to get started. 

Browse through our database to learn how much painters will cost to paint a house in your area. Submit your upcoming painting project on our website, and we’ll connect you with the quotes you can expect to budget for. To get started, learn more about house painting contractors available to you.

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