Cost to Paint a House in 2026 — Plus 6 Ways to Save
The average cost to paint the interior of a house is about $2,000. The average cost to paint the exterior is just over $3,100.
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You can generally expect to pay between just under $1,000 to over $3,000 to have the interior of your house painted, with the average homeowner spending $2,021, according to 2026 data from Angi.
Interior painting costs an average of $2 to $6 per square foot, depending on what parts of the interior are included. While it's common to include walls in a painting project quote, it might cost extra to include accents, trim and ceilings.
An exterior paint job ranges from about $1,800 to $4,500, with an average cost of $3,177. This translates to a cost of $1.50 to $4 per square foot. An additional story and the type of siding can also make a big difference in price.
Here's what to know about the factors that make up your house painting costs and how to reduce the final bill.
Interior painting cost by square feet
Expect to spend between $2,000 and $6,000 per 1,000 square feet of interior space. Here are some estimates of the cost to have a professional paint the interior of your home based on its size:
| Home size | Interior painting cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| 1,500 square feet | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| 2,000 square feet | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| 2,500 square feet | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| 3,000 square feet | $6,000 to $18,000 |
Exterior painting cost by square feet
Plan to spend between $1,500 and $4,000 per 1,000 square feet of exterior space. Here are some cost estimates to have a professional paint the exterior of your home based on its size:
| Home size | Exterior painting cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| 1,500 square feet | $2,250 to $6,000 |
| 2,000 square feet | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| 2,500 square feet | $3,750 to $10,000 |
| 3,000 square feet | $4,500 to $12,000 |
Breaking down the cost to paint a house
Most expenses fall into two main categories.
1. Cost of labor
The largest portion of the cost is labor. A lot of the painter’s time is spent preparing the surface so the paint adheres well and the job lasts. Your biggest potential savings come from reducing the time a professional painter has to spend on cleaning, patching, sanding, caulking and painting.
2. Cost of paint and materials
Here's how much you can expect to spend on the paint and materials for your project:
- Paint: $15 to $60 or more per gallon. Lowe’s estimates that one gallon of paint will cover 350 to 400 square feet of interior space. Pricing depends on the sheen, the grade and any special features. Some paints, for instance, are mold-resistant, while others suppress smells or require fewer coats.
- Primer: $20 to $60 per gallon, which Lowe’s estimates will cover around 200 to 300 square feet of space.
- Other materials: Tarps, tape, brushes, rollers and other equipment and supplies can range in cost. Some brushes and rollers only cost a few dollars, while a ladder can cost over $100.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Some paints and primers also come with a lifetime warranty, which can affect costs. Paints with warranties, however, may not be worth a higher price. Consumer Reports ran tests approximating nine years of wear. In those tests, only a few exterior paints and stains with lifetime warranties held up well. Tips for saving on house-painting costs
With labor being your biggest expense, you can save the most by minimizing how many hours a painter spends on the job. And there are other ways to pare back costs, too. Follow these pro tips for maximizing your savings:
1. Do all or some of the work yourself
You can save a bundle by doing the labor yourself. Labor can cost 75% to 95% of the total cost of a professional interior paint job, according to Angi. If you DIY, the biggest expense will be paint, primer and renting or buying any supplies or equipment such as caulk, brushes, rollers, tarps and ladders.
High-quality paints may be more expensive by the gallon, but you may get more coverage and durability out of them than you would with a lower-quality paint. This means that you can use less paint and finish the job faster, saving money on the project overall.
3. Prep the space yourself
If your professional painter has to do prep work before painting, this can inflate the cost of the project. Before hiring your painter, ask if you can reduce the cost of labor by doing some tasks yourself. For example:
- Trimming shrubs.
- Moving furniture and clearing a perimeter for painters to work.
- Removing and reinstalling the outlet covers, switch plates and doorknobs.
- Prep work like patching, sanding and scraping, if you have the skills.
4. Get competing bids
Getting multiple estimates can help you find the best deal. To get bids, you can:
- Ask friends or family for recommended painters.
- Visit your local paint store and ask for recommendations.
- Search online for painters who are licensed, where required, and insured.
- Use digital review platforms like Yelp or Angi.
Ask each painter you speak with to specify:
- How many hours will be spent on painting.
- The names of products to be used.
- How many coats will be applied.
- The cost for any additional coats.
- The cost for prep work and cleanup.
Once you’ve made your choice, solidify the deal in writing with a contract.
5. Trim the scope of the job
Before signing the contract, look through it for ways to trim aspects of the job that aren’t important to you. For example, you might forgo repainting ceilings or closet interiors to save on paint and labor.
6. Time your project
You may get the best deal by hiring professionals outside of the peak season in your area. However, you should also consider if hiring during inclement periods — say, the dead of winter in the Midwest — will add to labor expenses.
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What Reddit users say about house painting project costs
Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like home improvement, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about house painting project costs and ways to save. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.
Reddit users who have had their home exteriors painted professionally stress how much location plays a role in the pricing of the project. To be sure you're not being overcharged, they recommend getting multiple quotes in your area to figure out the going rate for contractors. They also suggest creating clear contracts, especially when it comes to the number of paint coats that will go on the home. To those planning a DIY interior painting project, Reddit users suggest planning for the project to take longer than expected, even for those with painting experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to DIY or hire painters?
It's cheaper to DIY when it comes to painting, but it's not always the better choice. For example, you'll likely save a lot on labor costs, but it might take you longer to do it. Painting your exterior might be best left to professionals because of the scope of the task and the safety aspects involved if you have a multi-story house.
What time of year is best to paint?
The best time of the year to paint the interior of your home is during periods with cooler air and lower humidity, such as fall or early winter. The best time to paint the exterior is during spring or fall, when the weather is milder than the heat of summer or the chill of winter.
Why is exterior house painting so expensive?
Painting the exterior of a home takes certain materials and labor that all add to the cost of the project. Exterior house painting projects can also come with special risks. Multi-story homes, for example, require painters to use high ladders and sometimes scaffolding, which can make the work more costly.
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