House Painting Cost 2026 — Free Estimate by City

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House painting cost by project type (2026)

National average ranges, two-coat application with mid-grade paint. Premium paint and prep work add to cost.

Project	Cost per sq ft	Typical project total	Notes
Interior painting (walls only)	$2–$6	$1,500–$4,500	1,500 sq ft home, walls only
Interior painting (full)	$3–$8	$3,000–$8,000	Walls, ceilings, trim
Single room (10x12)	—	$300–$900	Walls only, mid-grade paint
Single room (full)	—	$500–$1,500	Walls, ceiling, trim, doors
Exterior painting (siding only)	$2–$5	$3,000–$8,000	1,500 sq ft of siding
Exterior (full house)	$3–$8	$4,500–$13,000	Includes trim, doors, prep
Cabinet painting (10x10 kitchen)	—	$1,500–$4,500	Professional spray finish
Deck staining/painting	$2–$6	$500–$2,500	300–500 sq ft typical deck

Interior painting cost

Interior painting averages $3–$8 per square foot of floor area for full coverage (walls, ceilings, trim, doors). For an average 1,500 sq ft home, that's $4,500–$12,000 total. Walls-only painting (no ceilings or trim) cuts cost roughly in half.

Per-room: a standard 12x12 bedroom runs $400–$1,000 painted top-to-bottom. Bathrooms: $300–$700. Kitchens (without cabinets): $500–$1,500. Living rooms/great rooms: $600–$1,800.

Exterior painting cost

Exterior house painting runs $3–$8 per square foot of siding area for a quality 2-coat job. A typical 1,500 sq ft single-story home runs $4,500–$12,000. Two-story homes cost 30–50% more due to ladder/scaffold work.

Wood and stucco surfaces require more prep (sanding, caulking, primer) than vinyl or fiber cement. Expect $1–$3/sq ft additional for heavy prep on a peeling or weather-damaged exterior.

Cabinet painting cost (kitchen refresh)

Painting kitchen cabinets professionally costs $1,500–$4,500 for a typical 10x10 kitchen (about 30 cabinet doors and 10 drawer fronts). This is the highest-ROI kitchen update under $5,000 — 70–90% of buyers respond positively to fresh-painted cabinets.

DIY cabinet painting saves $1,000+ but takes 30–60 hours and requires careful prep (degreasing, sanding, primer, 2–3 finish coats). Brushed finish vs sprayed finish makes a noticeable quality difference.

House painting cost factors

Square footage

Bigger projects have lower per-sq-ft cost (mobilization spread). Smallest jobs (single room) often have $300–$500 minimum.

Number of coats

Most quotes assume 2 coats. 1 coat saves ~30% but rarely covers cleanly. 3 coats add 20–30% (often required for dramatic color changes).

Prep work needed

Heavy scraping, sanding, caulking, or repair adds $1–$3 per sq ft. Lead paint testing/abatement on pre-1978 homes adds significant cost.

Paint quality

Builder-grade: $25–$45/gallon. Mid-grade (Sherwin-Williams ProClassic, Benjamin Moore Regal): $50–$70/gallon. Premium (Aura, Emerald): $80–$120/gallon. Better paint covers in fewer coats and lasts longer.

Trim, doors, windows

Add $5–$15 per linear foot of trim. Doors $75–$200 each. Windows $50–$150 per frame.

Wall texture / repair

Patching nail holes, drywall damage, or removing wallpaper adds $0.50–$3/sq ft.

House painting cost by city

Local pricing benchmarks across major US metros.

New York, NY Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL Houston, TX Phoenix, AZ Philadelphia, PA San Antonio, TX Dallas, TX Austin, TX Jacksonville, FL Columbus, OH Charlotte, NC Indianapolis, IN Seattle, WA Denver, CO Atlanta, GA Miami, FL Tampa, FL Nashville, TN Portland, OR Minneapolis, MN Sacramento, CA Raleigh, NC Kansas City, MO

Frequently asked questions about house painting cost

How much does it cost to paint a house interior?

Full interior painting (walls, ceilings, trim) for a 1,500 sq ft home costs $4,500–$12,000. Walls-only is $1,500–$4,500. Per room: $400–$1,500 depending on size and scope.

How much does exterior house painting cost?

Exterior painting for a typical 1,500 sq ft single-story home runs $4,500–$12,000 for a 2-coat job. Two-story homes add 30–50% due to ladder/scaffold work. Heavy prep (peeling, weathered surfaces) adds $1–$3/sq ft.

How much paint do I need?

1 gallon covers ~350–400 sq ft per coat on smooth surfaces, ~300 sq ft on textured surfaces. For a 12x12 room, you'll need 1–1.5 gallons for 2 coats of walls only. Always buy 10% extra for touch-ups.

Should I paint cabinets or replace them?

Painting kitchen cabinets ($1,500–$4,500) refreshes the look at 10–20% the cost of replacement ($8,000–$25,000). Painting works well if cabinet boxes are still solid. Replace if cabinet boxes are damaged, swollen, or particle board.

How long does interior painting take?

A single room: 1–2 days for a 2-person crew. Whole-house interior: 4–10 days. Crews typically paint while you live in the home, prepping and finishing 1–2 rooms per day.