How much to charge for exterior painting
Exterior house painting is priced per project after a walkthrough, and prep is the hidden cost that decides your day. Scraping, caulking, and priming the rough spots is where the hours go, so never quote a peeling house like a clean one.
You should charge
$3,950
per project · typical $1,500–$10,000
Why this number. Quote the whole job after walking it, and itemize prep as its own line. The client cannot see the scraping and priming once it is painted over, so naming it is how you get paid for the part that actually makes the job last.
Typical exterior painting prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Single-story home | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Two-story home | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Trim & doors only | $500 – $1,500 |
Also common: By surface area, $1.50-$4 per square foot including labor and materials is typical.
What changes the price
- Home size, stories, and surface area
- Surface type (wood, stucco, vinyl, brick)
- Prep and repairs (scraping, caulking, priming)
- Paint quality and number of coats
The pricing move most people miss
Quote the whole job after walking it, and itemize prep as its own line. The client cannot see the scraping and priming once it is painted over, so naming it is how you get paid for the part that actually makes the job last.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for exterior painting?+
Most exterior painting is priced $1,500–$10,000 per project, with a typical rate around $4,000 per project. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to home size, stories, and surface area and surface type (wood, stucco, vinyl, brick). Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge per job or by the hour for exterior painting?+
Most exterior painting is priced per job, and that is the stronger model. It pays you for the result rather than the clock, and clients far prefer one fixed number they can plan around. Estimate the hours a job takes, multiply by the hourly rate you want, then add a 15-25% buffer for the jobs that run long. By surface area, $1.50-$4 per square foot including labor and materials is typical.
How much should I charge for exterior painting as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $1,500 to $4,000 per project. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $10,000.
What affects how much exterior painting costs?+
The biggest factors are home size, stories, and surface area; surface type (wood, stucco, vinyl, brick); prep and repairs (scraping, caulking, priming); paint quality and number of coats. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote exterior painting so the client says yes?+
Quote the whole job after walking it, and itemize prep as its own line. The client cannot see the scraping and priming once it is painted over, so naming it is how you get paid for the part that actually makes the job last. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.