Calculator Use
This exterior house paint cost calculator is designed to provide homeowners and contractors with a reliable estimate for painting projects. Whether you are planning a DIY weekend or hiring a professional crew, knowing the ballpark costs for materials and labor is essential for budgeting.
To get the most accurate result, enter the total floor area of your home and specify how many stories it has. The calculator accounts for wall surface area, common exclusions for windows and doors, and the different labor rates associated with professional services versus self-painting.
- House Floor Area
- The square footage of the ground footprint of your home. This is used to estimate the perimeter of the exterior walls.
- Number of Stories
- The vertical levels of the house. Higher houses require more paint, more ladders, and increased labor time.
- Paint Price
- The cost per gallon of your chosen paint brand. Standard paints range from $30 to $80 per gallon.
How It Works
The exterior house paint cost calculator uses a geometric estimation method to determine the paintable surface area of your home's siding. Since most users don't know the exact square footage of their exterior walls, we calculate it using the floor area and height.
Wall Area = (4 × √FloorArea) × (Stories × 10) × Complexity × 0.85
- Perimeter Estimation: We assume a square-ish footprint to estimate the distance around the house.
- Window/Door Deduction: A standard 15% (0.85 multiplier) is subtracted to account for openings that aren't painted.
- Coverage Rate: Most exterior paints cover roughly 350 square feet per gallon. We calculate for two coats as recommended by experts.
- Labor Factor: Professional labor is calculated based on a per-square-foot rate that includes prep work, masking, and clean-up.
Calculation Example
Example: A standard 1,500 sq. ft. ranch-style (1 story) home being painted by professionals with mid-grade paint ($50/gal).
Step-by-step solution:
- Estimate Perimeter: 4 × √1500 ≈ 155 linear feet.
- Estimate Wall Area: 155 ft × 10 ft height = 1,550 sq. ft. gross area.
- Subtract Openings: 1,550 × 0.85 = 1,317 sq. ft. net siding area.
- Gallons (2 coats): (1,317 / 350) × 2 = 7.5 (round up to 8 gallons).
- Paint Cost: 8 × $50 = $400.
- Labor Cost: 1,317 sq. ft. × $2.75 = $3,621.
- Total Estimated Cost = $4,021.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to paint a 2,000 sq ft house exterior?
For a 2,000 square foot home, professional painting typically ranges from $3,500 to $7,000. If you choose to DIY, your costs will mostly be materials (paint, primer, brushes, ladders), which usually total between $600 and $1,200 depending on the quality of paint used.
Does the siding type affect the cost?
Yes, significantly. Smooth wood or vinyl siding is the easiest to paint. Stucco, brick, and rough-cut cedar require more paint because of their porous surface and higher texture. These materials can increase paint consumption by 20% to 40%.
How often should I paint my house exterior?
Most experts recommend painting every 5 to 10 years. Wood siding usually needs painting every 3-7 years, while aluminum or fiber cement siding (like Hardie Board) can go 10-15 years between professional coatings.
Factors That Increase Cost
While the exterior house paint cost calculator provides a solid baseline, several real-world factors can push the price higher:
- Lead Paint Removal: Homes built before 1978 may require lead abatement, which is highly regulated and expensive.
- Extensive Prep Work: If your current paint is peeling, bubbling, or cracking, the labor cost will increase for scraping, sanding, and priming.
- Trim and Shutters: Painting accents in a different color requires more precision and time than "body" painting.
- Geographic Location: Labor rates in major metropolitan areas are significantly higher than in rural regions.