Exterior House Paint Cost Calculator

by
exterior house paint cost calculator
Comprehensive Cost EstimatePaint Quantity & Cost OnlyLabor Cost Only
Results:
Enter values above and click Calculate to see results.
function calculateResult(){var sqft=parseFloat(document.getElementById('sqft').value);var windows=parseFloat(document.getElementById('windows').value);var doors=parseFloat(document.getElementById('doors').value);var paintPrice=parseFloat(document.getElementById('paint_price').value);var laborRate=parseFloat(document.getElementById('labor_rate').value);var coats=parseFloat(document.getElementById('coats').value);var type=document.getElementById('calc_type').value;var showSteps=document.getElementById('show_steps').checked;if(isNaN(sqft)||isNaN(windows)||isNaN(doors)||isNaN(paintPrice)||isNaN(laborRate)||isNaN(coats)){alert('Please enter valid numerical values.');return;}var windowArea=windows*15;var doorArea=doors*20;var netArea=sqft-windowArea-doorArea;if(netArea<0)netArea=0;var coveragePerGallon=350;var gallonsNeeded=Math.ceil((netArea/coveragePerGallon)*coats);var paintTotal=gallonsNeeded*paintPrice;var laborTotal=sqft*laborRate;var grandTotal=0;var resultHtml='';var stepsHtml='Step-by-Step Calculation:
';stepsHtml+='1. Deducting openings: '+sqft+' – ('+windows+' windows * 15) – ('+doors+' doors * 20) = '+netArea+' net sq ft.
';stepsHtml+='2. Gallons needed: ('+netArea+' / 350) * '+coats+' coats = '+((netArea/350)*coats).toFixed(2)+' (Rounded up to '+gallonsNeeded+')
';if(type==='full'){grandTotal=paintTotal+laborTotal;resultHtml='
Estimated Total: $'+grandTotal.toFixed(2)+'
';resultHtml+='Paint Cost: $'+paintTotal.toFixed(2)+' ('+gallonsNeeded+' gal)
';resultHtml+='Labor Cost: $'+laborTotal.toFixed(2);stepsHtml+='3. Paint cost: '+gallonsNeeded+' * $'+paintPrice+' = $'+paintTotal.toFixed(2)+'
';stepsHtml+='4. Labor cost: '+sqft+' * $'+laborRate+' = $'+laborTotal.toFixed(2)+'
';stepsHtml+='5. Total: $'+paintTotal.toFixed(2)+' + $'+laborTotal.toFixed(2)+' = $'+grandTotal.toFixed(2);}else if(type==='paint'){resultHtml='
Paint Cost: $'+paintTotal.toFixed(2)+'
';resultHtml+='Gallons Needed: '+gallonsNeeded+'
';stepsHtml+='3. Paint cost: '+gallonsNeeded+' * $'+paintPrice+' = $'+paintTotal.toFixed(2);}else{resultHtml='
Labor Cost: $'+laborTotal.toFixed(2)+'
';stepsHtml+='3. Labor cost: '+sqft+' * $'+laborRate+' = $'+laborTotal.toFixed(2);}document.getElementById('summaryText').innerHTML=resultHtml;if(showSteps){document.getElementById('stepsDisplay').innerHTML=stepsHtml;document.getElementById('stepsDisplay').style.display='block';}else{document.getElementById('stepsDisplay').style.display='none';}}

Calculator Use

The exterior house paint cost calculator is a professional-grade tool designed to provide homeowners and contractors with an accurate financial blueprint for painting projects. By accounting for surface area, exclusions like windows and doors, and the rising costs of premium materials, this tool helps eliminate the guesswork from home improvement budgeting.

Whether you are planning a DIY weekend or requesting quotes from professionals, knowing the base cost of materials and expected labor rates ensures you are getting a fair price. Use the dropdown menu to toggle between a full project estimate, a paint-only list, or a labor-only calculation.

Total Exterior Wall Area
The total square footage of the exterior surfaces you plan to paint. Do not worry about subtracting windows yet; the calculator handles that.
Paint Price (per gallon)
Exterior paint usually ranges from $30 for budget options to $80+ for premium lifetime-warranty brands.
Labor Cost (per sq ft)
Professional labor typically costs between $1.50 and $4.00 per square foot depending on your region and the condition of the siding.

How It Works

To determine the true cost, we first calculate the "Net Paintable Area." This is the total surface area minus "voids" like windows and doors. The exterior house paint cost calculator uses standard architectural averages for these deductions:

Net Area = Total Area – (Windows × 15) – (Doors × 20)

  • Coverage: Most exterior paints cover approximately 350 square feet per gallon.
  • Coats: We multiply the volume needed by the number of coats (usually 2 for best results) and round up to the nearest whole gallon.
  • Labor: Labor is usually calculated on the total gross square footage because prep work (taping, sanding) still occurs around windows and doors.

Calculation Example

Example: A standard two-story home with 2,500 square feet of exterior wall space, 12 windows, and 3 doors using premium $60/gallon paint.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Net Area: 2500 – (12 * 15) – (3 * 20) = 2,260 sq ft.
  2. Paint Needed (1 Coat): 2260 / 350 = 6.45 gallons.
  3. Paint Needed (2 Coats): 6.45 * 2 = 12.9 gallons (Round up to 13).
  4. Paint Cost: 13 * $60 = $780.
  5. Labor Cost ($2.50/sq ft): 2500 * $2.50 = $6,250.
  6. Total Estimated Cost: $7,030.

Common Questions

How much does it cost to paint a 2,000 sq ft house?

On average, painting a 2,000 square foot home costs between $4,000 and $7,000 including labor and materials. If you choose to DIY, the cost drops significantly to roughly $600 – $1,200 for paint and supplies.

Should I use one coat or two?

For exterior surfaces exposed to UV rays and rain, two coats are highly recommended. While some "paint + primer" products claim one-coat coverage, a second coat provides a much thicker moisture barrier and significantly more vibrant, longer-lasting color.

How does siding type affect the exterior house paint cost calculator?

Highly textured surfaces like stucco or rough-cut cedar require more paint than smooth vinyl or fiber cement. If you have stucco, you should decrease the coverage estimate from 350 sq ft per gallon to roughly 200-250 sq ft per gallon.

Leave a Comment