How much house painting costs
Quick answer
Painting the inside of a house in the US usually costs $1 to $3 per square foot of wall, or about $3 to $7 per square foot of floor space. That puts the interior of a 1,500-square-foot home at about $3,750 to $7,500 with walls, and more with ceilings, trim and doors. A single bedroom costs $350 to $850. Exterior painting runs about $1.50 to $5 per square foot of siding, or $3,000 to $10,000 for a typical 2,000-square-foot house.
| Job | US average (typical range) | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Interior, 1,500 sq ft home | $3,750–$7,500 | $5,250 |
| Interior, 2,500 sq ft home | $6,250–$12,500 | $8,750 |
| Exterior, 2,000 sq ft home | $3,000–$10,000 | $6,000 |
| One bedroom | $350–$850 | $600 |
| Primary bedroom | $650–$1,400 | $1,000 |
| Living room | $600–$2,000 | $1,200 |
| Bathroom | $150–$400 | $275 |
| Interior door | $75–$150 | $110 |
| Kitchen cabinets | $900–$3,800 | $2,000 |
US national averages for 2026, labor and standard materials included, from published cost guides (sources at the end of this page). Local prices differ: see the city table below, or enter your ZIP code in the calculator.
What a painting quote includes
Labor is most of the bill. HomeGuide puts professional painters at $25 to $75 an hour, and paint itself at $20 to $80 a gallon depending on quality. A good quote covers moving and covering furniture, filling holes and cracks, sanding, caulking, primer where needed, two coats of finish paint and cleanup. Ask what's included before comparing prices, since a low bid may skip prep, and prep is what makes paint last.
Interior painting costs by room
| Room | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | $150 to $400 |
| Kitchen (walls only) | $150 to $250 |
| Bedroom | $350 to $850 |
| Primary bedroom | $650 to $1,400 |
| Living room | $600 to $2,000 |
| Interior door | $75 to $150 |
| Apartment or condo | $900 to $3,000 |
| Kitchen cabinets | $900 to $3,800 |
By house size, HomeGuide's whole-interior figures are $4,500 to $6,000 for 1,500 square feet, $6,000 to $8,000 for 2,000 square feet, $7,500 to $10,000 for 2,500 square feet and $9,000 to $12,000 for 3,000 square feet.
Find a painter near you
Enter your ZIP code to see local painting prices and get matched with a vetted, licensed painter for your area. GOLDGCP works in every US ZIP code.
Painting costs in 50 US metros
This table prices painting the interior of a 1,500-square-foot home in each of the 50 largest US metros, using each metro's construction cost factor.
| Metro | Cost factor | Interior, 1,500 sq ft home |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1.31 | $4,900–$9,850 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 1.28 | $4,800–$9,600 |
| San Jose | 1.28 | $4,800–$9,600 |
| Boston | 1.23 | $4,600–$9,250 |
| Chicago | 1.20 | $4,500–$9,000 |
| San Diego | 1.19 | $4,450–$8,950 |
| Sacramento | 1.17 | $4,400–$8,800 |
| Philadelphia | 1.15 | $4,300–$8,650 |
| Seattle | 1.15 | $4,300–$8,650 |
| Providence | 1.15 | $4,300–$8,650 |
| Los Angeles | 1.14 | $4,300–$8,550 |
| Detroit | 1.13 | $4,250–$8,500 |
| Riverside–San Bernardino | 1.11 | $4,150–$8,350 |
| Portland | 1.10 | $4,150–$8,250 |
| Las Vegas | 1.10 | $4,150–$8,250 |
| Milwaukee | 1.10 | $4,150–$8,250 |
| Hartford | 1.10 | $4,150–$8,250 |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | 1.06 | $4,000–$7,950 |
| Pittsburgh | 1.06 | $4,000–$7,950 |
| Denver | 1.05 | $3,950–$7,900 |
| Washington DC | 1.04 | $3,900–$7,800 |
| St. Louis | 1.04 | $3,900–$7,800 |
| Cincinnati | 1.02 | $3,850–$7,650 |
| Salt Lake City | 0.99 | $3,700–$7,450 |
| Orlando | 0.98 | $3,700–$7,350 |
| Columbus | 0.98 | $3,700–$7,350 |
| Cleveland | 0.98 | $3,700–$7,350 |
| Baltimore | 0.96 | $3,600–$7,200 |
| Kansas City | 0.96 | $3,600–$7,200 |
| Jacksonville | 0.96 | $3,600–$7,200 |
| Virginia Beach–Norfolk | 0.94 | $3,550–$7,050 |
| Miami | 0.93 | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Tampa | 0.93 | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Indianapolis | 0.93 | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Phoenix | 0.90 | $3,400–$6,750 |
| Rochester | 0.90 | $3,400–$6,750 |
| Oklahoma City | 0.89 | $3,350–$6,700 |
| Buffalo | 0.89 | $3,350–$6,700 |
| Nashville | 0.87 | $3,250–$6,550 |
| Memphis | 0.87 | $3,250–$6,550 |
| Richmond | 0.87 | $3,250–$6,550 |
| Louisville | 0.86 | $3,250–$6,450 |
| Birmingham | 0.86 | $3,250–$6,450 |
| Atlanta | 0.85 | $3,200–$6,400 |
| Charlotte | 0.85 | $3,200–$6,400 |
| Raleigh–Durham | 0.85 | $3,200–$6,400 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | 0.84 | $3,150–$6,300 |
| Houston | 0.82 | $3,100–$6,150 |
| Austin | 0.82 | $3,100–$6,150 |
| San Antonio | 0.80 | $3,000–$6,000 |
Cost factors from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). Outside these metros, the calculator uses your state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Linked metros have a full local guide.
Exterior painting
Exterior work costs more per hour of labor than interior work because of ladders or lifts, weather delays and the prep that siding needs. HomeGuide's national figures:
| Home size | Paintable exterior area | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 800 sq ft | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,200 sq ft | $1,800 to $6,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 1,700 sq ft | $2,600 to $8,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 2,100 sq ft | $3,200 to $10,500 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 2,500 sq ft | $3,800 to $12,500 |
Siding type changes the price. Vinyl and aluminum are the quickest to paint, wood siding needs more scraping and priming, and stucco and brick take more paint because the surface is rough and porous. Stucco can also be refreshed with a breathable fog coat, and brick can be limewashed instead of painted.
When to repaint the outside
Repaint when paint is peeling, cracking or chalking off on your hand, when bare wood shows, or when caulk around windows and trim has split. Sun-facing walls wear fastest. Waiting too long turns a repaint into a repair, because water gets into the siding through failed paint.
Homes built before 1978: lead paint rules
Lead paint was banned for homes in 1978, but it is still in many older houses under newer coats. Under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be an EPA-certified firm using a certified renovator and lead-safe work practices. That includes scraping and sanding before painting.
Lead-safe work adds cost for plastic containment, special cleanup and verification. If your home is older than 1978, ask the painter for their RRP firm certification. A painter who plans to dry-scrape or power-sand old paint without containment is putting your family at risk.
Choosing paint and finish
- Flat or matte hides wall flaws and suits ceilings and low-traffic rooms.
- Eggshell and satin are easier to wipe clean and suit living areas and bedrooms.
- Semi-gloss stands up to moisture and scrubbing in kitchens, bathrooms and on trim and doors.
- Exterior paint should be a quality acrylic latex, with a finish chosen for the siding.
Higher-quality paint usually covers in fewer coats and lasts longer, so it often costs less over the life of the job even at a higher price per gallon.
How long painting takes
A crew can usually paint a bedroom in a day and the interior of an average house in three to five days, depending on prep and the number of colors. An exterior job takes about a week of good weather for a typical house, longer if there is a lot of scraping, repair or lead-safe work.
How much paint you need
You can estimate paint the same way painters do:
- Measure the perimeter of the room (add the lengths of all walls) and multiply by the wall height. A 12-by-14-foot room with 8-foot walls has 52 feet of wall, or 416 square feet.
- Subtract about 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each window.
- Divide by the coverage on the can, often about 350 to 400 square feet per gallon for one coat.
- Multiply by the number of coats, usually two.
That 12-by-14 room needs a little over 2 gallons for two coats on the walls. Dark color changes, fresh drywall and rough surfaces need more paint or a primer coat. Ceilings are figured separately, by length times width.
Painting cabinets versus replacing them
Painting kitchen cabinets costs about $900 to $3,800, a fraction of the price of new cabinets, and it can transform a kitchen if the cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works. The finish quality depends almost entirely on prep: removing doors and hardware, deep cleaning, sanding, priming with a bonding primer and spraying a durable cabinet-grade paint. Brushing cabinets in place is cheaper but rarely looks as good or lasts as long.
Prep work that makes paint last
Paint fails because of what's underneath it. A professional job starts by washing walls, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, so paint can bond. Holes and cracks get filled and sanded smooth, and glossy surfaces are scuffed. Stains, bare patches and repairs get primer, and dark walls going light often need a primer coat too. Caulk seals gaps at trim and baseboards. Outside, loose paint is scraped, bare wood is primed and failed caulk around windows and doors is replaced before any finish coat goes on.
When comparing quotes, ask each painter to describe their prep. The cheapest quote often skips steps that only show up a year later as peeling.
Choosing colors
Test colors before committing. Paint large swatches on two or three walls and look at them in morning and evening light, since the same color looks different under daylight and lamps. Lighter colors make small rooms feel larger, and a consistent palette between connected rooms makes a house feel calmer. For resale, light neutral walls appeal to the most buyers.
How to hire a painter
- Check the license where your state requires one for painting contractors, and confirm liability insurance.
- For homes built before 1978, ask for EPA RRP lead-safe certification.
- Get a written quote that lists the rooms or surfaces, prep work, number of coats, paint brand and line.
- Ask who supplies the paint and whether leftover paint is left for touch-ups.
- Pay in stages, with the final payment after a walkthrough.
Every painter in the GOLDGCP network passes a license check, insurance verification, a background check and reference calls before getting a job, and you pay in milestones as the work gets done.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a house interior?
Usually $1 to $3 per square foot of wall, or $3 to $7 per square foot of floor area. The interior of a 1,500-square-foot home costs about $4,500 to $6,000 including walls, according to HomeGuide.
How much does it cost to paint a 1,500 square foot house?
About $4,500 to $6,000 for the interior and $1,800 to $6,000 for the exterior at national prices. Ceilings, trim, doors and heavy prep add to the interior price.
How much does exterior house painting cost?
Typically $1.50 to $5 per square foot of siding, or $3,000 to $10,000 for an average 2,000-square-foot house. Stucco, brick, multiple stories and extensive prep cost more.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
A typical bedroom costs $350 to $850, a primary bedroom $650 to $1,400, a living room $600 to $2,000 and a bathroom $150 to $400.
Do painters need to follow lead paint rules?
Yes, in homes built before 1978. Under the EPA's RRP Rule, paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in those homes must be done by a certified firm using lead-safe practices.
How often should a house be repainted?
When the paint starts peeling, cracking or chalking, or when bare wood shows. Interior rooms with heavy use and sun-facing exterior walls need it soonest.
Is it cheaper to paint a house yourself?
You save on labor, which is most of the cost, but prep, ladders and the time involved are significant, and in pre-1978 homes, unsafe scraping can spread lead dust. Many homeowners paint interiors themselves and hire out exteriors.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the calculator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- Cost to paint the interior of a house · HomeGuide
- Cost to paint the exterior of a house · HomeGuide
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program · U.S. EPA
- Area Cost Factors, PAX Newsletter 3.2.1 (2024) · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Regional Price Parities by State · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.