The short answer
Painting the inside of a 1,500-square-foot home in Austin costs about $3,100 to $6,150, and the outside of a 2,000-square-foot house runs $2,450 to $8,200. The Texas sun fades and bakes exterior paint faster than in most of the country, so prep and the right product matter more than the brand name.
What painters charge in Austin
Our prices start from national cost guides and apply the Texas statewide construction cost factor of 0.82 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors, which has no separate Austin entry. Labor is the biggest part of any paint job, so local wages move the price more than paint does.
| Job | Austin (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Interior, 1,500 sq ft home | $3,100–$6,150 | $3,750–$7,500 |
| Interior, 2,500 sq ft home | $5,150–$10,250 | $6,250–$12,500 |
| Exterior, 2,000 sq ft home | $2,450–$8,200 | $3,000–$10,000 |
| One bedroom | $285–$695 | $350–$850 |
| Primary bedroom | $535–$1,150 | $650–$1,400 |
| Living room | $490–$1,650 | $600–$2,000 |
| Bathroom | $125–$330 | $150–$400 |
| Interior door | $61–$125 | $75–$150 |
| Kitchen cabinets | $740–$3,100 | $900–$3,800 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Austin prices use the Texas statewide construction cost factor of 0.82 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors, which have no separate Austin entry. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
Quotes move toward the top of the range when:
- The walls need patching, skim coating or a lot of caulk before any paint goes on
- Ceilings are tall, or there is crown molding, wainscoting or detailed trim to cut in
- You want several colors, or a dark color is going over a light one
- The house was built before 1978 and the crew has to set up lead-safe containment
- The exterior needs scaffolding on a second story, or heavy scraping and wood repair
- The house sits under mature trees, where shade keeps siding and trim damp longer
Use the cost estimator below, or the full painting cost estimator, for a price based on your square footage, condition and ZIP code. Our painting cost guide covers national prices and paint finishes.
The same estimator has its own page, easy to share or bookmark: House painting cost estimator.
Interior painting in Austin homes
For single rooms, the Austin ranges in the table above work out to about $285 to $695 for a bedroom, $535 to $1,150 for a primary bedroom and $490 to $1,650 for a living room. A bathroom is $125 to $330, and kitchen cabinets run $740 to $3,100, since every door and drawer front is cleaned, sanded, primed and sprayed or brushed. An interior door is $61 to $125.
Labor is the biggest line on an interior bid. Walls alone cost less than walls plus ceilings, baseboards and trim. A single accent wall is a small add-on. Ask for the estimate to list each room and each surface so you can see what is included.
If you are painting before a sale, a move-in or a rental turnover, plan the order of work. Floors usually go last, after paint, and any electrical or plumbing changes should happen before the walls are patched. Our Austin kitchen guide covers what else changes when the cabinets are part of a bigger remodel.
Exterior paint and the Central Texas climate
The Texas sun is the main reason exterior paint fades here. Darker colors fade fastest, and prolonged UV exposure can make paint brittle and strip its protective qualities (Next Level Home Solutions). Temperature swings make exterior surfaces expand and contract, which leads to cracking, peeling and early failure. Heavy rain, humidity and seasonal storms let moisture into the walls once paint and caulking start to fail.
Shade causes a different problem. Mature trees in neighborhoods like Wells Branch, Georgetown Village, Berry Creek and older areas of Round Rock keep moisture on siding and trim longer, so those walls can fail before the sunny ones.
Before you get quotes, run a hand across a painted surface. A powdery residue means the paint is breaking down, a condition called chalking. Waiting too long to repaint leads to wood rot, trim damage, moisture intrusion and bigger repair bills.
How often to repaint, by siding
| Siding | Typical repaint cycle |
|---|---|
| Wood siding | 3 to 7 years |
| Stucco | 5 to 10 years |
| Fiber cement | 10 to 15 years |
| Painted brick | 10 to 15 years |
Source: Next Level Home Solutions. Most exterior paint jobs overall last 5 to 10 years.
When to schedule it
Paint needs dry weather before and after application. In Austin that points to spring and fall, when rain is more likely than in summer but the heat is milder. Summer works too, but crews start early to beat the afternoon heat, and paint applied in extreme heat can dry too fast to bond well. A typical exterior takes several days, longer with heavy scraping or wood repair.
Lead paint in homes built before 1978
The federal government banned lead-based paint for homes, child care facilities and preschools in 1978, and the EPA estimates about three-quarters of US homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint (EPA). That matters most during prep, because scraping and sanding old paint creates dust.
Under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which the EPA administers in Texas (Texas DSHS):
- Anyone paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must work for an EPA-certified firm, with a certified renovator on the job. This applies even to one-person businesses.
- Before work starts, the firm must give you EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet.
- Open-flame burning or torching of paint is prohibited, and so are power tools without HEPA dust collection.
- Final cleanup uses a HEPA vacuum and wet mopping.
- A trained professional using an EPA-recognized lead test kit can show that regulated lead paint is not present.
Most individuals need eight hours of training to become certified renovators (Hawaii DCCA). The rule does not generally apply to owners painting their own homes, unless they rent the home out, run a child care center there, or flip houses (EPA).
Lead-safe work costs more, because the crew contains the work area and cleans up more carefully. Ask for it as a separate line on the estimate so you can compare bids fairly. If your painter is not certified and the house predates 1978, find one who is.
Paint VOC rules in Texas
Texas does not have a South Coast-style rule that caps VOC content for ordinary house paint. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality limits VOC content, application methods and work practices for surface coating processes under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter E, Division 2 and Division 5, as part of the state plan to meet the ozone standard (TCEQ). Those rules target industrial and commercial coating operations, not a homeowner repainting a living room.
Many painters still use low-VOC and zero-VOC lines, especially for interior work, because they smell less and let you back in the house sooner. Ask what product line the bid includes and whether a low-VOC option changes the price. If someone in the house has asthma or chemical sensitivity, say so before the estimate.
Do you need a permit?
Usually not. Austin's building code lists painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work as exempt from a building permit (Austin Development Services). Exempt work still has to meet the building code and city ordinances.
The same logic holds across the metro. Round Rock requires a building permit for construction, installation, alteration, repair and replacement of electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems (Round Rock Building Inspection). Cedar Park requires permits for construction that adds a structure or physically changes an existing one (Cedar Park). Painting alone does not cross those lines. Pflugerville issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits (Pflugerville), and Leander runs permits through its Development Hub (Leander).
In unincorporated Travis County, any development requires a permit, and a development permit is required for all repairs on flood-damaged structures (Travis County). If a storm soaked your walls and the repair goes beyond paint, call the county permit desk at (512) 854-4215 before work starts.
Williamson County has not adopted residential building code standards for unincorporated areas, and it has no zoning (Williamson County). If your property is inside a city or its ETJ, that city's rules apply.
Repairs that go beyond paint can need a permit: replacing siding, rebuilding a rotted wall, or adding a room. Ask before that work starts, and see our Austin additions and remodels guide if the paint is part of a bigger project.
HOA color approval
In subdivisions in Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander and Georgetown, exterior colors often need HOA approval. Submit your colors and wait for written approval before the crew orders paint. A repaint in the wrong color can mean paying twice.
How to check a painter before you hire
Texas does not license painters. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses air conditioning contractors, electricians, plumbers and other trades, but painting is not on the list (TDLR). The state also has no general contractor license, and Austin's own contractor registration page says so plainly (Austin).
So there is no license number to look up. Instead, verify these:
- Business registration. Ask for the legal business name and check it with the Texas Secretary of State if it is an LLC or corporation.
- Insurance. Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and call the agent to confirm it is current. If the company has employees, ask about workers' compensation.
- Lead certification. For a pre-1978 home, ask for the EPA lead-safe firm certificate and the name of the certified renovator who will be on site.
- Written estimate. It should list the prep, the number of coats, the product line and finish, and which surfaces are included.
- References. Ask for two or three recent jobs in your part of town, and call them.
Every painter in the GOLDGCP network passes six-step vetting: license verification, an insurance check, a business and public-records check, a portfolio review, client reference calls, and onboarding with a quality score. You pay in milestones, each one after you approve that stage of the work. See how payment protection works.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP painters take interior and exterior jobs across the region:
- Austin, from older central bungalows to new builds on the edges
- Round Rock
- Cedar Park
- Georgetown
- Pflugerville
- Leander
- Westlake
Type in your ZIP code to see painting prices where you live and get matched with painters nearby.
How GOLDGCP works
- Describe the job: rooms or exterior, square footage, the year the house was built and any HOA rules. Send it through the form, by phone or on WhatsApp.
- See the price range for your ZIP code before anyone visits, then get matched with up to 3 vetted painters.
- Your painter walks the house, tests for lead if needed, and gives a written estimate with the prep and products spelled out.
- Pay by milestone, for example after prep and after the final walkthrough, and follow progress in the client portal.
Frequently asked questions
How much do painters charge in Austin?
By job, a bedroom costs about $285 to $695, a 1,500-square-foot interior $3,100 to $6,150, and a 2,000-square-foot exterior $2,450 to $8,200. Kitchen cabinets run $740 to $3,100. Austin prices run below the national average because the Texas construction cost factor is 0.82.
How often should I repaint my house exterior in Austin?
Most exterior jobs last 5 to 10 years. Wood siding needs it every 3 to 7 years, stucco every 5 to 10, and fiber cement or painted brick every 10 to 15. The Texas sun fades dark colors fastest, so check the south and west walls first.
When should I paint a house exterior in Austin?
Spring and fall are the safest bets, with milder heat and enough dry days for paint to cure. Summer works if the crew starts early. Avoid painting in extreme heat, and watch the forecast for storms before and after.
Do painters in Austin need lead certification?
Yes, for paid work that disturbs paint in a home built before 1978. The EPA runs the RRP program in Texas, and it requires a certified firm and a certified renovator. Older central Austin and Round Rock homes are the most likely to need it.
Is there a VOC limit on paint in Austin?
Not the kind Los Angeles has. TCEQ's surface coating VOC rules target industrial coating operations, not house paint. Many Austin painters still use low-VOC lines for interior work because they smell less, so ask what product the bid includes.
Do I need a permit to paint my house in Austin?
No. Austin exempts painting and similar finish work from building permits, and the suburbs follow the same logic for paint alone. Repairs that go beyond paint, such as replacing siding or rebuilding a rotted wall, can need one. In an HOA subdivision, get written color approval first.
What should I check before hiring a painter in Austin?
Texas does not license painters, so there is no state license to look up. Check the business registration, confirm general liability insurance with the agent, ask for the EPA lead-safe certificate on pre-1978 homes, and get a written estimate that lists prep, coats and products.
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). Where that table has no entry for a metro, we use the nearest listed location or the state value. For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the cost estimator 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
- Next Level Home Solutions
- U.S. EPA · U.S. EPA
- dshs.texas.gov
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing
- U.S. EPA · U.S. EPA
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- City of Austin Development Services · City of Austin Development Services
- roundrocktexas.gov
- cedarparktexas.gov
- pflugervilletx.gov
- leandertx.gov
- Travis County, Texas
- wilcotx.gov
- tdlr.texas.gov
- City of Austin Development Services · Contractor Registration
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Austin; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.