The short answer
Painting the inside of a 1,500-square-foot home in greater Houston costs about $3,100 to $6,150 by our cost-adjusted figures, and Angi puts the average Houston exterior job at $2,619. Weather shapes everything else here. Heat, heavy rain and mildew decide how the outside gets prepped, which hours the crew paints and how long the finish holds up.
What house painters charge in Houston
The table applies Houston's construction cost factor of 0.82 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to national painting prices. Since most of a paint job is labor, the local factor moves the total more than the price of paint does.
| Job | Houston (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. Houston prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 0.82 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
Angi's Houston figures sit in the same range. For interiors it reports an average of $2,071, with most jobs between $949 and $3,208 and walls at $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot (Angi, Houston interior). According to Angi, Houston's humidity can mean extra patching and sanding at $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot, and tall ceilings or detailed trim add $1 to $4 per square foot. By home size it lists $2,180 to $3,670 for 1,200 square feet and $4,550 to $7,650 for 2,500.
On exteriors, Angi's Houston average is $2,619, with most jobs between $1,579 and $3,677, or $1.24 to $3.30 per square foot (Angi, Houston exterior). Labor accounts for 80% to 95% of that. A two-story house can cost up to 50% more than a single story because of ladders and scaffolding.
For a number based on your square footage, condition and ZIP code, use the calculator below or the full painting calculator. National prices and finish choices are in our painting cost guide.
Siding and prep on Houston houses
Angi names vinyl and fiber cement as the most common siding in Houston, and both are among the cheaper surfaces to paint. Brick and stucco take longer because the texture has to be worked into.
| Surface | Houston cost per sq ft (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Wood siding | $0.80 to $2.50 |
| Vinyl | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Fiber cement | $0.95 to $2.65 |
| Stucco | $1.20 to $3.30 |
| Brick | $1.20 to $3.75 |
Bids usually split on prep. Stripping failed paint costs $0.40 to $1.65 per square foot in Angi's data, soffit and fascia $2.05 to $4.95 per linear foot, and trim about $1.65 per linear foot. Ask every painter to put washing, scraping, caulking, primer and the number of coats in writing.
Heat, rain and humidity: painting outside in Houston
Exterior paint in Houston has to survive a lot of water and heat. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Bush Intercontinental show 51.84 inches of rain a year and 111.3 days at 90°F or hotter. Hobby Airport averages 55.62 inches. At IAH, August highs average 94.9°F with lows of 75.4°F, and June is the wettest month at 6.00 inches, ahead of October and May.
Paint makers' guidance explains why this matters for your job. Sherwin-Williams says the temperature should stay within the product's range and above the dew point for at least 48 hours after painting, because moisture on a fresh film can cause surfactant leaching, mildew and poor adhesion (Sherwin-Williams). It advises against painting in direct summer sun, which dries paint too fast and leaves lap marks and weak adhesion, and it says temperatures over 100°F can dry the film before it bonds. After a heavy rain, wait at least a day. Wood and masonry hold more water than vinyl and need longer.
When to paint in Houston
| Season | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Late fall to early spring | Mild weather; January averages a 63.8°F high and 43.7°F low at IAH. Watch for the occasional freezing night and morning dew. |
| April and May | Comfortable temperatures, but May averages 5.01 inches of rain. Build weather days into the schedule. |
| June to September | Hot and wet. Start early, paint the shaded sides and follow the shade around the house. |
| October | Cooler, but the second-wettest month at 5.46 inches. |
Ask your painter how they will schedule each side of the house and what happens when rain is forecast within a day of painting.
Mildew
Mildew is a fungus that grows on painted surfaces outdoors and in damp rooms, and it eats the paint over time. Dunn-Edwards lists three causes: bare wood left unprimed, paint applied over existing mildew, and excess moisture (Dunn-Edwards). To test a dark stain, put a few drops of bleach on it. If it fades within minutes, it is mildew, since dirt would not change. The fix starts with the moisture source. Then the surface gets cleaned with a mildew remover or a mix of one quart of bleach, three quarts of warm water and a quarter cup of ammonia-free detergent, rinsed, dried completely, primed and painted. Make sure the mildew wash appears on your estimate.
Interior painting in Houston homes
At Houston prices the table works out to $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 runs $125 to $330, and painting kitchen cabinets $740 to $3,100. Angi puts wallpaper removal at about $3 per square foot and popcorn ceiling removal at $1 to $2. Indoors, humidity shows up first in bathrooms and laundry rooms, so ask for a mildew-resistant finish in those rooms. If the cabinets are part of a larger kitchen job, see our Houston kitchen remodeling guide.
Lead paint in older Houston homes
Which rules apply depends on the year the house was built. By Census figures, 47.0% of homes in the City of Houston and 56.7% in Pasadena were built before 1980. In Sugar Land the share is 13.0%, and in The Woodlands 7.7%. Lead paint was banned for homes in 1978.
Texas has no lead renovation program of its own, so the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies directly. Anyone paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must work for an EPA-certified firm, with a certified renovator on the job. Before starting, they hand you the Renovate Right pamphlet. Then they contain the work area and clean up with lead-safe methods. Small jobs are exempt: 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside. Window replacement and demolition are covered at any size (EPA). The EPA lead-safe firm locator lists certified firms.
The City also has a free option. The Houston Health Department's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program helps lower-income households identify, remove or stabilize lead paint hazards at no cost, focusing on homes where children under 6 live or visit (Houston Health Department). The home must date from before 1978 and income limits apply, for example $80,900 for a household of four. If you have peeling paint in an older house, call 832-393-5141 before hiring a painter.
Paint VOC limits in Texas
Paint used on Texas homes falls under the EPA's national limits on volatile organic compounds (40 CFR 59, Table 1). Those caps are far looser than New York's, which holds flat paint to 50 grams per liter, so in Houston a low-VOC paint is something you ask for.
| Coating | Federal VOC limit (g/L) |
|---|---|
| Flat paint, interior or exterior | 250 |
| Nonflat paint (eggshell, satin, semi-gloss) | 380 |
| Primers, sealers and undercoaters | 450 |
| Opaque stains | 350 |
| Clear and semitransparent stains | 550 |
If someone at home has asthma, or you need to sleep in the rooms soon after painting, ask for low-VOC product lines by name and check the data sheet.
Do you need a permit to paint in Houston?
No. The City of Houston lists painting and wallpapering among the jobs that need no building permit (Residential Permitting 101). Other approvals may still apply:
- The Woodlands: the 2024 Residential Development Standards require prior written approval for house repainting and exterior color changes, with color chips submitted for every painting application. Gloss paint is prohibited, muted shades are preferred, and painting brick or other masonry needs approval before work starts (The Woodlands Township).
- Historic districts: Houston has 23 of them. The ordinance amendments adopted in 2010 say a Certificate of Appropriateness is not required for exterior painting (City of Houston). Check with the Office of Preservation before painting brick that has never been painted.
- Deed restrictions and HOAs: rules on exterior colors vary by subdivision across Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land and Pearland. Get a copy of yours before choosing a color.
How to check a painter before you hire
Neither Texas nor the City of Houston licenses painters. These checks do the work a license would:
- For a home built before 1978, ask for the EPA firm certificate and the name of the certified renovator who will be on site.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance, plus workers' compensation if the company has employees.
- Get a written estimate that lists the wash and mildew treatment, scraping, caulking, primer, product lines and coats for each surface.
- Ask how they handle rain days and afternoon sun.
- Keep the final payment until the walkthrough. Texas law has owners hold back 10% of the contract price until 30 days after completion (Texas Property Code ch. 53).
Every painter in the GOLDGCP network passes our six-step vetting. Read how payment protection works for the milestone schedule.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP painters take interior and exterior jobs across greater Houston:
- Houston
- Katy and Cypress
- Sugar Land and Pearland
- Pasadena
- The Woodlands and Conroe
Type your ZIP code below to see painting prices for your area and painters who work there.
How GOLDGCP works
- Describe the job: interior or exterior, rough square footage, the year the house was built and any HOA rules.
- See prices for your ZIP code, then get matched with 3 vetted painters.
- Your painter walks the house, checks for mildew and old paint, and writes up the prep and products.
- You pay in milestones, each one after you approve that stage, and track the work in the client portal.
Frequently asked questions
How much do house painters charge in Houston?
Angi puts the average Houston interior job at $2,071 and exterior at $2,619. By our cost-adjusted figures, the interior of a 1,500-square-foot home runs $3,100 to $6,150 and one bedroom $285 to $695. Mildew prep, high ceilings and a second story raise the price.
What is the best time of year to paint a house exterior in Houston?
Late fall through spring is easiest because of the mild temperatures. Summer work can go well if the crew starts early and stays in the shade. Expect rain in May, June and October, and give paint 48 hours above the dew point to cure.
How long after rain can you paint outside in Houston?
Sherwin-Williams suggests waiting at least one day after a heavy rain, longer for wood and masonry because they absorb more water than vinyl. The surface has to be fully dry, or the new coat is likely to peel.
Do I need a permit to paint my house in Houston?
No building permit is needed for painting in the City of Houston. In The Woodlands, repainting a house needs prior written approval from the design review committee, and many subdivisions have deed restrictions or HOA rules on exterior colors.
Do painters need a license in Texas?
Texas has no painter license. For homes built before 1978, the painting company must be an EPA-certified firm for lead-safe work, with a certified renovator on the job. Also ask for insurance and a detailed written estimate.
How do I get rid of mildew before painting?
Put a few drops of bleach on a dark spot. If it fades in minutes, it is mildew. Fix the moisture source, wash with a mildew remover or diluted bleach with ammonia-free detergent, rinse, let it dry completely and prime before painting.
Is there help with lead paint in Houston?
Yes. The Houston Health Department's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program removes or stabilizes lead hazards at no cost for eligible lower-income households in homes built before 1978, with a focus on families with young children. Call 832-393-5141.
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
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House in Houston, TX? · Angi
- Cost to Paint The Exterior of a House in Houston, TX · Angi
- Exterior Product Application FAQs · Sherwin-Williams
- Paint Problem Solver: Mildew · Dunn-Edwards
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors · U.S. EPA
- Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program · Houston Health Department
- Table 1 to Subpart D of Part 59: VOC Content Limits for Architectural Coatings · Cornell Legal Information Institute
- The Woodlands Residential Development Standards 2024 · The Woodlands Township
- 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 adjusted with official construction cost factors for Houston; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.