Cost to Paint Exterior of a House in Los Angeles [2026 Data]

Painting the exterior of a house in Los Angeles costs an average of $4,692, but it can range from $2,947 to $6,484. Costs are based on home size, number of stories, siding type, prep work costs, and more. The city’s high cost of living means local homeowners will need to budget more for this project than in other parts of the country, since labor and material costs are higher. We break down the things that determine the cost of exterior painting in Los Angeles.

Exterior Painting Cost Factors 

The cost of exterior painting in Los Angeles, California, depends on home size, number of stories, and siding type. Let’s take a closer look at these factors and more to see how they’ll affect the total cost of exterior painting. 

Home Size

It averages about $2.20 to $5.90 per square foot to paint the exterior of a house. That means that the bigger your home is, the more money it will cost to paint. Homes with more stories and hard-to-reach areas, like dormers, will also increase costs by around 50% per story.

Los Angeles’s average house size at just over 1,800 square feet is on par with the national average, but the area’s high cost of living means it’ll cost almost 50% more per square foot for painting than in other parts of the country.

Number of Stories

Painting a two-story house can cost up to 50% more than painting a one-story house. This is mainly because the additional stories are harder to reach, so setting up scaffolding and ladders will tack on extra labor costs.

Here’s what those increases could look like:

• Add 30% above 8 feet.

• Add 60% above 13 feet. 

• Add 90% above 17 feet.

• Add 120% above 19 feet.

Siding Type

The most popular siding options in Los Angeles include fiber cement and stucco. Budget-friendly options like vinyl and wood may appeal to cost-conscious homeowners, but the area’s frequent wildfire risks make them less-than-ideal choices compared to fire-resistant options.

The year-round sunshine and UV exposure can fade exterior paint on Los Angeles homes. One of the benefits of exterior painting is to combat faded paint and provide renewed UV protection. The ideal type and best sheen of exterior paint will depend on the siding type, as will the proper prep steps. The cost to paint a stucco house is higher than for other materials due to the need for specialized prep and paint. 

Prep Work 

Paint stripping costs $0.75 to $2.95 per square foot, and is necessary to remove old paint in poor condition, such as paint that is cracking, flaking, or bubbling. These issues can prevent the new coats of paint from going on smoothly.

You’ll also need to prime the home before painting, and primer costs $20 to $120 per gallon, not including labor. Most pros will include primer in the project’s total cost.

Add-Ons

You may want to paint more than just your home’s siding. Maybe you need a fresh coat of paint on your trim, or your porch needs some TLC. Here are the costs of common exterior house painting add-ons:

Exterior Painter Costs

Hiring a Los Angeles exterior painting pro will give you professional results safely and efficiently, and will ensure the job is done right. It may be tempting to attempt this project as a DIY, but exterior painting requires working on a ladder or scaffolding, which can pose serious safety risks. A pro painter will also have the tools, equipment, and exterior house painting tips needed to give you the best possible results.

Labor

Hiring a professional painting team costs about $1.50 to $5 per square foot or about $30 to $150 per hour for each painter. That price includes both adding primer and painting the home’s exterior. Los Angeles’s higher cost of living means you’ll pay nearly 50% more for labor than in other parts of the country.

Does Exterior Painting Increase Home Value?

Painting the exterior of your house can benefit your home’s value, offering an impressive return on investment (ROI) of 50% or more. New exterior paint is a desirable feature for potential buyers, so painting your home before putting it on the market can make it easier to sell and allow you to set a higher asking price. Painting as close to listing time as possible is preferable for the most impact on value—fortunately, Los Angeles’s year-round pleasant weather means it’s always the best time to paint your home’s exterior.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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