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

Painting the exterior of a house in Indianapolis, Indiana, costs an average of $2,532, with most homeowners paying between $1,418 and $3,687. The main factors that determine the cost include house size and the number of stories, but the type of siding can also play a part. Let’s explore what can affect your total project cost for exterior house painting.

Exterior Painting Cost Factors 

The cost of painting a house’s exterior in Indianapolis, Indiana, depends on various factors, including home size, number of stories, and type of siding. Indianapolis’s smaller average home size and budget-friendly siding options can help keep costs down—take a closer look at how these factors can affect how much you’ll pay for exterior painting. 

Home Size

It averages about $1.20 to $3.20 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.

The average home size in Indiana is around 1,750 square feet, which is smaller than the national average. Indiana’s average home age is older than in many other areas, and older homes tend to be smaller than new builds.

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

Vinyl siding is the most common siding type in Indianapolis, with fiber cement and wood also proving to be popular options. The type of siding you have will affect how much it costs to paint, as some materials may require specialized prep or a specific type or sheen of exterior paint.

Indianapolis experiences four distinct seasons with a wide range of weather from very hot summers to cold, snowy winters, so weather conditions can take their toll on both siding and the paint you use on it.

The varied weather conditions mean you may need to paint your siding more often in Indianapolis than in other parts of the country with milder weather. Weather conditions may also affect the best time to paint siding—consult with a professional painter to paint at the right time.

Prep Work 

Paint stripping costs $0.40 to $1.60 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 $12 to $64 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

You may be tempted to tackle exterior painting as a DIY project to save on labor costs, but keep in mind that an exterior painter in Indianapolis, Indiana, will have all the tools and equipment needed to prep, prime, and spray or roll your exterior paint for a professional finish. Safety is a concern for this project as well. Since so much of the work requires climbing ladders or scaffolding and accessing hard-to-reach areas, it can be dangerous for homeowners to attempt.

Labor

Hiring a professional painting team costs about $0.80 to $2.80 per square foot or about $20 to $80 per hour for each painter. That price includes both adding primer and painting the home’s exterior. Labor costs in Indianapolis can be up to 20% less than the national average due to the area’s lower cost of living. It isn’t necessary to tip house painters, but a good review or recommendation can help show your appreciation for a job well done.

Does Exterior Painting Increase Home Value?

Painting your home’s exterior can not only boost its curb appeal but also increase your home’s value, offering a return on investment (ROI) of 50% or more. A freshly painted house is more appealing to prospective buyers and can set your home apart when it comes time to sell, as it’s one big project buyers won’t need to worry about once they move in.

In Indianapolis’s competitive housing market, a fresh coat of paint can invite multiple offers and allow you to get more for your home.

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 survey 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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