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

 Exterior house painting in Boston costs an average of $5,285, with most homeowners paying between $3,198 and $7,782. Cost is based mainly on home size and siding type, with prep and labor costs also contributing. We break down the things that determine how much you’ll pay for exterior painting in Boston so you can budget accordingly for this project.

Exterior Painting Cost Factors 

The cost of exterior painting in Boston, Massachusetts, depends on factors including home size, number of stories, and siding type. Let’s take an in-depth look at how these factors affect how much you’ll pay for exterior painting in Boston. 

Home Size

It averages about $2.50 to $6.50 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. 

Boston’s average home size of just over 1,900 square feet is on par with the national average, but the city’s higher cost of living means you’ll pay more per square foot for exterior painting.

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

Like many parts of New England, Boston has a high percentage of homes with traditional wood siding that requires frequent repainting to protect it from weather damage and rot. Many historic Boston homes are made of brick, although most remain unpainted. 

The cost to paint a house with stucco or brick exterior is higher than other materials because of the specialized prep and paint work needed. Vinyl and fiber cement siding are common on newer homes in Boston, which require periodic repainting due to the variety of weather conditions the area experiences. 

Whether you should spray or roll exterior paint depends on the type of siding, as does the best sheen for exterior paint. A Boston exterior painting pro can recommend the correct type, sheen, and application for your exterior paint. 

Prep Work 

Paint stripping costs $0.80 to $3.20 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 $25 to $135 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

Unless you just need to touch up exterior house paint, it’s best to hire a pro to tackle this project. Exterior house painting can pose safety risks since much of the work needs to be done on a ladder or scaffolding. An exterior painting pro in Boston, Massachusetts, can safely and efficiently paint your house, using exterior house painting tips that come from years of experience to give you the best results.

Labor

Hiring a professional painting team costs about $1.70 to $5.80 per square foot or about $40 to $170 per hour for each painter. That price includes both adding primer and painting the 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. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

Does Exterior Painting Increase Home Value?

Painting the exterior of your home offers a return on investment (ROI) of 50% or more. In Boston, where wood siding is common and prone to damage and rot, a fresh coat of exterior paint can save you from paying significant siding repair and replacement costs in the future. Exterior paint can also help you sell your home—in Boston’s competitive housing market, a recently painted home can be a major selling point for potential buyers.