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

Normal Range: $1,914 - $4,644

The average cost to paint the exterior of a house in Detroit, Michigan, is $3,225, and most projects total between $1,914 and $4,644. Costs will depend on the house size, type of siding, number of stories, and more.

How we get this data
Cost Insights
  • Painting the exterior of your Detroit home offers an ROI of 50% or more and can drastically improve its curb appeal. 

  • Detroit has a large number of brick homes, which cost more to paint than homes with wood or vinyl siding.

  • The average Detroit home is less than two stories high, keeping exterior painting costs down. 

Exterior house painting in Detroit costs an average of $3,225, but costs can range from $1,914 to $4,644. The main factors that determine cost are home size and number of stories, with siding type also affecting how much you’ll pay. We break down the most common factors that figure into the cost of exterior house painting in Detroit. 

Exterior Painting Cost Factors 

If you’re budgeting for exterior house painting, the most important things to consider is your home’s size, how many stories it has, and the siding type. Take a closer look at how these factors can affect the total cost of exterior painting in Detroit, Michigan.

Home Size

It averages about $1.50 to $4 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.

Paintable Area (Sq. Ft.)Average Cost to Paint Exterior
1,000$1,525–$4,050
1,500$2,275–$6,050
2,000$3,025–$8,075
2,500$3,775–$10,100
3,000$4,550–$12,125

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. Most Detroit homes are less than two stories high, so local homeowners may pay less overall for exterior painting.

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.

Number of StoriesEstimated Paintable Area (Sq. Ft.)Average Cost to Paint
Single Story1,000–1,500$1,525–$3,525
Two Stories1,500–2,500$3,025–$6,250
Three Stories2,500–3,000$4,550–$10,100+
Angi Tip

Painting your home often requires getting on a ladder, which can be dangerous. Have a friend hold you steady or entrust the job to a painting professional to ensure your safety.

Siding Type

Your home’s siding type will affect how much you’ll pay for exterior painting as well as how often you need to paint your home’s exterior. Detroit has a high number of brick homes compared to the rest of the country—more than half of the city’s single-family homes have brick exteriors.

Painting brick costs more than painting wood or vinyl siding, since specific techniques and materials must be used to prevent damage to the brick.

Siding TypeAverage Painting Cost per Sq. Ft.ProsCons
Wood$1–$3Eco-friendlySusceptible to rot
Concrete$1–$3.50Fire-resistantProne to cracking
Vinyl$1.25–$3Budget-friendlyShorter lifespan
Fiber cement$1.25–$3.25Durable and long-lastingHigher initial cost
Metal$1.50–$2.50Low-maintenanceProne to impact damage
Stucco$1.50–$4Fire- and rot-resistantComplex installation
Brick$1.50–$4.50Extremely durableMay need added structural support
6 siding types compared visually, including brick, stucco, and metal
ucpage / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, Mindful Media / E+/ Getty Images, onepony / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, adamkaz / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, KathyDewar / E+ / Getty Images, jhorrocks / E+ / Getty Images

Prep Work 

Paint stripping costs $0.50 to $2 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, particularly with specific sheens of exterior paint.

You’ll also need to prime the home before painting, and primer costs $15 to $80 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:

Add-OnAverage Cost
Trim$2 per linear foot
Garage$1,525–$3,025
Porch$1,200
Window sashes$150
Gutters$500
Soffit and fascia$2.50–$6 per linear foot
Exterior doors$150–$500 each
Deck$975

Exterior Painter Costs

Hiring an exterior painting pro in Detroit, Michigan, will ensure you get professional results completed safely and on schedule. DIY exterior painting can pose serious safety risks, since much of the work needs to be done from a ladder or scaffolding.

Professional painters have the tools and equipment to properly prep your home and paint it—and they’ll know the best time for exterior painting to avoid painting in the rain, snow, or any of Detroit’s other varied weather conditions, so you get the best results. 

Labor

Hiring a professional painting team costs about $1 to $3.50 per square foot or about $25 to $100 per hour for each painter. That price includes both adding primer and painting the home’s exterior. 

Does Exterior Painting Increase Home Value?

Painting your home’s exterior can not only boost its curb appeal, but it can also offer a return on investment (ROI) of 50% or more. When it’s time to sell, a freshly painted home is a major plus for prospective buyers, especially if there are historic home or HOA exterior painting guidelines to follow. Not having to undertake this project can set your home apart from buyers, knowing they may not need to worry about new paint for a decade or more.

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. 

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.

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