How Much Does It Cost to Paint Your Home’s Interior and Exterior? [2025 Data]
Whether you’re painting your home’s interior or exterior, the average cost falls around $2,500, with a range between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on square footage, prep work, materials, and more.
Interior painting costs an average of $2 to $6 per square foot, while exterior painting costs between $1.50 and $4 per square foot.
The price of interior painting largely depends on square footage, the type of room, and prep work.
Factors affecting the exterior painting price include home size, number of stories, and type of siding.
While savvy homeowners might DIY their painting project, professionals can achieve a smoother finish in less time.
If you’re looking to refresh your home, a few coats of paint can do the trick. Interior painting makes your surfaces look crisp and clean, while exterior painting boosts curb appeal and resale value. The average cost of a painting project is $2,500, but it can range from $350 to $8,000, depending on factors like square footage, materials, prep work, and labor rates. Here’s what you should know before attempting a DIY project or calling a professional painter.
Interior Painting Cost Factors
Interior painting costs less than exterior painting—expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000. The price is largely influenced by room size and paint type, but other factors also play a role. A painting pro can give you a quote for your specific project.
Cost by Square Footage
Interior painting costs an average of $2 to $6 per square foot. This varies depending on what, exactly, you’re planning to paint. For example, painting the walls alone might break down to $2.75 per square foot, while including the trim and ceilings could raise the price to $4.70 per square foot. You’ll pay more for larger rooms, especially if they have high ceilings.
Here’s how much it costs to paint your interior, based on some common room sizes:
| Room Size (Feet) | Total Square Footage | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| 8x10 | 80 | $160–$480 |
| 10x10 | 100 | $200–$600 |
| 10x12 | 120 | $240–$720 |
| 12x12 | 144 | $288–$864 |
| 12x18 | 216 | $432–$1,296 |
| 14x16 | 224 | $448–$1,344 |
| 15x20 | 300 | $600–$1,800 |
| 16x20 | 320 | $640–$1,920 |
| 20x20 | 400 | $800–$2,400 |
| 20x25 | 500 | $1,000–3,000 |
Naturally, painting more of your house will come with a substantially higher price tag. Painting the entire interior of a 2,000 square foot home will cost between $4,000 and $12,000, for example.
Type of Room
The type of room will also affect the cost of your interior painting project. Smaller rooms (such as bathrooms) often cost less, while larger living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens come with higher bills. Here is the estimated price of painting different types of interior rooms:
| Type of Room | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | $570–$1,210 |
| Living room | $900–$2,000 |
| Bedroom | $300–$750 |
| Bathroom | $200–$500 |
| Stairway | $400–$600 |
Interior Painting Materials
For inside jobs, you’ll likely need between $200 and $300 worth of supplies to complete each room. This includes everything from paint and protective plastic to ladders, patch materials, rollers, and trays.
One gallon of paint costs about $20 to $30 on average, though the price can range from $10 to $100+ depending on the brand and finish. Higher-quality paints tend to cost more, but they can also last longer, providing better resistance to fading and peeling and reducing the need for repainting later.
Speciality paints (like stain-blocking or mold-resistant paints) will increase your bill—and the same goes for high-gloss paints. Also, oil-based paints are more expensive than their latex counterparts, though latex is much more popular. Expect each gallon to cover 350 to 400 square feet with a single coat, and possibly less if you have textured walls.
Surface Being Painted
The cost of interior painting varies based on the surface, with different pricing for walls, ceilings, trim, and baseboards. Professional painters often charge more for hard-to-reach areas and ornate trim, as these require more time and labor. Adding an accent wall also increases your final bill for the same reasons.
Note that if you have cathedral ceilings—especially ones that require scaffolding or other specialized equipment—you’ll pay more in labor rates. Here’s how the surface being painted affects the cost:
| Surface Being Painted | Average Cost Range (per sq. ft.) |
|---|---|
| Walls | $1–$2 |
| Ceilings | $1–$3 |
| Baseboard and trim | $1–$3 |
| Hard-to-reach surfaces | $6 |
Preparation of Interior Surfaces
Failure to adequately prep your surfaces—or to hire the right pro to do it for you—can lead to costly damage and repaints down the road. Prep might involve sanding, patching, and repairing drywall problems like dents, scratches, and stains. You might also prime the surface in some cases, like if you’re covering a darker shade or you want the paint to adhere better. Masking or removing light fixtures, window dressings, floor trim, and furniture is another critical part of interior prep.
Here are some estimated costs related to surface preparation:
Sanding and patching: $0.50–$0.75 per square foot
Drywall repair (scratches, dents, water stains): $50–$75 per square foot
Primer: $10–$20 per gallon
Add-Ons for Interior Painting
Any additional work will increase the cost of your project. Here are some examples:
Painting an accent wall: $700 to $1,800
Removing wallpaper: $0.60–$3 per square foot
Popcorn ceiling removal: $1–$6 per square foot (though prices rise if you need asbestos remediation)
Adding texture to walls: $1–$3 per square foot
Moving furniture: $30–$100 per hour
Exterior Painting Cost Factors
Most homeowners will pay between $1,500 and $4,000 for exterior painting costs—slightly more than interior painting. The cost comes down to the size of your home, the number of stories, the type of siding, and other factors.
Size of Home
When painting a home exterior, you’ll pay between $1.50 and $4 per square foot. Naturally, bigger homes cost more to paint than smaller ones. Here’s a breakdown of exterior painting costs for different home sizes:
| Exterior Home Size (Square Feet) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $1,500–$4,000 |
| 1,500 | $2,250–$6,000 |
| 2,000 | $3,000–$8,000 |
| 2,500 | $3,750–$10,000 |
| 3,000 | $4,500–$12,000 |
Number of Stories
If your home is more than one story, it’s often necessary to use scaffolding and ladders to paint it. This increases labor costs by up to 50%. Here’s the average cost to paint your house based on the number of stories:
| Number of Stories | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| One | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Two | $3,000–$6,200 |
| Three | $4,500–$10,000+ |
Type of Siding
When painting a home exterior, the type of siding affects the final bill. That’s because some materials (like concrete and vinyl siding) are easier to paint than others (like brick siding). Here’s a breakdown of exterior painting costs by type of siding:
| Siding Type | Cost Per Square Foot | Average Price Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $1.25–$3 | $600–$3,500 | Inexpensive and easy to paint |
| Stucco | $1.50–$4 | $1,400–$6,000 | Costly due to time-consuming prep and specialized materials |
| Wood | $1–$3 | $700–$3,000 | Requires sealant and regular maintenance |
| Concrete | $1–$3.50 | $500–$3,000 | A porous surface that requires more labor and primer |
| Brick | $1.50–$2.50 | $3,500–$10,000 | Needs more time and primer |
| Metal | $1.50–$2.50 | $400–$3,500 | Consider cleaning instead for a quick refresh |
Exterior Painting Supplies
Exterior painting projects cost an average of $600 to $1,200 in supplies, depending on the square footage and type of surface. Not only do outside walls require paint that can endure the elements, but they also demand larger ladders, extender poles, and scaffolding. This equipment enables access to the overhangs and gutters otherwise impossible to reach.
It takes about 12 gallons of paint to complete an average-sized exterior. Oil paints will set you back $20 to $60 per gallon, while you’ll spend $20 to $50 per gallon for latex and acrylic latex paint, which are the best exterior paint types for houses. You’ll also spend more for glossier paint because of its increased durability.
When shopping for paint, be sure to choose the quality and type best suited to withstand local weather conditions and climate.
Exterior Prep Work
Exterior paint prep varies based on house size, materials, and the condition of your exterior walls. Depending on your situation, you could be in for hours or even days of power washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, and priming—all before prying the lid off that first bucket.
You’ll also need to cover any flowers, plants, and bushes surrounding your home, move outdoor furniture, and protect surfaces that could be damaged by potential spills or overspray.
Here’s what you might spend on different exterior painting prep projects:
Pressure washing: $200–$450
Paint stripping (might be necessary for peeling, flaking, or bubbling paint): $0.50–$2 per square foot
Primer: $15–$80 per gallon, not including labor
Siding repair: $2–$50 per square foot
Caulking home perimeter: $200–$500
Sanding and scraping off loose paint: $0.50–$1 per square foot
Add-Ons for Exterior Painting
You might want to bundle extra services while painting your exterior siding. For example, you can paint your doors, deck, fence, or garage door. Here’s a price breakdown for common add-ons:
Painting exterior doors: $135–$300
Painting garage doors: $200–$500
Painting deck: $500–$2,000
Painting fence: $750–$4,250
Painting shutters: $200–$500
Painting trim: $1–$4 per linear foot
Costs to Hire a Professional Painter
When hiring a local interior painting professional or exterior painting professional, labor makes up 70% to 90% of the total project cost. Most pros charge between $25 and $100 per hour. This often breaks down to $1 to $3.50 per square foot, depending on the pro’s experience level, your geographic location, and the complexity of the job. For example, painting high ceilings or hard-to-reach areas will raise the price.
It’s also worth noting that each additional coat of paint (outside of the standard two layers) will raise costs by about $50–$70 per 300 to 400 square feet. You might need additional coats if you’re painting over a dark color.
DIY Painting vs. Hiring a Pro
Whether you’re touching up the guest room or boosting your curb appeal, that home painting project can be a lot of work. Hiring an experienced painter not only eliminates that hassle, but it also puts your task in the hands of an expert—someone with the equipment, training, and insight needed to get it done safely. A local painting professional will also give you a smoother finish in less time, and they can share insight on colors, finishes, and more.
That said, some savvy homeowners can handle interior painting themselves, which saves anywhere from $700 to $1,800 in labor costs, depending on project scope. Expect to shell out between $200 and $300 in supplies, plus $10 to $100 per gallon of paint. You’ll also need sufficient time for interior prep work.
If you attempt an exterior painting project yourself, the cost often falls between $500 and $1,000 total. You might need costly supplies like a high-quality power roller or sprayer, which will add another $100 to $2,000 to your bill. Outdoor painting projects also involve some safety hazards, especially if you’re working with a ladder or scaffolding, so make sure you’re up to the task. If not, hire a local exterior painting professional instead.
How You Can Save Money While Painting
Painting your home will set you back hundreds or thousands of dollars. Whether you DIY or hire a professional painter, you can save money by following these tips:
Get quotes from at least three contractors to compare prices.
Attempt prep work yourself—such as cleaning surfaces, sanding, and patching holes—if you can do it safely.
Maintain and clean your siding to avoid expensive repair or replacement work.
Bundle home improvement jobs for a possible discount.
Consider skipping add-ons like painting trim, doors, baseboards, or shutters.
Let your contractor buy the paint since they often get better deals.
Don’t choose the most expensive paint on the market (but don’t settle for the cheapest option either).
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 extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on 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.
