How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Stucco House?

In 2026, the national average cost to paint a stucco house ranges from $3,600 to $7,200, depending on your home's size, paint type, and stucco condition. Budget for pressure washing at $200 to $420, and keep in mind that stucco crack repairs may need one to six weeks to cure before painting can begin.

Stucco Painting Cost Factors: What Determines the Price?

Several key factors determine what you'll pay to paint a stucco home, from the size of your exterior to the paint type you choose. Understanding these variables before hiring a local exterior painter helps you build a realistic budget and avoid unexpected costs.

Home Size

Home size is the primary driver of stucco painting costs, with most pros pricing the job at $1.80 to $3.60 per square foot depending on your location and the stucco's condition. The more surface area that needs coverage, the higher your total will be. The table below breaks down the average cost to paint a stucco home based on square footage:

Keep in mind that two homes with the same square footage can have very different exterior surface areas depending on the shape of the house, its architectural details, and the complexity of fixtures. Pull up your home's schematics to estimate your exterior square footage.

Labor

Hiring an exterior painter costs $25 to $100 per hour or $1.50 to $4 per square foot, depending on the painter's experience level and the job's complexity. Painting the exterior of a 2,000-square-foot home typically takes three to five days, though actual timelines vary based on your home's true surface area. Seasoned pros can give you a reliable completion estimate, so ask for one before work begins.

Paint Type

Exterior stucco paint must be durable enough to withstand the elements, which is why it costs more per gallon than standard indoor paint. Most homes require 10 to 30 gallons depending on size, so choosing the right paint type before you buy is essential. The table below breaks down stucco painting costs based on paint type:

The five most common paint types range from budget-friendly color coats to high-performance elastomeric formulas, each with different durability, weather resistance, and color availability.

• Elastomeric: Elastomeric paint costs $1.50 to $5 per square foot, totaling $3,000 to $8,500 for a 2,000-square-foot home. This type of paint dries into a layer of protective rubber, offering superior durability and weather resistance over your stucco walls. It requires precise application but lasts around 10 years, hides cracks, and protects against moisture damage. 

• Color coat: Color coat paint costs $1.50 to $8 per square foot, totaling $3,000 to $16,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home. If you want to change your stucco's color without prioritizing weather resistance, a color coat is the budget-friendly choice. 

• Fog coat: Fog coat costs $1.30 to $6 per square foot, totaling $2,600 to $12,000 for a 2,000-square-foot house. This paint is a unique mix of pigment, cement, and lime, making it a good option for refreshing or recoloring stucco walls. It offers decent durability and weather resistance, though color choices are limited. 

• Acrylic: Acrylic paint costs $1 to $5.50 per square foot, totaling $2,000 to $11,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home. Acrylic paint is breathable and flexible, weathering the elements fairly well, though it doesn't last as long as elastomeric paint. You get plenty of color options to suit your aesthetic. 

• Masonry paint: Masonry paint costs $1.25 to $7 per square foot, totaling $2,500 to $14,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home. This paint bonds extremely well to stucco, is resistant to mildew, and suits most environments, making it a preferred choice for many homeowners. The main drawback is a limited color selection.

Stucco Painting Additional Costs: What to Budget For

Beyond square footage, labor, and paint, several additional stucco painting cost factors can affect your total budget when hiring a contractor for this job. Understanding these extras upfront helps you avoid surprises and plan your stucco painting project more accurately.

Prep Work, Repairs, and Cleaning

Proper prep work is essential before painting stucco—without a thorough cleaning, paint may not adhere correctly, so budget for a professional power wash. Pressure washing a house costs $200 to $420 depending on your home's size and dimensions, though you can also DIY the cleaning to save money. Any stucco damage must be repaired before painting: minor crack repairs run around $200, while deeper repairs average $1,200 and can reach $2,000 or more. Factor in one to six weeks of curing time after repairs before paint can be applied.

Sheen and Finish

Adding a sheen or finish coat can enhance the appearance of your stucco walls, but the type you choose matters. Pros recommend avoiding satin or high-gloss sheens, as they tend to amplify imperfections in the stucco surface. Semi-gloss or matte sheens deliver the best results and cost $15 to $60 per gallon.

Additional Stories

Painting a multi-story home adds cost because reaching upper levels safely requires scaffolding, ladders, and debris clearance—all of which increase both complexity and labor time. This additional work adds around $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot to the overall project cost. If your home has multiple stories, factor this into your budget when comparing contractor quotes.

Why You Should Hire an Exterior Painter

You can save on labor costs by DIYing stucco painting, but the process is more complicated and time-consuming than painting wood or vinyl siding. If you don’t already have the experience and equipment to paint stucco, your best bet is to hire an exterior painter near you. Improperly painted stucco can lead to water intrusion, mold, stucco cracks or crumbling, and more. 

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire an exterior painter

Ensure the job is done right by hiring a pro to paint your stucco—here’s why:

• Exterior painting pros have the expertise to recommend the best type of stucco paint for your house.

• Painting professionals have plenty of practice working safely on scaffolding and ladders.

• Pros who specialize in stucco can make small repairs before painting to prevent further damage.

• A painting pro can complete the job correctly in much less time than a homeowner trying their hand at DIY.

If you want to DIY painting stucco

Handy homeowners may be able to DIY this project, but keep the following in mind:

• You’ll need a ladder or scaffolding and the right safety gear to prevent falls and injuries while working on upper stories.

• Have a stucco pro fix any damage prior to painting—these repairs need to be properly performed to prevent worsening the problem.

• Prep the surface properly—otherwise, your paint won’t last, and it could damage the stucco.

• Allocate extra time for this project. Painting stucco can be time- and labor-intensive.

• Ensure you have the right kind of paint for your type of stucco and your local climate and weather. 

5 Ways You Can Save Money

Painting a house is an expensive venture, so look for any ways to save a few bucks where possible. Here are some tips for doing just that.

• Do the prep work yourself: Clean the walls yourself, and remove debris to keep things tidy. Remember, painters charge by the hour, so it should cost less if they can get straight to work instead of fussing with a mess. 

• Go for a smooth texture: The rougher the texture, the more paint you’ll need. In other words, a smooth finish stucco exterior doesn’t require as much paint as the iconic lace and skip texture. 

• Combine projects: Tack on trim and some interiors to this painting project to save on labor costs if you know you’ll need to refresh them sooner or later. 

• Gather multiple quotes: Shopping around before settling on a candidate is always a good idea. This also helps you get an accurate local price range. 

• Bring the paint yourself: Knock a few bucks off your final bill by providing the paint yourself. Note: This only saves money if you already have plenty of the appropriate paint, as pros pick it up cheaply.

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.