Exterior Paint Cost Calculator

Exterior Paint Cost Per Square Foot

Exterior paint cost per square foot depends on paint quality and labor mode:

Scenario	Cost/sq ft Wall
DIY economy paint only	$0.20
DIY standard paint only	$0.35
DIY premium paint only	$0.55
Pro basic (standard paint)	$1.75-2.00
Pro standard (standard paint)	$3.25-3.50
Pro premium (premium paint)	$4.80-5.20

For a 2500 sq ft wall (2000 sq ft home, 2 story), pro standard labor with standard paint totals about $8,000-8,500, matching HomeAdvisor 2025 averages.

Exterior Paint Cost Per Gallon

Exterior paint cost per gallon in 2025:

• Economy: $25-$35/gal (builder-grade exterior, 1 coat coverage rare)
• Standard: $45-$65/gal (Sherwin A-100, Benjamin Moore Regal, Behr Premium Plus)
• Premium: $75-$90/gal (Sherwin Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, Behr Marquee)

Exterior paint cost per gallon is about 15-20% higher than interior because of UV inhibitors, mildewcides, and weather-resistant resins. Coverage drops to 300 sq ft/gal (from 350 interior) because exterior surfaces are more absorbent.

Cost to Paint 3000 Sq Ft House Exterior

Cost to paint 3000 sq ft house exterior runs $8,000-$12,000 pro standard (1 story) and $10,000-$15,000 (2 story). DIY paint and supplies cost $900-$1,400 with 3-6 weekends of work. Premium paint and full prep push pro quotes to $15,000-$20,000.

A 3000 sq ft 2-story home has roughly 8,400 sq ft of exterior wall. At 2 coats standard paint (55 gal x $55), paint is $3,080. Pro standard labor ($3.00 x 8,400) is $25,200 but this figure assumes no surface upcharges and full interior-equivalent prep, so real 2025 quotes land around $10,000-$15,000.

Labor Cost to Paint Exterior of House

Labor cost to paint exterior of house averages $1.50-$4.50 per sq ft of wall area in 2025:

• Basic ($1.50/sq ft): wash + minor caulk + 2 coats
• Standard ($3.00/sq ft): full scrape + caulk + prime + 2 coats + trim
• Premium ($4.50/sq ft): heavy scrape, board replacement, detailed trim, 3 coats

Labor cost to paint exterior of house per square foot includes drop-cloths, masking, scaffolding or ladders, and cleanup. Multi-story adds 10-20%. Brick and stucco add 15-20% due to texture and primer needs.

Labor Cost to Paint Exterior Trim

Labor cost to paint exterior trim runs $2-$6 per linear foot of trim or about $1-$2 per sq ft of trim area, higher than body paint because trim needs careful cutting-in, masking, and often a different sheen (semi-gloss).

Cost to paint exterior trim of house on a 2000 sq ft home: $1,500-$2,500 pro or $250-$400 DIY for 2-3 gallons of semi-gloss exterior. Cost to paint exterior trim and soffit together adds about 5-10% over trim alone.

Cost to Paint Exterior Trim of House

Cost to paint exterior trim of house at 15-25% of the full body cost. Trim-only pro jobs have a minimum charge of $500-$1,000 because of setup time. For homes painted every 8-10 years, trim-only refreshes at the 4-5 year mark prevent major peel damage and extend body paint life.

Cost to Paint Exterior Window Trim

Cost to paint exterior window trim runs $35-$75 per window pro or $5-$10 per window DIY. A typical 2-story home with 12 windows: $420-$900 pro, $60-$120 DIY plus a quart of semi-gloss ($15-$25).

Cost to Paint Exterior of House 1000 Sq Ft

Cost to paint exterior of house 1000 sq ft (roughly 2,000 sq ft of wall area) runs $3,000-$4,500 pro standard or $400-$600 DIY in 2025.

Cost to Paint Exterior of House Per Square Foot

Cost to paint exterior of house per square foot of home footprint:

• 1 story ranch: $3.50-$7.50 per home sq ft
• 2 story: $4.50-$9.50 per home sq ft
• Premium whole-house: up to $12 per home sq ft

Our exterior paint cost calculator uses wall sq ft (not home sq ft) as the base. Multiply home sq ft by 2.5-3.0 to get wall sq ft, then use this tool for accurate quotes.