Home Services
House Painting: What It Costs and What to Check
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated September 30, 2026
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The short answer
A painting project costs about $2,500 on average, but it can run from $350 for a single room to $8,000 or more for a whole house. Interior painting usually costs $1,000 to $3,000. Exterior painting usually costs $1,500 to $4,000.
If your home was built before 1978, any paid painter who scrapes or sands old paint must be Lead-Safe Certified. That rule protects your family from lead dust.
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What painting costs
Price range
- Average project: about $2,500, ranging from $350 to $8,000.
- Interior painting: usually $1,000 to $3,000.
- Exterior painting: usually $1,500 to $4,000, or about $1.50 to $4 per square foot.
| Exterior size | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $2,250 to $6,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $3,000 to $8,000 |
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the painter. Source: Angi, 2026.
What moves the number
- Size. More square feet means more paint and more labor.
- Prep work. Scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, and priming often take longer than painting.
- Height and access. Two-story exteriors and tall ceilings need ladders or scaffolding.
- Surface. Brick, stucco, and wood siding each take paint differently.
- Trim, doors, and ceilings. These add time.
- Paint quality and number of coats.
Interior vs. exterior painting
Interior painting is mostly about prep and cutting in clean lines. Moving furniture, patching walls, and painting ceilings and trim all add to the price.
Exterior painting costs more per job because of height, weather, and heavy prep. Peeling paint must be scraped, bare wood primed, and gaps caulked. Skipping prep can mean repainting in a few years instead of many.
Older homes and lead paint
Lead-based paint was banned for homes in 1978, but about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still have some.
Under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home must be certified and must follow lead-safe work practices. That means containing dust, protecting floors and furniture, and cleaning up carefully.
If your home was built before 1978, ask the painter for their Lead-Safe Certified firm number. You can look up certified firms on the EPA's website.
What a good painting quote includes
- The exact surfaces: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, and the number of rooms or square feet.
- Prep work: scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, and primer.
- Paint brand and product line, plus finish and number of coats.
- Who moves furniture and covers floors.
- Cleanup and touch-ups.
- Payment schedule and warranty.
What to ask
- "Are you licensed and insured?" Rules vary by state and city.
- "Is your firm Lead-Safe Certified?" (for homes built before 1978)
- "How many coats, and what paint?"
- "What prep is included?"
- "Is there a warranty on peeling or blistering?"
The catch: a low bid often means less prep or cheaper paint. Line up the same prep, product, and number of coats before you compare prices.
Keep reading
Replacing siding instead? See siding. Updating a kitchen or bath? See kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling.
Remodeling and accessibility: Kitchen remodeling · Bathroom remodeling · Flooring · Painting · Walk-in tubs · Stair lifts · All home projects
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