Painting a house is one of the highest-ROI home improvements you can make. Interior painting runs $380–$800 per room, while a full exterior paint job costs $3,000–$9,000 for a typical home. Costs depend heavily on your home's size, paint quality, and how much prep work is required.
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Single room (interior) | $380–$800 |
| Whole house interior (3BR) | $1,800–$4,500 |
| Whole house interior (5BR) | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior (1,500 sq ft home) | $2,500–$5,500 |
| Exterior (2,500 sq ft home) | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Exterior (3,500+ sq ft home) | $6,000–$12,000+ |
These prices include labor and materials. Premium paint (low-VOC, top brands) adds 10–20% to material costs.
More square footage = more materials and more labor hours. The biggest driver of total project cost.
Standard 8-ft ceilings are easiest. Vaulted or cathedral ceilings require ladders/scaffolding and cost 20–40% more per room.
Economy paint costs $15–$25/gallon. Premium brands run $50–$80/gallon. Premium paint lasts longer and covers better — usually worth it for high-traffic areas.
Filling holes, sanding, priming, and caulking can add $100–$400 per room depending on wall condition. Older homes often need more prep.
Deep color changes or low-quality previous paint may require a primer coat plus two finish coats, adding time and material cost.
Painting trim, doors, and ceilings separately adds $50–$200 per room. Ceilings alone add $100–$300 per room.
High labor cost markets
$600–$1,200 per room
New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston
Mid-range markets
$350–$700 per room
Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Phoenix
Lower cost markets
$200–$450 per room
Rural Midwest, rural South, smaller cities
Regional ranges are approximate and vary by city, neighborhood, and individual contractor.
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A professional painter can complete a standard room in 4–8 hours, including prep. Larger rooms, high ceilings, or extensive prep work add time. A full interior repaint of a 3-bedroom home typically takes 3–5 days.
Late spring through early fall when temperatures are 50–85°F and humidity is low. Most exterior paints require these conditions to adhere properly. Avoid painting in direct sunlight or rain.
Professionals typically paint ceilings first, then walls, then trim (doors, baseboards, window casings). This order minimizes touchups. Cutting in trim last makes it easier to get clean lines.
Get at least 3 quotes. Make sure each contractor specifies the number of coats, paint brand and quality, what prep is included, and the warranty. The lowest quote isn't always the best value if it skips proper prep or uses cheap paint.
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