Most homeowners repaint the interior and exterior of their homes about once a decade. If it’s about that time again for your home, you might be wondering just how much this project is going to run you.
In this article, we’ll review just how much it costs to paint the interior and exterior of a home, and whether or not it makes sense to hire a professional or go the DIY route.
Just How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House
How Much Does Exterior Painting?
Generally speaking, exterior painting is more expensive than interior painting for two reasons: it’s both more labor-intensive and the paint is pricier.
The cost of exterior painting varies significantly depending on the exterior material:
- Wood and vinyl-sided homes are less expensive to paint. They require less prep work and less specialized paint. Expect to pay between $0.50 and $3.50 per square foot.
- Stucco and brick homes are more expensive, costing about $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot for a professional to paint.
If the aforementioned 1,500 square-foot home had a vinyl exterior, the homeowner could expect to pay somewhere between $750 and $6,000 for exterior painting. If it had a stucco exterior, that range would be between $2,250 to $6,750.
Of course, there’s more that goes into hiring a professional exterior house painter in Phoenix than just the lowest quote. When it comes to exterior painting, you’ll want to find a contractor with a proven track record of painting homes in your style.
Ask them about their paint quality, what kind of prep work they do before starting the project, and—should you have a multi-level home—if they charge extra for two-story homes.
Especially for exterior painting projects, the quality of the paint is important: you’ll want your home to be painted in a UV-resistant, specially formulated exterior paint that will stand up to the elements for years to come.
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What About Interior Painting Cost?
Ultimately, this comes down to whether or not you decide to hire someone or handle the project yourself.
According to data collected by the website HomeAdvisor, hiring a professional to paint the inside of your home generally costs between $2 and $6 per square foot. This price point includes materials (e.g., paint, rollers, etc.) and labor.
For a 1,500 square-foot home, that square footage price equates to between $3,000 and $9,000. Of course, beyond just home’s size, your exact costs are going to depend on the geometry of your home—how many interior walls you have— what kind of paint you purchase, and many other factors, such as the number of windows in your home.
Many homeowners elect to paint their home’s interior themselves. While these cuts out the cost of labor, you’ll still need to pay for the cost of paint and supplies. Keep in mind that you’re buying more than just “paint.” You’ll need primer, rollers, brushes, drop cloths, and more.
Expect to pay more for these essentials—especially paint—if you take the DIY approach: because you’re not buying in bulk, homeowners typically buy paint at a 50% or greater markup compared to what contractors pay.
In total, you can expect the project to cost you between $500 and $1,000, depending on the paint used and your home’s square footage.
Why Hire a Professional?
If DIY home painting is so much cheaper, why do people hire a professional? Well, there are several benefits to working with a contractor:
- Timeline: A professional painter and a crew can complete a home painting project much more quickly than a single homeowner. If you’re painting your home ahead of quickly putting it on the market, this expediency can make a huge difference.
- Outcome: Professionals have extensive experience painting all types of homes. The paintwork will look great and consistent throughout the home.
- Work: Not every homeowner can drop everything to paint their home over the course of a week. If you have kids, the cost of arranging several days’ worth of childcare might cost more than hiring a professional!
Finally, we recommend that you get several competitive quotes from trustworthy contractors in your area. This will help you determine what the going rate for exterior painting is, what local contractors have to offer, and what special considerations need to be accounted for when it comes to painting your specific home.
