House Painting Cost: What to Expect
House painting projects typically run $3,000–$15,000 nationally, with whole-home interior jobs averaging around $6,000. Exterior work, premium paint, or heavy prep needs push toward the high end. Here's what drives the price and how to evaluate your quote.
What drives house painting costs
Understanding what moves the price helps you evaluate whether a quote is genuinely high — or just reflects your specific project's scope.
Interior vs. exterior — exterior is weather-exposed and typically costs more per sq ft
Square footage and number of rooms or stories
Surface prep required — minimal cleaning vs. heavy scraping, sanding, and patching
Paint quality — builder-grade vs. premium brands
Number of coats applied — one coat rarely produces a quality result
A fair quote is about more than the total price
A lower total can actually represent more risk — if it omits items a complete quote should include. Here's what to verify regardless of price.
Regional pricing variance: Renovation costs vary significantly by location. Markets like New York City, San Francisco, and Boston typically run 30–50% above national averages, while rural Midwest and Southeast markets often run 15–25% below. Labor costs are the primary driver of regional differences.