Exterior Painting Cost per Square Foot: How to Price a House

Exterior jobs are where painting companies make their year, and where a bad quote hurts the most. A house that looked like three days turns into six once you see the peeling fascia and the stucco cracks. Here is how to price exteriors per square foot so the number holds up.

The quick number: per square foot of living area

Most homeowners know their home's square footage from the listing or tax record, so it is the easiest way to give a fast range. In most US markets in 2026:

• $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot of living area for a one story home in good shape
• $2.50 to $4.00 per square foot for two stories, lots of trim or heavy prep

A 2,000 square foot single story home usually lands at $3,500 to $6,500. A 2,800 square foot two story at $6,000 to $10,000.

This is how the exterior job works on the PaintPilot calculator: a base charge plus a rate per square foot of home. With sample rates, $2,500 plus $1.60 per square foot, a 2,000 square foot house is $5,700 before add-ons.

The precise number: per square foot of paintable surface

For your written estimate, measure the walls themselves:

1. Measure the perimeter of the house
2. Multiply by the wall height (about 9 to 10 feet per story)
3. Add the gable triangles: half of width times height
4. Subtract big openings like garage doors only if you are not painting them

A 50 by 40 foot single story house has a 180 foot perimeter, times 9 feet is 1,620 square feet, plus two gables of about 100 square feet each, so roughly 1,820 square feet of wall. Most painters charge $2 to $5 per square foot of paintable surface, depending on prep and access.

Production rates and paint

• Spraying and back rolling stucco or siding: 250 to 400 square feet per hour once masked
• Brushing and rolling: 100 to 175 square feet per hour
• Exterior paint: $50 to $85 a gallon at contractor price; stucco eats paint, often 200 to 250 square feet per gallon on the first coat
• Masking windows, doors and fixtures: often a full day on a typical house

What changes the price

• Pressure washing. Always included or listed; usually $200 to $400 on a house
• Stucco cracks. Elastomeric patch on hairline cracks, $200 to $600 depending on how many
• Wood rot. Fascia, soffit and trim replacement is priced per board; quote it separately
• Fascia and soffits. Often a separate color and a lot of ladder time; $300 to $800
• Height and access. Two story walls over landscaping, slopes and pool cages
• Color change. A dramatic change may need two full coats plus primer
• Doors, shutters and garage doors. Price each or list them

Say clearly what is in and out: gutters, the pool deck, fences and outbuildings are where arguments start.

Weather is part of the price

Most exterior latex wants 50°F or warmer and dry surfaces. In Florida and the Gulf, the afternoon storms from June to September mean starting at 7 a.m. and quitting by 2 p.m. In the north, the season runs roughly April to October. Build rain days into the schedule, and tell the customer up front that a rained-out day moves. See the painting business seasonal calendar.

Stucco, siding and brick price differently

• Stucco is the norm in Florida and the Southwest. It is porous and rough, so it takes more paint and often an elastomeric coating on cracks. Spraying and back rolling is the standard
• Wood and fiber cement siding need more brush work on the laps and corners, and wood needs scraping and spot priming where it peels
• Vinyl siding can be painted with vinyl safe colors only; dark colors can warp it in the sun
• Brick soaks up paint and needs a masonry primer; once painted, it has to be repainted for good, so many painters price it at the top of the range

Questions to ask on the walkthrough

• When was it last painted, and with what?
• Any leaks, water stains or soft wood?
• Is there an HOA color list or approval needed?
• Are the gutters, garage door, front door and shutters included?
• Where can the crew park, get water and use power?

A sample exterior estimate

Item	Price
2,000 sq ft single story stucco, 2 coats	$5,700
Pressure wash prep	$250
Stucco crack repair	$300
Fascia and soffits	$400
Total	$6,650

Collect a deposit when it is booked and the balance at the final walkthrough; see painting deposits and getting paid. And post the job: an exterior before and after is the best photo a painting company can have.