A painter says “$3,500” and you have no idea if that is a steal or a ripoff. Quotes for the same 2,000-square-foot home swing from $2,000 to $8,000, and every contractor calls their number fair. This guide breaks down what house painting actually costs in 2026 — interior and exterior — and where the markup hides.
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How much does it cost to paint a house? Interior painting costs $1,500–$4,000 for a typical home in 2026; exterior painting runs $2,500–$6,500; a full interior-plus-exterior project is $4,000–$10,000. Per square foot, expect $2–$6 for interior walls and $3–$7 for exterior surfaces. Labor is the majority of every paint bill.
Ready to paint? Post the job free on AllBetter and compare bids from identity-verified local painters — no lead fees, payment held in escrow until the work meets your standards.
House Painting Cost: Interior vs. Exterior
Exterior work costs more per square foot — it needs heavier prep, weather-rated paint, and ladder or scaffold time. Typical 2026 ranges:
This guide goes deep on interior pricing below. For the full exterior breakdown — cost by siding type, by home size, and the best season to paint — see our dedicated exterior painting cost guide.
Interior Painting Cost by Room
Interior jobs are usually priced room by room, then discounted slightly for a whole-house booking. Typical 2026 ranges, labor plus materials:
Painting kitchen cabinets is a separate job from painting kitchen walls — it needs degreasing, sanding, and cabinet-grade enamel. See our cabinet painting cost guide for that breakdown.
What Drives Painting Costs Up or Down
Surface prep is the biggest variable. Scraping peeling paint, sanding, patching holes, caulking gaps, and priming bare wood accounts for 40–60% of the labor on an exterior job. A crew that skips prep finishes faster and quotes less — but the paint peels within 1–2 years. Proper prep is what gets you the 7–10 year lifespan quality paint is rated for.
Paint grade. Premium paint (Benjamin Moore Regal, Sherwin-Williams Duration) runs $40–$70 a gallon versus $25–$35 for builder-grade. On a 2,000 sq ft home needing 15–20 gallons that is a $150–$500 difference — but premium paint covers in fewer coats, lasts longer, and resists fading, so it usually costs less over time.
Height and access. Two-story homes cost 30–50% more than single-story because of ladder and scaffold setup, slower work at height, and added safety requirements. Steep or three-story elevations may need rented scaffolding at $500–$1,500.
Quotes $3,000 apart? Post the job on AllBetter and several verified painters bid it directly — you compare price against the prep and paint grade each one commits to, and pay only when the work is approved.
DIY vs. Professional Painting
DIY makes sense for a single room; a whole house or any exterior work usually does not.
Lead-paint caution for pre-1978 homes: if your home was built before 1978, disturbing old paint can release lead dust. Federal law (the EPA RRP Rule) requires a lead-safe certified renovator for work that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface indoors. DIY paint removal on a pre-1978 home is both hazardous and, done wrong, against the rules — this is a job for a certified pro.
How to Save on House Painting
- Get at least three written, itemized quotes. Painting bids vary 40–60%; lead-generation sites like Angi and Thumbtack also bake a per-lead fee into the price. Comparing itemized quotes shows who is padding.
- Schedule in the off-season. Late fall and winter are slow for painters — expect 10–20% lower rates.
- Do your own prep. Moving furniture, removing outlet covers, and taping can cut several hours of labor.
- Bundle interior and exterior into one booking to share setup and cleanup costs.
- Buy premium paint, not the cheapest. Fewer coats and a longer lifespan make it the cheaper choice across 10 years.
House Painting Cost FAQ
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?
Interior painting costs $1,500–$4,000 for a typical 3-bedroom home in 2026, or $2–$6 per square foot. Individual rooms run $200–$1,000 depending on size, ceiling height, and how much prep the walls need.
How much does exterior house painting cost?
Exterior painting costs $2,500–$6,500 for a standard home — one-story homes at the low end, two-story homes toward the top. Surface prep, home size, and the number of stories are the biggest variables. Our exterior painting cost guide breaks it down by siding type and home size.
How often should you repaint a house?
Interior walls last 5–10 years between repaints; high-traffic rooms like kitchens and hallways may need it every 3–5. Exterior paint lasts 5–10 years depending on climate, sun exposure, and paint quality.
Is it cheaper to paint or to replace siding?
Painting is far cheaper upfront — $2,500–$6,500 versus $8,000–$20,000+ for vinyl siding. Siding lasts 20–40 years with little maintenance while paint needs refreshing every 5–10, so across 20 years the total cost is roughly comparable.
Should I paint my house before selling?
Usually yes. Fresh, neutral interior paint (warm whites, light grays) makes rooms feel larger and helps buyers picture themselves there, and clean exterior paint lifts curb appeal — both are among the most cost-effective pre-sale improvements.
How long does it take to paint a house?
A professional crew paints a 3-bedroom interior in 2–4 days; exterior work takes 3–7 days depending on prep, weather, and home size. DIY interior painting typically takes 2–4 weekends.
