How much does it cost to paint a house?

Interior and exterior are different projects with different costs. Interior runs $2-6 per square foot. Exterior runs $3-8. The prep is half the bill either way.

Tallyard EditorialUpdated April 20, 2026Reviewed against PCA (Painting Contractors of America) cost surveys and manufacturer coverage rates

Interior and exterior are two completely different jobs

Interior painting is mostly cutting in and rolling — low setup, moderate skill, manageable for a DIYer. Exterior painting involves ladders, scaffolding, power washing, scraping, caulking, priming bare wood, and weather windows that limit when you can work. The prep on an exterior job typically takes longer than the painting itself. That is why exterior costs 40 to 80 percent more per square foot than interior, even though the paint is the same price.

Fig. 1. Interior is cheaper per square foot because access is easier, prep is lighter, and weather is not a factor.

How we calculated these numbers▾

Interior costs from PCA residential painting surveys. Exterior costs from HomeGuide and Angi 2025-2026 contractor databases. Coverage rates from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Behr product data sheets.

Interior: cost by room

Fig. 2. DIY paint costs $75-250 per room in materials. Professional labor adds $200-500 per room depending on size and prep needed.

DIY interior painting is the highest-ROI skill a homeowner can learn. Materials for a bedroom cost $75 to $150 (one gallon of paint, roller, tray, tape). A professional charges $300 to $600 for the same room. The only tool investment is a good angled brush ($15), a roller frame ($8), and covers ($5 each). That $28 kit pays for itself on the first room. The paint calculator tells you exactly how many gallons you need.

Exterior: prep is where the money goes

Fig. 3. Only 25% of an exterior paint job cost is the paint itself. Prep (scraping, caulking, priming) accounts for 30% and is the most labor-intensive phase.

Example project · Minneapolis, MN

A homeowner got two bids to paint a 2,200 ft² two-story Colonial. Bid A: $5,800 (includes power wash, scrape loose paint, spot-prime, two coats). Bid B: $4,200 (power wash and two coats, no scraping). He picked Bid B to save $1,600. Within two years the new paint was peeling in every area where old paint had been loose underneath. Repainting those areas cost $2,500. The prep the cheaper bid skipped is what makes paint stick.

Based on typical project dimensions and 2026 material pricing.

Paint quality matters more than most people think

Fig. 4. Premium paint costs twice as much per gallon but covers better (fewer coats), lasts longer (10-15 years vs 5-7), and is easier to apply. The per-gallon premium is small relative to total project cost.

	Economy paint	Premium paint
Cost/gallon	$20–30	$55–80
Coverage	300 ft²/gal	400 ft²/gal
Coats needed	Often 3	Usually 2
Durability	5–7 years	10–15 years
Cost per year of life	$4–6/gal/yr	$4–8/gal/yr

Premium paint costs more per gallon but covers more per gallon, needs fewer coats, and lasts twice as long. Per year of life, the cost difference is minimal.

The primer question

Primer is needed on bare drywall, bare wood, stains, and drastic color changes. It is NOT needed for same-color repaints over existing paint in good condition. Skipping unnecessary primer saves $200-400 on a whole-house interior. Adding necessary primer prevents $1,000+ in repainting when the topcoat fails to adhere.

Use the paint calculator for exact gallon counts. The paint project planner adds primer, supplies, and ceiling paint to the material list.