How much does it cost to paint a house?
The short answer is that it depends on size and how many rooms, more than almost anything else. A few rooms in a small condo and a full repaint of a large two-story home are both "house painting," but the work and the price are not in the same world. That is why a single flat number you find online is usually misleading.
Here are real 2026 price ranges for residential painting in the United States, split into interior and exterior, plus the common add-ons people forget to budget for. Use the bottom of each range for a smaller home with smooth surfaces and simple colors, and the top for a larger home with high ceilings, lots of rooms, heavy prep, or big color changes. Local labor rates and paint quality move things too.
House painting costs at a glance
Interior painting: by the room or the whole home
If you only need a space or two refreshed, expect roughly $350 to $1,500 per room or area. A simple bedroom with smooth walls and a single, similar color is quick. A large living room with vaulted ceilings, an accent wall, and detailed trim takes far more time and material, which is why the same "one room" line covers such a wide range.
For a full interior, plan on about $2,500 to $9,000. The two things that move that number most are square footage and the number of rooms, since each room means more cutting in, more masking, and more setup. After that, ceilings, drywall patching, and a switch from a dark color to a light one all add coats and labor. Painting over a deep red or navy with a soft white often needs an extra coat, and sometimes a primer, before the new color looks even.
Exterior painting: size, stories, and siding
A single-story exterior usually runs about $3,000 to $7,000, while a two-story home runs about $5,000 to $9,500. The jump for the second story is mostly access. Painters spend more time on ladders and scaffolding, and reaching peaks, gables, and trim under the roofline is slower and more careful work.
Siding matters just as much. Smooth lap siding goes quickly. Stucco, brick, and rough or weathered wood drink up more paint and need more prep, like scraping, sanding, and sealing, before any color goes on. A home that has not been painted in fifteen years will need more of that prep than one repainted five years ago, and prep is where a lot of the real cost hides.
Common add-ons people forget to budget
What moves a painting price up or down
Size and number of rooms
This is the single biggest driver. More square footage and more separate rooms mean more setup, more cutting in, and more coats, no matter how simple each color is.
Ceiling height and stories
High ceilings and second stories mean ladders, scaffolding, and slower, more careful work. Reaching peaks and stairwells is where a lot of exterior and interior time goes.
Prep and repairs
Scraping old paint, sanding, patching drywall, caulking, and priming all happen before the color does. An older or worn surface needs far more prep, and prep is real labor.
Colors and big changes
One color is faster than five. Going from a dark wall to a light one usually needs an extra coat or a primer, which adds material and time to every room it touches.
Siding and surface type
On the outside, stucco, brick, and rough wood take more paint and prep than smooth siding. On the inside, texture and old finishes change how many coats you need.
Occupied vs empty home
An empty home lets painters move fast with nothing to cover. An occupied home needs masking, furniture moved and protected, and more care, which adds time and cost.
Stop guessing. Get a real number for your home.
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House painting cost FAQ
How much does it cost to paint a whole house interior in 2026?
A whole-home interior runs about $2,500 to $9,000 in 2026. A small condo or a few rooms sits near the bottom. A large home with many rooms, high ceilings, and full trim work lands at the top. The biggest drivers are square footage and how many rooms you paint.
What does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?
Exterior painting runs about $3,000 to $7,000 for a single-story home and $5,000 to $9,500 for a two-story home in 2026. The price depends on size, how many stories, and your siding. Stucco, brick, and rough wood take more material and labor than smooth siding.
How much does it cost to paint one room?
One interior room or area typically costs $350 to $1,500. A small bedroom with smooth walls is near the bottom. A large living room with high ceilings, accent walls, and trim and ceiling work is near the top.
Is it cheaper to paint a house when it is empty?
Usually, yes. An empty home lets painters move fast with no furniture to cover or shift, so labor goes down. An occupied home takes more masking, protection, and care, which adds time and cost.
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
Cabinet painting runs about $1,800 to $7,000 depending on how many doors and drawers you have and whether the work is sprayed for a smooth factory-style finish. It is a separate, detailed job from wall painting.
Why won't painters give one flat price?
Because the price depends heavily on size and number of rooms, ceiling height, prep and repairs, and how many colors you use. Two homes that look similar from the curb can need very different amounts of work, so a real quote always beats a single flat number.