How Much Will Repainting Cost You Over the Next 30 Years?

Use our free calculator to see the honest side-by-side cost of a Standard Wash & Paint versus a one-time Home Shield Coating®. We do both — so the recommendation you get is based on your home, not our margins.

✓ 100% Free✓ Takes 2 Minutes✓ Honest Recommendation
HS
Home Shield Coating®
2-Minute Property Assessment

Which exterior option gives you the best return?

Answer a few questions about your property. We'll compare a properly-prepared Standard Wash & Paint job against a one-time Home Shield Coating® install — and give you an honest recommendation based on your plans, your home's condition, and the math.

Takes 2 minutes Personalized recommendation 30-year cost comparison
1Measurements 2Windows & Doors 3Condition 4Your info 5Results

Step 1 — Let's estimate the exterior area

Enter the approximate width and average wall height for each side. Your specialist will verify all measurements before actual pricing is discussed.

Don't know your wall measurements?

Estimate from your home's total livable square footage instead. Your specialist will verify at the walkthrough.

Front
0 sqft
Back
0 sqft
Left side
0 sqft
Right side
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Additional (optional)
0 sqft
Gross wall area: 0 sqft
+ 15% soffit / fascia / trim allowance: 0 sqft
Adjusted area: 0 sqft
Windows & doors added next step

We added a 15% allowance for soffit, fascia, trim and other exterior details most homeowners don't measure separately.

How to Read Your Results

Our calculator returns one of three honest recommendations based on your home's condition, how long you plan to stay, and your budget. Here's what each one means.

When Paint Makes More Sense

  • Planning to sell in less than 3 years
  • Home was recently painted
  • Tighter immediate budget

When Coating Makes More Sense

  • Staying in the home long-term
  • Tired of repeated repainting cycles
  • Want transferable long-term protection

When You Need a Specialist

  • Active leaks or water damage
  • Extensive rot or repair needs
  • Unknown structural conditions

What Affects Exterior Project Cost?

Traditional exterior paint usually has a lower initial cost. Home Shield Coating® requires a larger upfront investment but is designed to eliminate repeated repainting over a 30-year comparison period. Every project is priced based on these factors:

  • Exterior wall area — the total square footage to be coated
  • Surface type — stucco, siding, brick, block, or a mix
  • Repairs and preparation — wood rot, cracks, caulking, pressure washing
  • Number of stories — access and equipment requirements
  • Windows, doors, and architectural details — masking and cut-in complexity
  • Access and complexity — landscaping, tight lots, complicated rooflines

Your specialist will verify all measurements and confirm exact pricing before any commitment.

An Honest Comparison — Because We Do Both

We will always recommend what is best for your property, your budget, and your needs. Whether that's a traditional paint job or our permanent Home Shield Coating® system, you'll receive honest recommendations and transparent pricing—never high-pressure sales tactics.

With over 26 years of experience, we specialize in permanent roof, wall, and floor coating systems, as well as identifying and correcting water-management issues to help prevent or eliminate water intrusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a final quote?

No. The calculator is an estimate designed to compare the projected 30-year cost of repainting versus a one-time Home Shield Coating® installation. Your specialist will verify all measurements and confirm exact pricing during your free property review.

Does the calculator always recommend coating?

No. The tool honestly returns paint, coating, or specialist based on your home's condition, how long you plan to stay, and your budget. We install both, so we have no reason to steer you toward one over the other.

Why does Home Shield Coating® cost more initially?

Home Shield Coating® is a two-part, commercial-grade permanent coating system designed to protect your home far longer than traditional exterior paint. Part A is our proprietary pink waterproof bonding primer, which penetrates and bonds to the surface to create a strong, long-lasting foundation. Once the primer has cured, we apply two coats of Part B—our proprietary Home Shield Coating® topcoat—which can be custom tinted to virtually any color you choose.

Home Shield Coating® is approximately 17 times thicker than traditional exterior paint and is engineered to last up to six times longer, making it a long-term investment rather than a recurring maintenance expense.

What if my home has leaks or wood rot?

We send a specialist out first. Active leaks, extensive rot, or structural issues need eyes-on evaluation before any coating or paint recommendation. That inspection is included at no cost.

Do you quote both paint and coating?

Yes. You'll receive a traditional paint option and a permanent coating option, side by side. No pressure to make a same-day decision.

What happens after I submit?

A Home Shield Coating® specialist will contact you to schedule a short property-review call. They'll verify the calculator's inputs, answer your questions, and explain whether paint or coating makes more sense for your situation.

Ready for Exact Measurements?

Get both a traditional paint option and a permanent coating option — with no pressure to make a same-day decision.

Schedule My Free Estimate
Before & After of Cedar Sided House Coated With Home Shield Coating® in McHenry, IL

 

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior in 2026?

The national average cost to paint a house exterior in 2026 is $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot of wall area with premium acrylic paint and proper prep — which puts most homes between $5,250 and $13,500 depending on size. Nationally, aggregators like Angi and HomeAdvisor peg the typical job around $3,200 to $4,500 for smaller single-story homes, with large two-story homes running $9,000 or more.

Here’s what that looks like by home size:

1,500 sq ft home: $5,250 to $6,750

2,000 sq ft home: $7,000 to $9,000

2,500 sq ft home: $8,750 to $11,250

3,000 sq ft home: $10,500 to $13,500

Two-story homes: add roughly 20% to 30%

Siding material moves the number too — stucco and cedar sit at the top of the range ($3.50–$5.00 sq ft) because of prep, while smooth vinyl and aluminum sit at the bottom. But here’s the number most painting quotes never mention: that’s the price of one paint job. Conventional exterior paint lasts 5 to 10 years before it needs to be done again — which is why the real question isn’t what painting costs once. It’s what repainting costs you over the next 30 years. The calculator above runs that math for your exact home.

How Often Should You Paint Your House Exterior?

Most homes need exterior repainting every 3 to 7 years — but where you live and what your exterior is made of can cut that cycle nearly in half:

Climate shortens every one of those timelines. Florida homeowners repaint every 5 to 7 years because UV, hurricane rain, and salt air break down paint film. Wisconsin and Illinois homeowners repaint every 3 to 5 years because freeze-thaw cycles crack conventional paint from the inside out.

Exterior Painting Cost Questions from Wisconsin, Illinois & Florida Homeowners

Homeowners across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Florida ask us the same exterior painting cost questions every week — how much per square foot, what changes the price, and how long the paint job actually lasts in their climate. Exterior painting typically averages $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot in all three states. For a 2,000 sq ft home, that puts most paint jobs in the $7,000 to $10,000 range. What changes the number is siding material (Stucco, Cedar Siding, Brick, Vinyl Siding, Aluminum Siding, Dryvit, Cement Board, Lp Smart Side, Asbestos), home height, prep work, and climate — Florida homeowners typically repaint every 5 to 7 years due to UV and hurricane rain; Wisconsin and Illinois homeowners repaint every 3 to 5 years due to freeze-thaw cycles.Tap Read More below to see the full breakdown — 11 answers to the most common exterior painting cost questions. 

How much does it cost to paint a house?

The average cost to paint the exterior of a house in the United States runs between $3.50 and $4.50 per square foot when using premium acrylic exterior paint applied by a licensed contractor. For a typical 2,000 sq ft home, that puts the exterior paint job in the $7,000 to $9,000 range, depending on siding condition, height, and prep work.

The final price is driven by three things: total wall square footage, siding material (cedar and stucco need more prep than vinyl or aluminum), and how many stories your home has. A one-story ranch is significantly cheaper to paint than a two-story colonial of the same square footage because of the added staging and ladder work.

How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?

Exterior painting typically runs $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot of wall area. For most homes, that means:

  • 1,500 sq ft home → $5,250 to $6,750
  • 2,000 sq ft home → $7,000 to $9,000
  • 2,500 sq ft home → $8,750 to $11,250
  • 3,000 sq ft home → $10,500 to $13,500

These are wall-only figures. Trim, entry doors ($100 each), and garage doors ($150 single / $250 double / $450 oversized) are usually priced separately.

How much should it cost to paint a house?

A quality exterior paint job — done right, with proper prep, primer where needed, and two coats of premium acrylic paint — should cost $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot of wall area.

If you're getting quotes below $2.50/sq ft, the contractor is almost certainly cutting corners on prep, using a single coat, or using a builder-grade paint that will fade within 2 to 3 years. If quotes are above $5.50/sq ft for standard siding, you're likely paying for either brand markup or unnecessary add-ons.

How much does it cost to paint a two-story house?

Two-story homes cost roughly 20% to 30% more than a one-story of the same square footage. Expect $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot for a two-story exterior paint job. For a 2,400 sq ft two-story home, that puts the paint job in the $9,600 to $12,000 range.

The added cost isn't materials — it's labor. Second-story work requires taller ladders, scaffolding on steep gables, and more setup time between wall sections. Homes over three stories or with dormers can push $5.50 to $6.50 per square foot.

How much does it cost to paint a whole house?

“Whole house” usually means exterior walls + trim + soffits + fascia + entry doors + garage doors. For an average 2,000 sq ft single-story home in decent condition, the full package runs $8,000 to $11,000.

Breakdown: walls at $7,000 to $9,000, trim and fascia add $500 to $1,200 depending on linear footage, entry doors at $100 each, single garage door at $150, double at $250. Homes with a lot of trim (Victorian, farmhouse) can push the trim number to $2,000+.

How much does it cost to paint a stucco house?

Stucco exteriors cost $3.75 to $4.75 per square foot to paint. Stucco is more expensive than smooth siding because the textured surface uses about 40% more paint per coat and requires elastomeric or masonry-rated paint that flexes with hairline cracks.

Prep is also more involved — hairline cracks must be filled, chalking has to be washed off, and any spalling stucco needs patching before paint goes on. A 2,000 sq ft stucco home typically runs $7,500 to $9,500 for a quality paint job.

How much does it cost to paint a cedar house?

Cedar siding costs $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot to paint because of the extensive prep involved. Cedar needs sanding, primer on bare spots, replacement of any rotted boards, and typically two full topcoats — cedar drinks paint on the first coat.

Even with premium prep, paint on cedar typically only lasts 5 to 8 years before it starts to peel because the wood expands and contracts seasonally. See a 25-year cedar siding case study →

How much does it cost to paint a brick house?

Painting a brick home runs $4.00 to $5.50 per square foot. Brick uses roughly 60% more paint per coat than smooth siding because it's absorbent, and you'll need a masonry-specific primer plus two coats of acrylic latex or elastomeric paint.

A 2,000 sq ft brick home typically runs $8,000 to $11,000 for a paint job. Warning: painting brick is a one-way decision — once painted, brick generally needs to be repainted every 5 to 7 years for the rest of the home's life. Stripping paint off brick is expensive and often damages the mortar.

How much does it cost to paint a vinyl or aluminum house?

Vinyl and aluminum siding are the easiest exteriors to paint — smooth surfaces, minimal prep, and no bare wood to prime. Expect $3.50 to $4.00 per square foot for a quality paint job on vinyl or aluminum.

Two things to watch for on vinyl: color choice (dark colors on vinyl can absorb heat and warp the panels), and using a paint specifically rated for vinyl siding. On aluminum, sanding oxidation off is the difference between an 8-year paint job and a 3-year one.

Is it cheaper to paint or coat a house long-term?

Paint is cheaper upfront. A quality exterior paint job runs $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot and lasts 5 to 7 years in most climates before it needs to be redone. Over a 30-year ownership window, that's typically 4 to 6 repaints.

A permanent coating like Home Shield Coating® costs about 1.75× a paint job upfront but is designed to be a one-time application backed by a 30-year transferable warranty. Homeowners who plan to stay in their home 10+ years often come out ahead by coating once instead of repainting repeatedly. We do what's best for you and work within your budget — we're happy to either paint or coat your property. Let's set up a call to get better details of your needs.

What is the average cost to paint a house in Florida, Wisconsin, or Illinois?

Florida: $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot for exterior paint. UV, hurricane rain, and salt air are the biggest enemies of exterior paint in Florida — most jobs need repainting every 4 to 6 years.

Wisconsin & Illinois: $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot for exterior paint. Freeze-thaw cycles crack conventional paint fastest here — most Wisconsin and Illinois homeowners repaint every 5 to 7 years, depending on how exposed the home is to weather.

 


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