Overview: Interior & Exterior House Painters
Painting looks like the simple trade and it is not. The paint itself is the last few hours of the job. Everything before it is washing the surface, scraping what is loose, sanding ridges and old gloss flat, filling, caulking the gaps, then priming bare wood, patched drywall and any water stain that would bleed through. A crew that hurries that part hands you a room that looks fine on the day and shows every flaw by spring.
Ask what two coats means to them, because one heavy pass is not two coats. Ask whether they spray or brush and roll, who cuts the line where wall meets ceiling, and who moves the furniture and covers the floors, shrubs and fixtures. Outside, ask what they do when the siding is damp or the overnight low drops under the limit printed on the can.
In houses painted before lead paint was banned, scraping and sanding need a lead-safe certified crew and real dust containment. Listings show what each company states on its own website: the coatings it names, whether estimates are free, its hours, and how customers describe the crew's tidiness.
Use the state and city lists below to reach painters working near you. Each city page shows who is listed in that city and who travels in, and quotes local customers.
Cost of interior and exterior painting
Price the surfaces actually painted, not just the home’s floor area. Walls, ceilings, trim, and exterior siding need their own preparation and coating specifications.
| Service or scope | Planning range | What this covers |
|---|---|---|
| Interior wall repaint | $1–$3per sq. ft. of wall surface; measurement method stated | Repaint ordinary accessible interior walls with routine preparation and the specified paint system; agree how openings are measured.This is wall area, not room floor area. Confirm primer, coat count and patching limits; ceilings and trim are separate.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Minor preparation; Specified paint and labor Outside this estimate: Ceilings and trim; Major plaster or drywall repair |
| Ceiling repaint | $1–$2.50per sq. ft. of paintable ceiling surface | Repaint an accessible, sound, flat ceiling with a specified preparation and coating system.Confirm ceiling height, stain-blocking primer and texture protection. Water-damage repair and texture removal are separate.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Listed preparation; Specified coating and labor Outside this estimate: Texture removal; Water-damage repair |
| Interior trim repaint | $1–$5per linear ft. of specified trim | Repaint ordinary accessible interior baseboards or trim, with the preparation and finish specified.Measure the trim length and name the profile. Stripping, extensive filling, intricate molding and separate mobilization may add cost.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Listed preparation; Specified paint and labor Outside this estimate: Trim replacement; Lead-hazard work |
| Exterior siding repaint | $1–$5.50per sq. ft. of paintable siding surface | Repaint suitable existing exterior siding with a defined preparation and coating schedule, measured by the coated surface.Compare cleaning, scraping, caulking, primer and coats. Rot repair, lead-related work, special access and trim may need separate lines.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Listed preparation; Specified coatings and labor Outside this estimate: Wood rot repair; Doors and trim unless listed |
| Interior door repaint | $70–$200per door slab, both faces | Repaint both sides of one ordinary interior door with specified preparation and coating.Confirm whether the frame and casing are included. A one-door visit may have a minimum charge above the unit rate.Included scope and possible extrasScope used for this estimate: Slab preparation; Specified coating and labor Outside this estimate: Jambs and casing; New hardware |
What changes the price
- Actual coated area, surface condition, and preparation requirements.
- Paint product, color changes, primer, and finish coat count.
- Height, access, occupied rooms, and lead-related scope where applicable.
Ask before you book
- Which surfaces, preparation steps, and coat counts are in the price?Two paint quotes can cover very different finished work.
- Is the quoted area wall surface or home floor area?The unit must be identical before comparing rates.
- How are rot, hidden damage, or lead-related work handled?Agree on assessment and approval for extra work.
Check the scope
A low painting rate can omit prep, primer, ceilings, or trim. For pre-1978 homes, discuss applicable lead-safe work before any painted surface is disturbed.
Compare quotes wisely
Specify one paint system and a complete surface list, then ask for optional ceilings or trim as separate prices.
How to read these estimates
These ranges combine published U.S. prices and cost guidance for the stated work. They are budgeting estimates, not offers from listed companies or a statistical national average. Confirm the total, included work and additional charges in writing.
U.S. planning estimates. Local quotes vary by location and the scope of work.
Frequently asked questions
What does preparation actually include?
Washing the surface, scraping loose paint, sanding old gloss and ridges flat, filling holes, raking out and caulking gaps, then priming. Bare wood, fresh drywall and every patch need primer, and a water stain needs a stain-blocking spot prime or it comes back through the topcoat. Ask how much of the schedule is prep before the first finish coat.
Do I really need two coats?
On a color change, yes, and sometimes a third. One heavy pass is not two coats; it is one coat that sags. Two thin coats over the right primer give even color and a film that survives washing. The place you can skip it is a repaint in the same color on a sound wall, and an honest painter will say so.
Spray, or brush and roll?
Spray is fast and leaves no roller texture, which suits cabinets, trim, ceilings and empty rooms. It also means masking everything, so the setup eats the time the spraying saves. Brush and roll is slower, far more forgiving in a furnished house, and easier to touch up later. Plenty of crews spray walls and then back-roll to work the paint into the surface.
When is it too cold or damp to paint outside?
Most exterior coatings print a minimum temperature on the can, and the overnight low matters as much as the afternoon high. Damp siding, heavy dew and hot sun on a dark wall all cause trouble: the film skins over before it bonds, or traps moisture behind it. A crew that pushes on through the wrong week is selling you an early repaint.
Which sheen should I choose?
Flat hides wall flaws and will not take scrubbing. Eggshell and satin wipe clean, which is why kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and kids' rooms get them. Semi-gloss and gloss go on trim and doors, where you want a hard film and a crisp edge. Sheen changes how a color reads too, so judge your sample in the sheen you plan to buy.
