2023 Cost To Paint Siding 

Typical Price Range To Install a new Roof
Low
$4,090
Average
$5,138
High
$7,418
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Repainting your siding can be a great way to breathe new life into your exterior. It’s more affordable than residing the entire home yet can still significantly improve its aesthetic appeal.

The cost to repaint siding on your house might vary depending on the siding material.

How Much Does It Cost To Have My Siding Painted?

The cost of repainting your siding is usually between $1,000 and $7,200, depending on the size of the home, the type of siding, as well as variations in painting materials and labor costs.

Those who choose a DIY approach might be able to finish the project for under $1,000.

The national average for a professional paint job with medium-grade painting supplies is around $3,000 for a home with 1,500 square feet of paintable surface area.

Some materials, like brick, are more demanding to refinish, resulting in higher expenses.

Cost To Paint Siding Per Square Foot

Painting expenses range from $1 to $3 per square foot for most siding materials.

This also includes labor.

You can calculate the cost of having your siding repainted based on the size of your home. Your home’s square footage can give you an idea about its exterior wall area.

In the case of a smaller home, the exterior may be around 200 square feet less than the property’s square footage. For larger properties, you might need to subtract up to 500 square feet.

If you want to make precise calculations, measure the heights and lengths of your walls and multiply the numbers.

Here’s a chart of home exterior sizes to give you an idea of the prices you can expect.

Square Feet Average Cost of Repainting Siding
1 $1-$3
800 $800-$2,400
1,000 $1,000-$3,000
1,400 $1,400-$4,200
1,600 $1,600-$4,800
1,800 $1,800-$5,400
2,200 $2,200-$6,600
2,400 $2,400-$7,200

Siding Painting Cost Breakdown

Even if a painting project seems fairly straightforward, it still involves many different phases to take into consideration.

Several factors, including the following, influence the cost of the project:

  • Home size – A large property will require more materials and labor. Multi-story properties are considerably more expensive to repaint.
  • The state of the siding – Painters will prep your property beforehand by correcting flaws and power-washing the surface. The expenses can increase if the siding needs to be stripped or patched up.
  • Local labor costs – These can range from $20 to $90 per hour, depending on your location.
  • The primer and paint used for the project – A gallon of primer ranges from $20-$50, while paint costs between $26-$70.

Did you know? Older homes might need to be tested for lead before paint removal or siding repairs. The paint used in properties built before 1978 might contain this hazardous material, which requires special safety measures.

The siding material will determine the best type of paint and primer for your project. Here are the most common siding materials and how

Type of Siding Average Painting Cost per Square Foot
Engineered Wood $1.50
Aluminum $1.60
Vinyl $2
Wood $2
Steel $2
Fiber Cement $2.25
T-111 $2.75
Stucco $2.75
Brick $3.30
Stone Veneer $3.50
Brick Veneer $3.50
Stone $3.70

Cost to Paint Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is popular thanks to its affordable price and relative durability.

High-quality vinyl does not need to be painted and is often advertised as fade-proof, but the reality is that harsh UV rays can often still wreak havoc on this material.

If your vinyl siding has lost its original beauty or your property simply needs a fresh look, the good news is that there are vinyl-safe paints out there today.

Acrylic and latex paints containing urethane will stick to the surface, often without needing a primer.

An adhesive primer is sometimes required.

The average cost of repainting vinyl siding is around $2 per square foot.

You may be able to paint vinyl siding for $1.30 per square foot on the low end.

Cost to Paint Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding is affordable, both to install and to maintain.

Repainting aluminum siding is a straightforward process, which makes it one of the cheapest siding materials to coat.

Aluminum requires a layer of oil-based primer to protect the original material.

Acrylic or oil-based paints are ideal for refreshing the look of your aluminum siding.

The average price of painting a square foot of aluminum siding is $1.60.

Cost to Paint Wood Siding

Wood is a beloved siding material for its attractive natural appearance. However, it’s also a material that requires a bit more maintenance.

Wood siding needs to be repainted or re-stained regularly so it maintains its resistance to the elements.

The options for repainting wood siding are many.

You can use oil, adhesive, shellac, or latex primers for softwood.

The best choice of paint for wood is acrylic, but oil works well too.

The cost of painting wood siding costs between $1 and $3, with $2 on average, per square foot.

Cost to Paint Engineered Wood Siding

Although engineered wood is more durable than its natural counterpart, it still requires painting for maximum moisture resistance.

Painting engineered wood is budget-friendly.

Since this material is often already primed, it requires less labor and materials.

Engineered wood costs an average of $1.50 per square foot to repaint.

Cost to Paint Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement (or Hardie board) is an extremely durable material many homeowners choose for its ease of maintenance.

It is often said that this fiber cement siding doesn’t require painting, but this isn’t always the case.

Some fiber cement siding is pre-painted when it’s installed, but homeowners can also purchase pre-primed fiber cement to clad it in a custom color themselves.

Painting fiber cement siding extends the material’s life span considerably. The painting process for fiber cement siding is also relatively easy, as the material takes paint easily.

The average cost of painting fiber cement siding is $2.25 per square foot.

Pro Tip: Fiber cement siding can also be painted prior to installation. If you’re installing fiber cement siding with the intention of painting it later, check out local paint shops to learn whether they collaborate with manufacturers to provide custom pre-painted panels. Paint shops might offer more advantageous warranties than on-site painters.

Cost to Paint Steel Siding

Steel siding is similar to aluminum in many regards. This siding is often designed to be low-maintenance and not require repainting at all.

If you want to repaint such steel siding, you’ll need to use a manufacturer-approved special primer for the paint to stick properly.

A regular steel siding repaint costs $2, on average, per square foot.

Cost to Paint T-111 Siding

T-111 is an affordable plywood siding option.

Like other wooden options, T-111 also needs to be repainted to combat the effects of time and weather.

A T-111 repaint job will require more labor than some alternative materials.

T-111 is also slightly more absorbent, so it will require two layers of paint and possibly touch-ups after the paint job has dried.

Painting T-111 siding is on the more expensive side.

On average, painting T-111 siding will cost $2.75 per square foot, but it can cost up to $4.

Cost to Paint a Brick House

Brick is a beautiful siding option that lends homes a classic charm. Brick exteriors traditionally weren’t painted, but adding a coat of color has become popular in recent years.

Repainting red brick to a neutral color can give the home a more modern look.

You should know that brick exteriors are more difficult to paint than the previously mentioned materials.

You must repair all the brick and mortar before starting the project.

Painted brick might also need frequent touch-ups and possibly a whole new coat of paint in just a few years because of the absorbent nature of this material.

If you still want to go ahead, be aware that latex primers and paints are recommended for bricks.

Ensuring the paint gets into all the brick siding’s crevices is tedious work, so the project can be rather expensive.

The average cost of painting a brick exterior is $3.30 per square foot, with $2.40 on the lower and $4.20 on the higher end.

Cost to Paint Stone Siding

Stone siding is one of the most attractive, albeit expensive, options. Natural stone is exceptionally hardy and comes in countless different looks.

Homeowners love stone for its earthy appearance, so they don’t paint this material frequently. Nevertheless, painted stone exteriors (particularly light-colored ones) can give the home a cleaner and newer look.

Painting stone siding has similar requirements as brick.

Painters will use latex primers and paints on stone siding.

Due to the uneven surface of the stone siding, painting it will require a considerable amount of labor. Touch-ups will be necessary in due time.

Having a square foot of stone siding painted professionally costs from $2.40 to $5.00, or $3.70 on average.

Cost to Paint Exterior Stone Veneer

Stone veneer is a great alternative to natural stone siding. It consists of a thin layer of engineered (or faux) stone often made of fiber cement, which means painting it has similar requirements as the latter material.

While fiber cement siding is usually pre-primed, stone veneer will need to be primed separately for the paint to stick properly.

Although stone veneer isn’t frequently painted, doing so can help unify your exterior’s look.

Painting stone veneer siding has a similar cost as stone. The average cost per square foot is $3.50.

Cost to Paint Brick Veneer Siding

Installing brick veneer is a great way to add a rustic look to an otherwise non-brick property.

Although it’s applied on top of other materials, removing it is not easy. If you get bored of your brick-clad exterior, repainting it can be a suitable alternative.

Brick veneer has similar limitations as brick. Trapped moisture can wreak havoc on the paint job, requiring touch-ups later on.

The best type of paint for exterior brick veneer is acrylic latex.

Much like stone veneer, the average cost of painting this siding is $3.50 per square foot.

Cost to Paint a Stucco House

Stucco is a composite siding material homeowners love for being low-maintenance.

As long as it’s in good condition, repainting stucco can be a fairly simple project.

If the stucco siding has suffered damage, you might need to re-stucco those areas first and use a masonry caulk on smaller cracks.

Fresh stucco must be left to cure first, which can set back your painting project schedule.

Painting a stucco home ranges from $1.50 to $4 per square foot, with the average price being $2.75.

The amount of labor required depends on the texture of your stucco, so if your siding is chunky, you might have to pay even more.

Pro Tip: Stucco needs about twice as much paint as a flat wall. This is due to the surface needing more paint to cover the various peaks and valleys of the material.

Preparing Siding for Painting

Depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the project, repainting an entire exterior can take well over 20 hours.

Preparations make up a considerable portion of the project. However, they must not be rushed, as they are also the foundations of a paint job that will last.

Here are the general steps painters will take.

  • Inspection – Painters will look for signs of damage that needs to be addressed before grabbing the paint brushes, rollers, or spray guns. Depending on the age of the property, they might test the existing paint layer for lead. Then, they will look for any mold, mildew, or dirt to determine the following step. Special inspections will incur additional costs.
  •  Damage correction – Water damage, cracked stucco, crumbling mortar, and similar problems need to be addressed prior to painting. In some cases, further inspection for structural damage might also be necessary.
  • Cleaning – When any damage has been addressed, it’s time to clean the siding’s surface. Painters will remove loose paint, sand down uneven areas, and power-wash the property. Some materials, like brick, might also need to be scrubbed.
  • Caulking – If painters discover further holes, cracks, or dents, they will caulk them.
  • Painting – After the siding has dried, the painters will begin the painting process.

Siding vs Painting Cost

When your exterior needs a pick-me-up, you can decide between new siding installation and repainting the existing exterior.

Unless the siding is in really poor condition, repainting it can save you a considerable amount of money.

The average cost of repainting a home with 1,500 square feet of exterior wall area is $3,000.

In contrast, the cheapest vinyl siding options start around $4,500 for the same size property.

New siding can cost $20,000-30,000 for other, more expensive materials.

Pro Tip: Are you still looking for the right paint color? Darker and lighter shades both have their advantages and disadvantages. Darker colors can help you save some money, as you might need fewer coats to hide the color underneath, but they fade faster. Light colors give the home a fresh look, but they might require more thorough priming.

Additional Considerations And Costs

Every property is different, so only a professional painter can tell you the exact price of having your siding painted.

You need to take into account the following additional factors that might increase your bill.

  • Lead paint removal requires specialized expertise and can cost an additional $8 to $17 per square foot.
  • Homes with unique features might require more labor to prep and paint, which can increase the costs.
  • Extensive damage can make the project more complicated, so it’s a good idea to inspect the state of your siding beforehand.

Is It Cost-Effective To Paint Vinyl Siding?

Painting vinyl siding that’s still in good condition is more affordable than replacing it.

Properly painted vinyl siding will not have to be repainted for 10 years, so this option is cost-effective both in the short and long term.

Is It Cheaper To Paint Or Reside Your House?

Painting your exterior is usually considerably cheaper than redoing your siding completely.

However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.

Certain types of siding, like brick and stone, are more difficult to paint.

So you might think that repainting brick and stone siding will incur similar expenses as installing new, affordable siding. However, removing the existing siding involves additional expenses, so repainting the walls will still end up being cheaper.

Is It Worth It To Paint Siding?

The right type of paint provides many benefits for your siding.

Painting your siding not only refreshes the entire property’s look, but it also adds a protective layer to the siding, extending its life expectancy.

Unless complicated materials are concerned, the project is fairly affordable and can bring a great ROI for homeowners on a budget.

It’s worth considering how damaged your siding is and how long the current paint job will last.

If you end up needing to replace the siding in a few years, investing in painting now might not be worth it.

Conclusion

Repainting your siding is a fantastic way to change the exterior of your home.

The siding repainting project needs ample preparation for the best results.

Different siding materials require different types of primers, paints, and application methods.

Whether you’re repainting your exterior yourself or entrusting the task to professionals, informing yourself about the details is key to success.

Author: Leo B
For over 20 years Leo has run a successful roofing business in New England, specializing in metal roofing, as well as cool flat roofing technologies. Having replaced and installed hundreds of roofs in New England, Leo has first hand experience with pretty much every residential roofing material and roofing manufacturer available in the US.
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