Finance category
Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.
Exterior Paint Cost Calculator
Exterior paint refresh is 1.5–4% of home value — high-ROI cosmetic improvement.
Total paint cost
$8,790
Siding cost
$8,190
Trim cost
$600
How the math works
Siding = sq ft × $/sf × (1 + prep premium). Trim = LF × $/LF.
1,800 × $3.50 × 1.30 = $8,190 + 300 × $2 = $600 = $8,790 exterior paint cost.
How to Use
- Enter painted sq ft.
- Enter per sq ft installed.
- Enter trim linear feet.
- Enter per trim lf.
- Enter prep premium %.
- Read total paint cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exterior paint benchmarks?
Vinyl: $1.50–4.00/sf (rare to repaint, mostly accent). Wood/HardiePlank: $2.50–6.00/sf. Stucco: $2.00–4.50/sf. Brick: $3.00–7.00/sf. Trim premium: $1–3 per linear foot. Prep work (scrape, prime): 30–60% of paint cost on aged surfaces. Premium paint (Sherwin-Williams Duration, Behr Marquee): $40–80/gal vs basic $15–35/gal — 30–50% labor savings due to coverage. 1,500 sf wood-sided home: $4,500–9,000 painted.
How accurate is this estimate?
Material and labor estimates are accurate to ±15% with reasonable inputs but local market conditions vary. Major markets cost 30–60% more than rural. Labor rates regional (union vs non-union, prevailing wage). Material prices fluctuate with commodity cycles. Get 3 contractor bids for any work over $5k. This calculator is a sanity check, not a substitute for actual quotes.
DIY vs contractor?
DIY savings: 40–70% of contractor cost on labor. Realistic skill threshold: painting, basic plumbing, simple electrical, drywall, flooring. Pro required: structural, gas, complex electrical, HVAC, roofing (warranty + insurance), permits. Permitted work without license risks insurance and resale. Time: hobby DIYers 3–5x slower than pro. Tools and learning curve real.
Permit and code compliance?
Permits required for: structural changes, additions, electrical service changes, plumbing rough-in, HVAC replacement, roof replacement (varies), fence (varies). Cost: $50–2,000+ depending on scope. Skipping permit risks: stop work order, fines, forced removal, insurance denial, resale title issues. Always pull permit; cost is small relative to compliance friction.
Related Calculators
More Finance Calculators
Browse all finance →AI Cost Calculator
Compare token costs across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google AI models. Calculate monthly API spending for GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, and more.
Tip Calculator
Calculate the perfect tip and split the bill between friends. Choose preset percentages or enter a custom tip amount.
Bill Splitter Calculator
Split an uneven restaurant bill by item, divide tax and tip proportionally, and see exactly who owes whom.
Discount Calculator
Calculate sale price, discount amount, stacked discounts, sales tax, and total savings for any markdown.
Gas Mileage Calculator
Calculate MPG or km/L, estimate trip fuel cost, and compare annual fuel expenses between two vehicles.
Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price, reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total, and estimate tax for multiple items on one receipt.
Keep exploring