Exterior Painting Cost Calculator

1. Enter the exterior wall area. Measure or estimate the total paintable surface. A quick estimate is the home's square footage times 1.15 to account for gables and dormers. Subtract windows and doors.

2. Select stories, siding type, and condition. Multi-story homes cost more due to ladder time and safety requirements. Wood siding takes longer than vinyl or fiber cement. Poor condition means heavy scraping, caulking, and full priming.

3. Choose access and paint quality. Limited access from fences or landscaping adds time. Scaffold or lift rental is a direct cost passed to the customer. Exterior paint ranges from $35-75 per gallon.

4. Add exterior services. Trim, fascia, gutters, and shutters are common add-ons. Power washing is usually included in exterior bids.

5. Set your rate and review. The calculator builds the full estimate with materials, labor, and equipment costs.

Production rates drop with height. Ground-level painting runs about 300-350 sq ft per hour. Second-story work drops to 200-250 sq ft per hour due to ladder repositioning. Third-story work drops further to 175-200 sq ft per hour.

Siding type affects production rate. Smooth vinyl is fastest to paint. Wood clapboard requires more cutting in and care. Stucco soaks up paint and needs heavier application. Brick requires special masonry primer and more coats for full coverage.

Exterior margins should be 30-45%. Exterior work has higher equipment costs and weather risk compared to interior. Price accordingly and always include a weather contingency clause in your contract.

Quoting whole-house exterior jobs. After measuring the home and assessing condition, plug in the details to build a professional estimate that covers all costs.

Comparing siding type scenarios. If a customer has mixed siding, run separate calculations and combine them for an accurate total.

Deciding whether to rent scaffolding. Plug in the scaffold rental cost and see how it affects margin. Sometimes the time saved with proper scaffolding pays for itself in reduced labor hours.