Pricing Exterior Painting Estimates: Size, Surface, Stories and Prep
Exterior estimates are where painting companies lose the most money, and almost always for the same reason: prep. The paint goes on fast. The scraping, caulking and priming is what takes the time.
Start With Size
Price the body by square feet of wall area or by the house's size at a set rate. Save the square feet on the property so the next exterior estimate in five years starts from the same number.
Surface Changes Everything
Fiber cement takes paint well. Old wood siding with failing paint needs scraping and spot priming. Stucco eats paint and needs a different roller. Brick may need a masonry primer. Record the surface on the estimate; it explains the price to the customer and tells the crew what to bring.
Stories and Access
A ranch house and a three-story with a steep backyard are not the same job at the same square feet. Ladders, lifts and time on the ladder add up. Add a line or a rate adjustment for height and difficult access.
Prep as Its Own Lines
List the prep: pressure wash, scrape, caulk, prime, mask. When prep is its own lines, the customer sees it, the crew sees it on the job, and you can tell later whether you priced it right.
Trim, Doors and Shutters
Trim is slower than siding. Price it separately, especially when it is a different color. Front doors are often a nice add-on.
Colors and HOA Approval
Many neighborhoods require HOA approval for exterior colors. Note it in the access notes so nobody starts painting before the letter is on file.
For interiors, see Pricing Interior Painting.
More on this topic: the Painting Estimate Software page and the rest of its guides.
Quote Exteriors With the Prep Spelled Out
Surface, coats and prep on every exterior estimate.
Start Free Trial