Exterior house paint calculator
Estimate standard exterior wall or facade paintable area, paint and primer gallons, prep materials, labor range, and a starter shopping list from home dimensions or known wall area.
Home Project Estimates
Exterior house paint calculator
July 16, 2026
40 ft by 28 ft two story home with 9 ft walls.
Shopping list
- standard exterior paint18.0 gal
- Exterior primer9.0 gal
- Caulk, patching compound, sanding and masking suppliesweathered prep allowance
- Rollers, brushes, trays, drop cloths and cleanup supplies1 project kit allowance
Assumptions
- 300 sq ft per gallon coverage before coats and 10% waste
- two story access factor and weathered prep factor adjust labor
- Contractor labor uses a regional small-job minimum of $450–$1,200 when area-based labor is lower.
- Dimension mode adds gable area and subtracts the opening area entered.
- U.S. near average; pricing data: U.S. near average pricing
Warnings and quote checks
- This is a planning estimate. Scaffolding, lift rental, lead-safe work, major repairs, extensive scraping, specialty coatings, and unusual access need separate quotes.
- Cost ranges exclude applicable sales tax. Confirm tax, delivery, permits, and quote terms before buying or hiring.
Planning estimate only. Not a contractor quote, engineering advice, or permit review.
Calculator setup
40 ft by 28 ft two story home with 9 ft walls.
Shopping list
- standard exterior paint18.0 gal
- Exterior primer9.0 gal
- Caulk, patching compound, sanding and masking suppliesweathered prep allowance
- Rollers, brushes, trays, drop cloths and cleanup supplies1 project kit allowance
Take this estimate with you
Connect Google Drive to keep saved estimates in your Google account.
Shared links include the current inputs and unit setting. Saved estimates stay local unless you enable Google Drive sync.
Assumptions in this estimate
- 300 sq ft per gallon coverage before coats and 10% waste
- two story access factor and weathered prep factor adjust labor
- Contractor labor uses a regional small-job minimum of $450–$1,200 when area-based labor is lower.
- Dimension mode adds gable area and subtracts the opening area entered.
- U.S. near average; pricing data: U.S. near average pricing
No saved estimates yet.
What this calculator estimates
This exterior house paint calculator starts from the measurements and options you enter, then estimates material quantity, waste, cost ranges, labor ranges, and a starter shopping list.
Results adapt to the selected region and unit settings, so the estimate is not locked to one market or measurement system.
Report confusing results, missing options, or assumptions that look off.
How this is calculated
- House-dimension mode calculates wall area from the footprint perimeter, wall height, and selected number of stories.
- Dimension mode adds triangular gable area and subtracts the combined window-and-door area you enter.
- Known wall area mode starts from the net exterior paintable area you enter.
- Paint gallons include selected finish coats and the regional waste buffer; primer uses one coat when selected.
- Labor is adjusted for story access and the selected surface-prep condition, then compared with a regional contractor small-job minimum.
Assumption register
The values and sources below follow the pricing region and unit setting selected in this calculator.
Active pricing region: U.S. near average; source record: U.S. near average pricing. Showing imperial source-table units. View all regional assumptions.
| Item | Low | Typical | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior paint coverage July 22, 2026 Sherwin-Williams recheck still lists 250-400 sq ft per gallon for exterior planning. The calculator uses 300 as a conservative planning rate before coats and waste; porosity, texture, color change, and application method can reduce real coverage. Manual calculator-specific first-source review completed 2026-07-16 for U.S. near average pricing; national retail materials and near-average labor calibration remain supported. | 250 sq ft/gal | 300 sq ft/gal | 400 sq ft/gal | Sherwin-Williams exterior paint coverage guidance Checked 2026-07-22 - medium confidence |
| Exterior paint waste buffer July 22, 2026 Sherwin-Williams exterior guidance still supports calculating product needs before surface-specific adjustments, and the calculator keeps a 10% planning buffer for cut-ins, roller loading, touch-ups, and measuring variation. Manual calculator-specific first-source review completed 2026-07-16 for U.S. near average pricing; selected product data sheets and actual surface condition can change final quantities. | 5 % | 10 % | 15 % | Sherwin-Williams exterior paint coverage guidance Checked 2026-07-22 - medium confidence |
| Exterior paint, labor, and preparation allowance July 22, 2026 Angi exterior-paint guidance still supports a broad $1-$4.50/sq ft siding-dependent installed range, $1-$3.50/sq ft labor context, and separate primer/material costs. Retail paint and primer remain modeled separately from labor, supply, and preparation materials; access and preparation factors are applied later by the calculator, with a 450-1200 near-average contractor small-job minimum. Manual calculator-specific first-source review completed 2026-07-16 for U.S. near average pricing. | 0.75 $/sq ft | 1.8 $/sq ft | 2.85 $/sq ft | Home Depot exterior paint retail and Angi exterior-paint guide Checked 2026-07-22 - low confidence |
Last reviewed: July 16, 2026. These are planning defaults, not live prices or contractor quotes.
Common mistakes
- Using floor area instead of exterior wall area.
- Skipping gables, bump-outs, porches, or other elevations that need paint.
- Forgetting that bare siding, repairs, stains, or major color changes can require primer.
- Treating a simple ladder-access estimate as a quote for lifts, scaffolding, or lead-safe preparation.
FAQ
Should window and door areas be deducted?
Yes for a more useful house-dimension estimate. Keep the opening estimate simple and retain a waste buffer for cuts, touch-ups, and porous areas.
When should I include primer?
Include it for bare materials, repairs, stains, major color changes, chalky surfaces, or whenever the coating manufacturer specifies it.
Does this include trim and shutters?
It includes a broad supply and prep allowance, not a separate detailed takeoff for trim, shutters, doors, or specialty coatings.
Why is multi-story painting more expensive?
Access, setup, fall protection, and slower production can add labor beyond the amount of paint alone.
Can this exterior house paint calculator estimate cost by region?
Yes. The calculator uses the selected region and unit settings to adapt quantities, cost ranges, labor ranges, and assumptions.
How should you use the result before buying materials?
Use the result as a planning estimate, then compare it with a current supplier cart, contractor quote, or local project conditions before committing.
Limitations
This is a standard exterior wall or facade-paint planning estimate, not a bid. It does not price lead-safe work, lifts, scaffolding, major rot repair, caulking every joint, specialty masonry coating systems, intricate trim, or specialty spraying.
This estimate is for planning only. It is not a contractor quote, engineering advice, or permit review.
Next step
Measure once more, compare the result with a real quote or shopping cart, and review the assumptions before buying materials.
Read the how much exterior paint do I need guide
Read the how much does exterior house painting cost guide
Read the exterior house painting DIY vs contractor cost guide
Siding calculator 
Roofing calculator 
Paint calculator