How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior in Chico?

Exterior painting is one of the bigger maintenance costs a homeowner faces, and it is hard to budget for when you have not had it done in ten years. Prices depend on the size of your home, the siding, how much prep and repair the surfaces need, and what else is included, such as trim, doors, and gutters. This guide breaks down the typical costs piece by piece, so you can build a realistic budget before you ask for quotes. The figures below are national averages from Angi’s 2026 exterior painting cost data. Prices in Chico and the rest of the North Valley can be higher or lower depending on your home, so use them as a starting point, then get an on-site estimate for an exact number.

Quick Answer: What Does Exterior House Painting Cost?

According to Angi, exterior house painting costs an average of about $3,178 in the U.S., with most projects falling between $1.50 and $4 per square foot of paintable surface. Angi’s regional figures put a 1,500-square-foot exterior in the Far West, which includes California, at about $4,500. Your price will depend mainly on size, height, siding type, and the condition of the surfaces. For a quick ballpark for your own home, try our Painting Cost Estimator.

Cost by Home Size

Painters price exterior work by paintable surface area: the walls, minus large openings such as garage doors. This is not the same as your home’s floor area, so a painter will measure the outside of the house during the estimate.

Paintable area      Typical cost

1,000 sq ft         $1,500 – $4,000

1,500 sq ft         $2,250 – $6,000

2,000 sq ft        $3,000 – $8,000

2,500 sq ft        $3,750 – $10,000

3,000 sq ft        $4,500 – $12,000

Source: Angi, 2026 national averages.

Number of Stories

Height has a big effect on price because upper walls take longer and need ladders, lifts or scaffolding. Angi estimates that a two-story home can cost up to 50 percent more than a single-story home, and some painters add a surcharge for walls above certain heights. A single-story ranch home is usually the least expensive exterior to paint.

Cost by Siding Type

Different siding materials take paint differently, need different prep, and use different amounts of paint.

Siding                      Cost per sq ft      Typical project range

Wood                           $1 – $3                 $700 – $3,000

Vinyl                           $1.25 – $3            $600 – $3,500

Metal or aluminum    $1.50 – $2.50      $400 – $3,500

Concrete                     $1 –$3.50            $500 – $3,000

Stucco                        $1.50 – $4            $1,400 – $6,000

Brick                          $1.50 – $4.50       $3,500 – $10,000

Source: Angi, 2026 national averages.

A few notes on each:

• Wood usually needs the most prep, especially on sun-facing walls where paint dries out, cracks, and peels. Scraping, sanding, and spot priming bare wood all add labor.
• Stucco is textured and porous, so it absorbs more paint and takes longer to cover evenly. Cracks need to be filled before painting.
• Brick and concrete are porous and usually need a masonry primer before the finish coats.
• Vinyl is quick to paint but needs a vinyl-safe paint color. Very dark colors absorb heat and can cause vinyl to warp in strong sun.
• Fiber cement (such as HardiePlank) is not included in Angi’s figures. It takes paint well and usually needs little prep, so ask your painter for a quote.

If you are not sure how often your siding type needs repainting, see how often should I repaint the exterior of my home.

How Much Should I Pay a Painter Per Day?

Some homeowners compare painters by their day rate. Angi puts professional painter labor at about $25 to $100 an hour per painter, which works out to roughly $200 to $800 for an eight-hour day for each person on the crew. A typical exterior crew has two to four painters, so the daily cost of a full crew is higher. A day rate on its own can be misleading. A crew with a lower day rate that takes twice as long, skips prep, or applies one coat instead of two will not save you money. It is more useful to compare the total price for the same scope of work: the same surfaces, prep, products and number of coats. Our guide on how to read a painting estimate line by line shows how to do that.

Prep and Repair Costs

Prep is often included in a painter’s per-square-foot price, but heavier prep and repairs are usually priced separately. These are typical national costs from Angi:

Prep or repair                                                                   Typical cost

Power washing                                                                $240 – $400

Caulking around the home                                             $200 – $500

Recaulking windows                                                       $50 – $70 per window

Paint stripping (for heavy peeling or bubbling)           $0.50 – $2 per sq ft

Siding repairs                                                                 $2 – $50 per sq ft (about $600 for a typical project)

Termite damage repair                                                  $250 – $3,000+

Mold remediation                                                          $1,100 – $3,400

Permits, if required                                                       $200 – $300

Source: Angi, 2026 national averages.

Two Chico-specific notes. First, long, hot summers break down caulk and dry out paint on south- and west-facing walls, so many homes here need more scraping and caulking than the national average assumes. Second, if your home was built before 1978, federal rules generally require painters to follow lead-safe work practices when disturbing old paint, unless testing shows there is no lead. This adds time and cost. Ask whether lead-safe work is included in your quote.

Trim, Doors and Extras

Trim and extras are often priced separately from the siding. Angi’s typical costs:

Item                                     Typical cost

Trim                              About $2 per linear ft

Soffits and fascia         $2.50 – $6 per linear ft

Exterior doors             $150 – $500 each

Window sashes            About $150 each

Gutters                        About $500

Detached garage         $1,500 – $3,000

Porch                          About $1,200

Deck                           About $975

Source: Angi, 2026 national averages.

How the Condition of Your Paint Changes the Price

The longer you wait, the more prep and repair a repaint needs. Our post on the 7 warning signs your home needs painting describes three stages of paint failure. Here is roughly what each stage means for your budget:

• Stage 1: chalking and fading. The paint is worn but still bonded. You pay mostly for washing, light prep, and paint, close to the base price per square foot.
• Stage 2: peeling and cracking. Loose paint has to be scraped or stripped and bare areas primed. Stripping alone can add $0.50 to $2 per square foot of affected area.
• Stage 3: rot and wood damage. Damaged siding and trim must be repaired or replaced before painting. Siding repairs can run from $2 to $50 per square foot, and the repair bill can exceed the cost of the paint job itself.

What Pushes the Price Up

• Two or more stories, steep slopes or hard-to-reach walls
• Peeling, cracked or bubbling paint that needs scraping or stripping
• Rotted wood, damaged siding or termite damage
• Lots of trim, shutters, railings and decorative details
• A big color change, especially light over dark, which can need an extra coat
• Stucco or brick, which absorb more paint
• Premium paint lines and higher-sheen finishes
• Lead-safe work on homes built before 1978

What Brings the Price Down

• A single-story home with easy access
• Paint in good condition, repainted before it starts peeling
• Keeping the same or a similar color
• Painting only part of the house, such as trim, doors, or the most weathered sides
• Trimming bushes and clearing furniture, hoses and décor from around the house before the crew arrives (ask your painter what they would like you to do)

Example Budget: A Two-Story Home

Here is an example using Angi’s national figures. Your own quote will differ.

The house: two stories, about 2,000 square feet of paintable wood siding, light peeling on the south side, two exterior doors.

Item                                                                      Low                   High

Painting siding (2,000 sq ft)                             $3,000               $8,000

Power washing                                                   $240                   $400

Caulking                                                             $200                   $500

Stripping peeling areas (about 200 sq ft)        $100                   $400

Two exterior doors                                            $300                   $1,000

Estimated total $3,840 $10,300

Many painters include washing and caulking in their base price, so your quote may not list these separately. The wide range shows why an on-site estimate matters: the condition of the siding and the level of detail make a large difference.

How to Get an Accurate Price for Your Home

1. Start with a ballpark. Our Painting Cost Estimator gives a quick range for your home.
2. Get an on-site estimate. A painter needs to measure the walls and check the condition of the siding and trim to give a firm price.
3. Compare quotes for the same scope. Make sure each quote covers the same surfaces, prep, products, and number of coats. See how to read a painting estimate line by line.
4. Get it in writing. Once you choose a painter, check that everything carries into the contract. Our painting contract checklist covers what to look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a 1,500-Square-Foot House Exterior?

Painting 1,500 square feet of exterior surface costs about $2,250 to $6,000 based on Angi’s 2026 national figures. This estimate refers to paintable exterior area, which is not necessarily the same as the home’s interior floor area. Your price can fall outside that range based on the number of stories, siding material, surface condition, accessibility, paint system, number of colors, and amount of preparation required. Trim, doors, shutters, repairs, and extensive scraping can also change the scope. Use online figures only as a planning reference. An on-site estimate is needed to measure the surfaces and evaluate their condition.

Is It More Expensive to Paint Stucco Than Wood Siding?

Stucco can cost more to paint than wood siding because its porous, textured surface often requires more paint and careful application. Angi’s 2026 national figures estimate approximately $1.50 to $4 per square foot for stucco and $1 to $3 per square foot for wood siding. However, the material alone does not determine the final price. Wood can become more expensive when it requires extensive scraping, sanding, priming, caulking, or repairs to deteriorated boards. Stucco costs can rise when cracks, staining, chalking, or previous coating failures need attention. Compare estimates based on preparation, repairs, products, coats, access, and included surfaces rather than siding type alone.

Does Changing the Color of My House Cost More?

Changing the exterior color can cost more when the new color requires additional preparation or coats to achieve even coverage. A dramatic change, such as moving from a dark color to a much lighter shade, may require a suitable primer or another finish coat. Additional coats increase both material use and labor. Multiple body, trim, door, and accent colors can also add time because each color requires separate masking, cutting in, and cleanup. The current coating, surface condition, selected paint, application method, and manufacturer’s coverage instructions all affect the work. Ask the painter to explain how the color change is reflected in the written estimate before approving the project.

Should I Fix Damaged Siding Before Painting?

Yes, damaged siding should be repaired before painting because paint cannot correct rot, swelling, delamination, loose boards, or structural deterioration. Coating over damaged material may hide the problem temporarily, but the finish is unlikely to perform well when the surface underneath is unstable or retaining moisture. Preparation may include replacing deteriorated sections, securing loose siding, correcting moisture sources, scraping failed coatings, filling suitable defects, caulking appropriate joints, and priming exposed areas. The necessary repair depends on the siding material and condition. Ask the painter to identify which repairs are included, which require another trade, and whether hidden damage could change the scope after work begins.

Get a Price for Your Home

At SGB Custom Painting, we paint home exteriors across Chico, Paradise, Oroville, and the North Valley. Start with our Painting Cost Estimator for a quick ballpark, or contact us to book a free on-site estimate for exterior painting.