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myCost to Paint Exterior of House
At a Glance
- The average cost of exterior house painting is £3,650.
- It will take roughly 3 to 5 days to complete.
- NEW! Use our exterior house painting cost calculator for an instant estimate.
- A full exterior painting cost breakdown for different sizes of property and paint finishes.
- How long exterior house painting takes, and a general overview of what the job entails.
- How to find and hire an exterior house painter using MyJobQuote.
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£3,650
Table of Contents
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?
- Labour Cost of Painting Exterior of House
- Supply Cost of Painting Outside of House
- Factors That Impact Exterior House Painting Costs
- Additional House Exterior Painting Costs
- What's Involved in Painting a House Exterior?
- Different Types of Exterior Paint
- Checklist: Hiring an Exterior House Painter in the UK
- FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?
Want to discover how much painting the outside of your house will cost?
You can expect to pay between £1,200 and £7,700 to paint the outside of your house, although very large properties can exceed this. The cost depends on the size of your home, the type of outdoor house paint you choose, and other factors.
On average, the price of painting a two-storey, three-bedroom house in the UK is estimated at around £3,650.
However, always keep in mind that these prices are an estimate, and many cost-varying factors will affect the actual cost of your exterior paint job.
The average exterior painting costs per m² are between £20 and £40.
What's Included In My Exterior House Painting Quote?
When hiring a professional painter and decorator to paint the exterior of your house, you will usually be covering the cost of all materials, supplies, and their labour.
Some smaller companies will likely charge a lower rate to paint the outside of your home, in comparison to a larger painting organisation.
Roughly how much would it cost to repaint the exterior of a small house? We are buying a period Georgian cottage but it's semi detached so only three exterior walls to be painted.
"The costs for 3 walls only depends on how bad the walls are. If they need to be rendered, the cost for each wall could go to £2,000 each. If just for filling walls and painting them, around £1,000 each. If you have wood windows, allow an extra cost of £250 per window."
Exterior House Painting Prices
The average cost of painting a house exterior in the UK varies on many factors, but here are some estimated external house painting costs to show the kind of ballpark you'll be in, based on your property's size:
| House Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Front Only (single elevation) | £500–£1,500 |
| Bungalow (2 to 3 bedrooms) | £1,200–£3,000 |
| Terraced House (2 to 3 bedrooms) | £1,500–£3,100 |
| Semi Detached (3 bedrooms) | £2,600–£5,700 |
| Detached (3 to 4 bedrooms) | £3,400–£7,700 |
| Three-Storey House | £4,500–£9,500 |
| Detached (5 bedrooms) | £4,500–£10,000 |
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Please keep in mind that these costs are estimates and should only be used as a rough guide when budgeting for your project.
Estimate the Cost to Paint Your Home's Exterior
Want an estimated cost for painting your home?
Try out our free exterior property painting calculator to get an idea of what this project will cost you.
Just fill in a few details, and get a feel for exterior painting costs in your area.
Exterior House Painting Cost Calculator
Labour Cost of Painting Exterior of House
Labour costs can vary depending on location, the trader's experience, and how long the job takes.
On average, most professional painters typically charge £100 to £200 per day for labour alone.
Check out the table below to find out the labour costs and timescales for different-sized houses:
| Type of House and Wall | Duration | Labour Only Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Front Only (Single Elevation) | 1 to 2 days | £100–£400 |
| Bungalow (Smooth) | 2 to 3 days | £200–£600 |
| Terraced (Smooth) | 2 to 3 days | £200–£600 |
| Semi-detached (Smooth) | 3 to 4 days | £300–£800 |
| Detached (Smooth) | 4 to 5 days | £400–£1,000 |
| Three-Storey (Smooth) | 5 to 7 days | £500–£1,400 |
| 5-Bedroom Detached (Smooth) | 6 to 8 days | £600–£1,600 |
| Terraced (Textured) | 4 to 5 days | £400–£1,000 |
| Semi-detached (Textured) | 6 to 7 days | £600–£1,400 |
| Detached (Textured) | 7 to 8 days | £700–£1,600 |
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Supply Cost of Painting Outside of House
If you want to paint exterior walls yourself, you may need to know the supply-only costs.
What's a supply-only cost? This simply means the cost without any labour added, including only the cost for materials needed to complete the job.
Exterior paint prices may be higher than interior paint as it often contains UV blockers and mildew-repellants so it can withstand various weather conditions.
| Type of Exterior Paint | Average Cost per Litre |
|---|---|
| Flat/Matt | £5–£10 |
| Gloss | £15–£20 |
| Semi-gloss | £10–£15 |
| Satin | £15–£25 |
| Masonry | £5–£10 |
| Acrylic (Water-Based) | £8–£15 |
| Wood Stain | £15–£20 |
| Metal | £15–£20 |
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Which type of finish would you choose to paint a house?
Flat/Matt
3 votes - 50%50% of votes
Satin/Eggshell
0 votes - 0%0% of votes
Gloss
3 votes - 50%50% of votes
Semi-Gloss
0 votes - 0%0% of votes
6 votes
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How Much Paint Do I Need for a House?
To paint an average-sized 3-bedroom semi-detached house, you'll typically need around 30 to 50 litres of masonry paint to allow for 1 to 2 coats.
This is assuming the exterior is already rendered, or brickwork has been properly prepared.
I'm having to continually re-paint the black plinth around the bottom of the exterior north-facing wall on my 1930s house with the render being very crumbly, paint always lifting/flaking off - even if I apply stabilising solution before Sandtex masonry paint. Could this be a symptom of an underlying issue?
"It sounds as if the plinth has no waterproofer added when it was mixed, and as it takes the brunt of the weather, it's done its time, but a proper inspection would determine this."
Factors That Impact Exterior House Painting Costs
- Size and Type of Property — Depending on the type and style of house, the size of the property can drastically increase the cost of getting the exterior of a house professionally painted. If you only want the front painted, costs will be lower. Terraces only need two walls painting, but detached properties need four sides painting.
- Type of Paint — You can choose a more budget-friendly brand and quality of paint to keep costs down, but if you want a higher-quality finish or a less common colour, supply costs will be higher. The type and brand of paint you choose can also impact how frequently your home needs to be repainted, affecting the long-term costs, too.
- Number of Coats — The more coats of paint needed, the more supply costs will increase. If you just need a freshen up of the same colour, one coat may be enough. If you are changing the colour of your house or it hasn't been painted for a long time, you'll likely need more coats to achieve the same finish. Labour costs can also rise considerably when more coats are needed.
- Access Difficulty — Tall, awkwardly shaped properties or those where access is tight can take longer to paint than more simple buildings with plenty of space around them. For example, some properties may have limited side or rear access.
- Wall Surface — Painting over brick or render is relatively easy compared to painting over pebbledash or other textured surfaces. Smooth walls will take less time to paint, keeping labour costs down, and may also require less paint than a pebbledashed wall of the same area.
- Weather Delays — Poor weather can delay labour and also increase the drying time required between coats.
- Location — Your location in the UK can also impact labour costs, with painters and decorators in London and the South East typically charging more than in northern cities.
Additional House Exterior Painting Costs
Scaffolding Costs
The average cost of hiring scaffolding ranges from a few hundred pounds to well into the thousands, depending on how much is required.
For example: A bungalow typically won't need any at all, whereas a three-storey townhouse will require scaffolding that spans across the multiple storeys.
If your scaffolding is erected on public land (e.g. a pavement), you will also need a council permit, further increasing costs.
How much would it cost to hire a professional to fully paint the outside of an average-sized detached house in the West Midlands?
"To paint the outside of a detached house depends on what needs painting, if the house is rendered then the cost would be up to £4,000."
Preparing the Walls for Painting Costs
The state of the exterior of the house will also play a big part in the cost, as if the exterior needs fixing, such as filling cracks and replacing render, it will bump up the cost even more. Typically if you wish to repoint brick walls on a house, as an example, a 30m² wall normally costs between £600 and £1,500.
You may also need to have the walls cleaned down before painting, or have old peeling paint stripped off.
Painting Exterior Door Cost
With your walls done, your home's exterior doors may look worse for wear if they've not been updated in a few years and could use a fresh coat of paint.
The cost of external door painting is around £200, taking between 2 and 4 hours to complete.
You may also want to have window frames, fascias, or trims painted, all of which can increase supply and labour costs. However, it's often worth doing when the painter is already at your property and will ensure the whole exterior of your property looks fresher.
What is the best paint/spray paint and coating to use on exterior walls and window ledges to avoid scratches?
"I prefer to use a weathershield exterior masonry paint as it tends to keep the colour longer than most. For window sills, I avoid glossing due to cracking and use masonry paint where possible. For windows, again I prefer weathershield undercoat and gloss."
What's Involved in Painting a House Exterior?
So, what's involved in painting a house exterior?
While the process may seem fairly simple, it's a deceptive job that can easily go wrong, and mistakes can be very obvious.
The best way forward? Get 3 free quotes from local painters and decorators. Using MyJobQuote, you can find painters and decorators near you for free quotes, with no obligations.
Before the Job Starts
- Job Assessment and Planning — The decorator will ask what results you want (e.g., colour and finish). Based on your answers, they'll judge whether scaffolding is needed and the overall duration of the job. Weather conditions will also be judged at this time, with the potential for timelines to shift if needed due to poor weather.
- Preparing the Exterior — Your property's exterior will be prepped by removing any existing flaking paint and washing down all of the walls to remove dirt and debris. If needed, re-pointing will take place.
During the Job
- Priming the Walls — Your walls will be primed with an exterior undercoat, and your doors and windows will be masked to avoid any paint reaching them during the job.
- Painting the Property — The trader will start painting your home, with trims, doors, and sills being left for last.
After the Job
- Final Inspection — Once the paint has fully dried, your painter will carry out a final inspection to ensure that the finish is smooth, even, and meets the agreed standards.
- Touch-Ups and Clean-Up — Small imperfections will be corrected, and the area around your home will be tidied, and waste or debris disposed of.
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Different Types of Exterior Paint
Choosing the style and finish of your exterior paint can seem overwhelming with so many colours, textures and finishes to choose from. It can be hard to know where to start.
Exterior paint can come in a range of different finishes, including:
- Flat (Matt)
- Satin (Eggshell)
- Gloss
- Semi-Gloss
You'll also see paints described by their formulation, the most popular being acrylic (water-based), which is the base used in most modern masonry paints.
Let's break those down:
Flat Matt Exterior Paint Cost
What Is It? Flat, or matt paint, is a non-reflective paint, giving a slightly chalky finish when completely dry. Flat paint will typically last between 5 and 10 years before a touch-up is needed.
What's It Best For? Thanks to its non-reflective surface, matt paint tends to disguise uneven surfaces and bumps in walls.
How Much? Between £5 and £10 per litre.
Satin Exterior Paint Cost
What Is It? Satin or eggshell exterior paints are somewhere in between matt and semi-gloss. They have a slightly higher reflective finish than matt paints, but they're nowhere near as glossy as a semi-gloss or gloss paint.
What's It Best For? As a middle-ground between matt and gloss, it's useful for woodwork, masonry, and trims.
How Much? Between £15 and £25 per litre.
Gloss Exterior Paint Cost
What Is It? A hard-wearing glossy paint with a reflective, shiny finish.
What's It Best For? Gloss exterior paints are typically used only for trims, sills and doors, and other areas which may be susceptible to high levels of wear and tear. The glossier the paint, the more durable it tends to be, and it is a perfect option for areas that may need to be washed or scrubbed frequently.
How Much? Between £15 and £20 per litre.
Semi-Gloss Exterior Paint Cost
What Is It? Semi-gloss is more durable than satin and matt paint, is water-resistant, and can be wiped clean.
What's It Best For? Doors, window frames, trims and other wood or metal surfaces that get touched a lot, or are exposed to the elements.
How Much? Between £10 and £15 per litre.
Acrylic Exterior Paint Cost
What Is It? Acrylic is a water-based paint made with acrylic resins, and it's the base used in most modern exterior masonry paints, regardless of finish. It dries quickly and stays flexible once cured, allowing it to expand and contract with the wall rather than cracking.
What's It Best For? Render, brick and pebbledash. Its breathability lets trapped moisture escape while still resisting rain, UV fading and mould. Low odour and fast drying time make it well suited to changeable weather.
How Much? Between £8 and £15 per litre.
However: These are rough cost estimates under typical conditions, whereas the paint quality, how well the area has been prepared and painted, along with exposure to the elements, all impact their actual lifespan.
What is the best paint brand for painting the outside of a house, or would it depend on factors like the type of house I have?
"Depends on the age of the house - if it's Regency or Georgian, then oil-based masonry is by far the best choice as its adhesion is second to none. If you're painting modern render, then Sandtex or Dulux Weathersheild is very good as well. It all boils down to type of property and condition."
Checklist: Hiring an Exterior House Painter in the UK
Before hiring a professional painter for your exterior painting, there are some things you should consider. Below is a checklist for you to follow before committing to a painter:
- Does the tradesperson need insurance? It's important they're insured to cover any accidental damage or injuries during the job.
- How experienced are they? Ask to see their portfolio of examples of work on previous exterior house painting projects that are similar to what you need to be done. While no formal qualifications are needed, many reputable painters hold National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) or City & Guilds certifications.
- Do they offer written quotes? Ask for a detailed breakdown of all costs so you know exactly what you're paying for, and aim to compare prices from at least three contractors to make sure you're getting a fair deal.
- Do they offer any guarantees? A reputable painter should provide a warranty on their work, which will also provide you with peace of mind.
- Can they provide references or reviews? Ask for client testimonials or check online platforms like MyJobQuote to verify their reputation.
- How can you find reliable tradespeople nearby? Start by searching MyJobQuote for any suitable painters or decorators.
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FAQs
What Is The Best House Exterior Paint?
Sandtex Ultra Smooth finish is often considered the best quality outdoor paint for renovations of all sizes. Dulux Weathershield is also one of the UK's leading brands in masonry paint ranges.
Is It Better To Spray On Exterior Paint?
Not necessarily. An advantage of using a roller and brush when applying exterior paint is precision. Spraying can result in thinner layers, often needing more coats to achieve even coverage.
What Is The Most Popular House Colour?
In the UK, popular choices for exterior paint colours are neutrals (grey, white and off-white) and earthy tones.
When Is The Best Time To Paint A House Exterior?
The best time of year is usually late spring to early autumn, as mild and dry weather is well-suited to allowing the paint to dry naturally rather than in the heat of summer. Avoid painting during cold, wet conditions, as moisture and cold air can affect paint adhesion and delay drying times.
Can I Paint the Outside of My House Myself?
You can paint the outside of your house yourself if you have the correct equipment for safe access. Bungalows are easier to paint yourself, but two-storey or higher properties often need scaffolding, and accessing this height with a ladder can be dangerous. Large properties can take more than a week to paint, with DIY exterior painting jobs typically taking longer than if done by a tradesperson.
Is It Worth Repainting Before Selling a House?
Repainting is often worth it before selling your house, as it can increase your property's kerb appeal and make a better first impression on potential buyers. A freshly-painted house may be worth 2% to 5% more, too.
How Often Should the Outside of a House Be Painted?
Most properties should be repainted every 5 to 10 years, although the exact timescale varies depending on the weather conditions, the quality of paint used, and the material of the house exterior.
