How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?

In the Seattle area a full exterior repaint typically runs $6,000–$18,000 depending on size, storeys, access and how much prep the existing finish needs. A single-storey rambler sits near the bottom of that; a three-storey house with failing paint and trim repair sits at the top.

Why do painting quotes vary so much?

Prep, almost entirely. Paint is a small fraction of the cost — the labour to wash, let it dry, scrape, feather, treat mildew, prime bare wood and caulk the right joints is most of the job. A bid that is half the price of the others has usually priced half the prep.

How much does interior painting cost per room?

Roughly $600–$1,500 per room for walls, ceiling and trim with normal filling and two coats. Rooms with high ceilings, extensive trim, or heavy repair before painting run above that.

When can you paint outside in Western Washington?

Realistically late spring through September. Coatings need the surface genuinely dry and temperatures stable enough to cure, and a wall that looks dry a day after rain often is not. We check moisture rather than appearance and will move a job rather than paint a damp wall.

Field Notes · October 6, 2026 · 7 min read

What an Exterior Repaint Costs in the Seattle Area

What a house repaint costs in Western Washington, why bids differ so widely on prep rather than paint, and the weather window that decides how long it lasts.

Finished interior walls and trim by ENF General Contractors

A full exterior repaint in the Seattle area runs $6,000–$18,000. Interior work runs roughly $600–$1,500 per room.

If you collect three exterior bids they will probably differ by more than any other trade you hire. Here is why, because it is the whole story.

You are buying prep, not paint

Materials are a small share of an exterior repaint. The cost is the labour that happens before anything is sprayed:

Washing, and then waiting until it is genuinely dry
Scraping failed areas and feathering the edges so they do not telegraph
Treating mildew rather than painting over it
Priming every bare spot and every cut end
Caulking the joints that should be sealed and leaving the ones that should drain
Replacing trim that is too far gone to hold paint

A bid at half the price of the others has not found a cheaper supplier. It has priced less of that list — and that list is what decides whether the job lasts seven years or three.

What moves the exterior number

Storeys and access. Ladder work and staging slow everything. A three-storey house is not three times a rambler, it is more.
Condition of the existing finish. Sound paint needing a wash and a coat is a different job from widespread peeling back to bare wood.
Substrate. Fiber cement holds paint well. Cedar can bleed tannin through a light colour and needs the right primer. Previously poorly painted surfaces need more removal.
Colour change. Going dramatically lighter or darker can mean an extra coat.
Trim and detail. Cut lines take time. A house with lots of window trim, corbels and railing costs more per square foot than a plain elevation.

The weather window is not optional

Exterior painting here has a real season, roughly late spring through September. Coatings need the surface dry and conditions stable enough to cure, and in this climate a wall can look dry and still hold moisture a day after rain.

A repaint rushed into October is the one most likely to be back on the schedule in three years. Our seasonal guide covers how the rest of the trades sit against the same calendar.

When painting is the wrong purchase

If the siding itself is failing — splitting, cupping, rotted at the bottom course, or already repaired in several places — paint is a cosmetic delay on a wall that needs replacing. You will spend five figures and face the same decision in four years.

The honest test is how much of the prep budget is going into repair rather than preparation. When that share gets large, price a re-side against it before committing; the cladding comparison covers what you would be choosing between.

Get a number for your house

We paint across Snohomish and King County, inside remodels and as standalone work. The free estimate is specific about what prep is included, because that is the part that varies.

Get a painting estimate →

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to paint a house exterior?: In the Seattle area a full exterior repaint typically runs $6,000–$18,000 depending on size, storeys, access and how much prep the existing finish needs. A single-storey rambler sits near the bottom of that; a three-storey house with failing paint and trim repair sits at the top.
Why do painting quotes vary so much?: Prep, almost entirely. Paint is a small fraction of the cost — the labour to wash, let it dry, scrape, feather, treat mildew, prime bare wood and caulk the right joints is most of the job. A bid that is half the price of the others has usually priced half the prep.
How much does interior painting cost per room?: Roughly $600–$1,500 per room for walls, ceiling and trim with normal filling and two coats. Rooms with high ceilings, extensive trim, or heavy repair before painting run above that.
When can you paint outside in Western Washington?: Realistically late spring through September. Coatings need the surface genuinely dry and temperatures stable enough to cure, and a wall that looks dry a day after rain often is not. We check moisture rather than appearance and will move a job rather than paint a damp wall.

Written by

Eduard — Owner & General Contractor

Eduard owns ENF General Contractors and has built and remodeled homes across Everett, Seattle & the Eastside for more than fifteen years. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. He runs every ENF project personally — and writes these guides from the job site. More about Eduard · (425) 217-9921