Quick answer: A professional exterior repaint in Puget Sound commonly costs about $8,000 to $18,000 for a typical home, while larger, taller, highly detailed, or preparation-intensive homes may cost $20,000 to $40,000 or more. Interior walls commonly cost about $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot of home floor area; painting walls, ceilings, trim, and doors commonly costs about $4.50 to $8.00 per square foot. Small projects usually have a higher effective unit cost.
Last reviewed: August 2026. These figures are planning ranges, not a quote. Final pricing depends on the property, project scope, materials, access, permits, taxes, and conditions discovered during the work.
This guide is designed for homeowners in Federal Way, Puyallup, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, Auburn, Lacey, Olympia, Bremerton, Kent, Tacoma, and surrounding Puget Sound communities who want a realistic planning range before requesting a project-specific proposal.
The useful answer depends on whether the project is exterior or interior and exactly which surfaces are included. Exterior painters estimate the paintable wall, trim, eave, door, and detail area, then account for height, access, preparation, repairs, coating system, and weather protection. A home’s floor area is only a rough shortcut because two houses with the same floor plan can have very different exterior surfaces.
Interior budgeting commonly uses the home’s floor area, but “interior painting” can mean walls only or a complete repaint that includes ceilings, baseboards, casings, doors, closets, repairs, and occupied-home protection. The estimate should state the scope instead of relying on one unexplained square-foot number.
These figures are preliminary consumer planning ranges for Federal Way, Puyallup, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, Auburn, Lacey, Olympia, Bremerton, Kent, Tacoma, and surrounding Puget Sound communities. They contemplate professional preparation and application - not paint alone or a quick one-coat refresh.
Typical Painting Costs in Puget Sound
Painting scope | Typical consumer planning range |
|---|---|
Exterior repaint, per sq. ft. of paintable exterior surface | $4.00–$8.00+ |
Typical one- to two-story exterior repaint | $8,000–$18,000+ |
Large, tall, detailed, or prep-intensive exterior | $18,000–$40,000+ |
Interior walls only, per sq. ft. of home floor area | $2.50–$4.50+ |
Interior walls, ceilings, trim, and doors, per sq. ft. of floor area | $4.50–$8.00+ |
Average bedroom, walls only | $700–$1,400+ |
Average bedroom, walls, ceiling, trim, and door | $1,200–$2,400+ |
Kitchen cabinet refinishing | $6,000–$15,000+ |
Exterior surface square footage is not the same as home floor square footage. Interior floor-area pricing is a planning shortcut and assumes ordinary ceiling heights and a reasonably efficient whole-area project.
Exterior Painting Cost by Project Size
Example exterior project | Preliminary planning budget |
|---|---|
Small one-story home; straightforward siding and trim | $7,000–$12,000+ |
Typical 1,500–2,000 sq. ft. one- or two-story home | $9,000–$18,000+ |
Typical 2,000–3,000 sq. ft. home with moderate detail | $12,000–$24,000+ |
Large 3,000–4,000 sq. ft. or three-story home | $18,000–$35,000+ |
Highly detailed, difficult-access, or heavy-prep exterior | $25,000–$50,000+ |
These examples assume a complete repaint with normal washing, masking, scraping, spot priming, caulking, ordinary minor preparation, quality coatings, and cleanup. Carpentry, widespread coating failure, lead-safe containment, scaffolding, and unusual restoration are additional unless expressly included.
What Should Exterior Painting Include?
- Protection of roofing, windows, hardscape, decks, vehicles, landscaping, soil, and neighboring property
- Appropriate washing and adequate drying before coating
- Scraping, sanding, feathering, removal of loose coating, and dust control
- Spot priming of bare wood, repairs, stains, knots, and other required substrates
- Removal and replacement of failed paintable sealant at identified joints
- Masking and protection of glass, fixtures, meters, vents, hardware, and unpainted finishes
- Specified paint manufacturer, product line, sheen, colors, and number of coats
- Siding, trim, fascia, soffits, eaves, doors, shutters, railings, and other included surfaces
- Daily cleanup, debris control, final touch-up, owner walkthrough, and workmanship warranty
Quick answer: COATS MATTER: “Two coats” should mean two complete finish coats when specified - not one spray application immediately followed by back-rolling. Some sound repaint surfaces may be properly covered by a primer plus finish system or a manufacturer-approved single finish coat, but the proposal should explain the coating system clearly.
Exterior Preparation and Repair Costs
Additional exterior scope | Typical planning allowance |
|---|---|
Minor localized scraping, caulking, and spot priming | Often included in a complete repaint |
Carpentry labor for accessible siding or trim repairs | $90–$150+ per labor hour |
Small trim, fascia, or siding repair allowance | $500–$2,500+ |
Moderate distributed wood or siding repairs | $2,500–$10,000+ |
Extensive rot, sheathing, flashing, or water-damage repair | $10,000–$30,000+ |
Lift, scaffold, difficult roof access, or containment | $1,000–$8,000+ |
Lead-safe work practices and containment | Project-specific; commonly adds 15%–40%+ |
Painting does not correct an active leak, failed flashing, trapped moisture, decayed framing, or structurally failed siding. Repairs should address the cause of deterioration before new coatings conceal the symptoms.
What Makes Exterior Painting More Expensive?
Preparation level
Peeling, chalking, blistering, sun damage, failed caulk, mill glaze, exposed wood, and incompatible old coatings require more labor than a sound maintenance repaint.
Home height and access
Three-story walls, steep roofs, narrow side yards, waterfront slopes, conservatories, dormers, and limited equipment access may require lifts, scaffolding, fall protection, or slower hand work.
Siding and architectural detail
Lap siding, shingles, shakes, stucco, masonry, board-and-batten, elaborate trim, divided-light windows, railings, and decorative brackets have different preparation and application demands.
Color changes and coating system
Dramatic color changes, multiple accent colors, stain-blocking primers, specialty elastomeric or masonry products, and premium finishes may require more coats and material.
Repairs and moisture conditions
Puget Sound homes commonly have deteriorated trim, fascia, siding edges, window components, and caulk joints. The source of moisture should be corrected before coating.
Weather window and site protection
Rain, dew, temperature, direct sun, wind, and drying time affect when surfaces can be washed, prepared, and painted. Responsible scheduling protects coating performance.
Interior Painting Cost by Scope
Interior scope | Typical installed planning range |
|---|---|
Walls only; same or similar color; light preparation | $2.50–$4.00 per sq. ft. of floor area |
Walls only; color changes or moderate preparation | $3.50–$5.50 per sq. ft. |
Walls and ceilings | $3.75–$6.00 per sq. ft. |
Walls, ceilings, baseboards, casings, and doors | $4.50–$8.00+ per sq. ft. |
Occupied, furnished, high-detail, or heavy-prep interior | $6.00–$10.00+ per sq. ft. |
These figures use home floor area as a budgeting shortcut, not the actual wall surface area. Closets, stairwells, vaulted ceilings, extensive millwork, built-ins, windows, doors, repairs, furnishings, and color count can materially change the price.
Example Interior Painting Budgets
Example interior project | Preliminary planning budget |
|---|---|
1,000 sq. ft. home or condo; walls only | $3,000–$5,000+ |
1,500 sq. ft. home; walls only | $4,500–$7,500+ |
2,000 sq. ft. home; walls only | $5,500–$10,000+ |
2,000 sq. ft. home; walls, ceilings, trim, and doors | $9,000–$16,000+ |
3,000 sq. ft. full interior with moderate preparation | $14,000–$26,000+ |
Large, occupied, detailed, or restoration-level interior | $25,000–$60,000+ |
Interior Components Commonly Priced Separately
Interior component | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
Ceilings | $1.50–$3.00+ per sq. ft. of ceiling area |
Baseboards and simple trim | $2.00–$5.00+ per linear foot |
Standard interior door and frame | $200–$450+ each |
Detailed windows, built-ins, or extensive millwork | Project-specific |
Drywall patching and texture matching | $250–$1,500+ per repair area |
Wallpaper removal | $2.00–$6.00+ per sq. ft. of wall area |
Kitchen cabinet refinishing | $6,000–$15,000+ |
Large or highly detailed cabinet package | $12,000–$25,000+ |
Small stand-alone trim, door, or repair projects can cost more per unit because mobilization, masking, setup, material acquisition, and cleanup are spread across less work.
What Should Interior Painting Include?
- A written room and surface list identifying walls, ceilings, closets, trim, doors, cabinets, and exclusions
- Color, sheen, manufacturer, product line, primer, and planned number of coats
- Furniture-moving responsibilities and protection of floors, counters, fixtures, and belongings
- Removal or protection of plates, hardware, window coverings, appliances, and wall-mounted items
- Cleaning, filling nail holes, caulking selected gaps, sanding, patching, texture work, and stain blocking
- Occupied-home sequencing, daily access, dust control, ventilation, drying time, and security
- Cleanup, label-and-storage of touch-up paint, final inspection, and warranty terms
Lead Paint and Older Puget Sound Homes
Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. When paid renovation, repair, or painting work disturbs painted surfaces in covered pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities, federal and Washington requirements can require certified firms, trained renovators, occupant information, containment, dust control, cleaning, and documentation.
Lead-safe work is different from lead abatement. The project should establish the building age, planned disturbance, testing approach, responsible certified firm, containment method, cleanup verification, and whether a licensed abatement contractor is needed. Homeowners should not assume that exterior scraping or interior sanding is ordinary preparation on an older home.
Quick answer: OLDER-HOME SAFETY: If the home was built before 1978, discuss lead requirements before scraping, sanding, demolition, window work, siding or trim repair, or other paint-disturbing preparation begins. Do not allow uncontrolled dry sanding or debris to contaminate the home, soil, landscaping, or neighboring property.
How to Compare Painting Estimates
- Compare the exact surfaces, colors, coats, preparation standard, repairs, access equipment, and protection - not just the total price.
- Confirm whether paint and primer are included and identify the specific manufacturer and product line.
- Ask whether siding and trim repairs are included as a fixed scope, allowance, hourly rate, or change order.
- Confirm how landscaping, roofs, decks, flooring, furniture, fixtures, occupants, pets, and neighboring property will be protected.
- Ask how weather delays, concealed damage, color changes, additional coats, and owner-requested changes are handled.
- Verify contractor registration, insurance, applicable lead-safe credentials, warranty, and final walkthrough process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Painting Cost
How much does exterior house painting cost in Puget Sound?
A typical professional exterior repaint commonly costs about $8,000 to $18,000. Larger, taller, detailed, difficult-access, or preparation-intensive homes commonly cost $18,000 to $40,000 or more.
How much does interior painting cost in the Seattle area?
Interior walls commonly cost about $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot of home floor area. A full repaint including walls, ceilings, trim, and doors commonly costs about $4.50 to $8.00 per square foot or more.
Does exterior painting include siding and trim repairs?
Ordinary minor preparation may be included, but carpentry and rot repair should be separately identified. A proposal should state what repair is included, the allowance or rate for additional work, and who approves changes.
Is one coat of exterior paint enough?
Sometimes a sound, similar-color surface and a specific manufacturer-approved system can be adequately covered with one finish coat. Many projects need spot primer plus two finish coats or another defined system. Coverage, film thickness, substrate, color change, and warranty matter more than a vague coat count.
Can exterior painting be done during Puget Sound’s rainy season?
Yes, when temperature, moisture, drying, and forecast conditions satisfy the coating manufacturer. Exterior work may take longer outside the primary dry season, and crews must avoid coating damp or soon-to-be-rained-on surfaces.
Do I need to move furniture for interior painting?
The proposal should explain homeowner and contractor responsibilities. Moving and protecting a few ordinary items may be included; heavily furnished rooms, valuable items, wall-mounted electronics, pianos, or storage-heavy areas may require additional labor.
DwellOne’s Approach to Transparent Painting Pricing
Homeowners deserve to know whether a painting number represents a quick color refresh or a durable, well-prepared project. DwellOne helps define surfaces, preparation, repairs, coatings, coats, protection, access, lead-safe requirements, exclusions, cleanup, and warranty so proposals can be compared fairly.
DwellOne Project Managers coordinate qualified painting and repair trade partners and manage the project from scope through completion. The goal is to protect the home and surrounding property while producing a finish appropriate for Puget Sound conditions and the homeowner’s budget.
Important pricing information: The figures in this guide are general planning ranges for residential interior and exterior painting in the Puget Sound region as of August 2026. They are not a quote, offer, or guarantee. Actual costs may be higher or lower based on surfaces, preparation, repairs, access, colors, coatings, lead-safe requirements, occupancy, protection, taxes, and final project scope.
