Interior vs exterior
Prep — scraping, sanding, caulking — drives exterior cost.
- Interior: $2–$6/sq ft of floor area
- Exterior: $2.50–$5/sq ft of surface
- Cabinet painting: $3,000–$8,000
Prep drives exterior price
Scraping, sanding, caulking, and priming bare wood can double labor versus a well-maintained facade.
- Lead paint testing on pre-1978 homes
- Power wash and dry time
- Spray vs brush for siding type
Interior factors
Ceiling height, cut-ins, and occupied homes (furniture, pets) affect speed.
- Two-story foyers need scaffolding
- Accent walls and trim packages
- Low-VOC options for sensitive households
Prep is the job; color is the last afternoon
Exterior bids move with scraping, caulk, primer on bare wood, and how many stories of ladder or lift. Interior bids move with patching, popcorn, and whether doors and cabinets are in the scope. A cheap bid that skips wash and caulk fails in a season.
- Ask how many coats and whether primer is extra on stained walls
- Lead-safe work on pre-1978 exteriors is a different crew and price
- Color changes from dark to light need more coats — that should be in writing
When DIY still makes sense
A single-story bedroom with sound walls is a weekend. A two-story peak, chalky acrylic over old oil, or a historic window sash is not. Price the lift and insurance against your Saturday.
- Cut out rot and prime it before any topcoat — paint will not glue wood back
- Same-week interior/exterior on an occupied house needs a dust and pet plan
- Cabinet spraying in place is not the same as shop finishing — ask which you are buying