If your house sits around 1,500 square feet, you already have most of what you need to get a real planning number. Ranger Painting provides a per-square-foot planning range and explains how home size, stories, siding, condition, and prep affect the final exterior painting price.
Key Takeaways
Ranger's published planning range is $1.75 to $4.25 per square foot of living area. Applied to a 1,500-sq.-ft. home, that creates a rough budgeting range of $2,625 to $6,375, not a project quote.
Ranger notes that a 1,500-square-foot single-story home in good condition sits lower than larger or more complex homes.
Most Cedar Park and Austin exterior repaints overall run about $3,500 to $9,500, with larger, higher-prep, or custom homes potentially exceeding that range.
Stories, access, siding material, prep and repairs, paint grade, existing condition, color changes, and detailed features can all move the final price.
Ranger's exterior process includes washing, scraping and sanding, caulking, spot-priming where needed, and two finish coats of a premium, sun-rated product.
Cost to Paint a 1,500 Sq Ft House Exterior, at a Glance
The general cost to paint a house exterior per square feet is around $1.75 to $4.25 and a 1,500 sq ft home typically costs $2,625 to $6,375 to paint. A clean single-story home with sound siding sits toward the low end. A home with heavier prep, detailed trim, or premium products sits toward the high end.
How Much Paint Does a 1,500 Sq Ft Exterior Need?
One gallon of paint typically covers 250 to 400 square feet per coat. For a 1,500 sq ft home, that works out to roughly 4 to 6 gallons per coat, and most exteriors need two finish coats, so plan on 8 to 12 gallons total before accounting for trim and touch-ups.
One thing worth clarifying: "1,500 sq ft" usually refers to your home's total living area, not the actual painted wall surface. Paintable area, the walls minus windows and doors, typically runs somewhat less than total floor area on a single-story home, and can run higher on a two-story home since you are painting two stories of walls under one footprint. This is part of why a flat per-square-foot number is a planning tool, not an exact measurement of your walls.
Labor and Material Costs for a Home This Size
Labor typically covers 70 to 80 percent of the total cost, with materials making up the remaining 20 to 30 percent. For a 1,500 sq ft exterior landing in the middle of the range, roughly $3,500 to $4,000, that puts labor somewhere around $2,500 to $3,200 and materials around $700 to $1,200.
Painter contractor rates typically run $25 to $100 per hour, a range that covers more than take-home pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $48,660 for construction and maintenance painters, roughly $23 an hour. The gap between that and a $75 or $100 billed rate covers vehicle and equipment costs, business overhead, and the margin that keeps a company able to show up for the next job. Paint itself runs $20 to $80 per gallon depending on quality, with Sherwin-Williams Duration and Emerald Rain Refresh both built specifically for exterior durability.
What Changes the Price for a 1,500 Sq Ft Home in Austin?
Stories. A 1,500 sq ft single-story and a 1,500 sq ft two-story are not the same job. The two-story version has more wall surface to cover and needs ladders or lift equipment to reach it, which can add 30 to 90 percent to the cost.
Siding type. Vinyl and wood sit toward the lower end of the per-square-foot range. Brick and stucco, common across Central Texas, sit higher since they absorb more paint and often need more prep.
Surface condition. A 1,500 sq ft home that just needs a wash and a fresh coat costs far less than one with peeling paint, rot, or caulk that has split open in the Texas heat.
What Ranger Actually Charges for a Home This Size?
The math above gives you a real planning number, but it is still a formula. Ranger's actual Austin-area range for exterior painting runs $3,500 to $9,500, and a 1,500 sq ft single-story in good condition typically lands toward the lower half of that range, consistent with what a smaller, simpler home should cost.
The exact figure comes from Nathan walking your property, not a size-based formula, as part of Exterior Painting service. A written scope names every surface, product, and prep step your specific home needs before you commit to anything.
Why Austin-Area Homeowners Trust Ranger Painting with Exterior Projects?
Nathan Wingate has spent more than 20 years in the trades, and he walks every Ranger Painting project in person before a number ever gets written down. Ranger serves homeowners across Cedar Park, Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, and West Lake Hills, and prices each exterior job on its actual size and condition rather than a flat rate applied blindly.
Ranger backs every exterior project with four safeguards:
No deposit is not a limited-time offer. It is how Ranger has operated since day one, because a homeowner should never have to gamble on whether a contractor finishes the job before they see a return on their money.
No deposit. You pay $0 upfront and only after the final walkthrough confirms the work is right.
BBB A+ Accreditation.
A $25,000 Good Contractors List guarantee.
Up to a 5-year written workmanship warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to paint a 1,500 sq ft house exterior in Austin?
Using Ranger's published rate of $1.75 to $4.25 per square foot, a 1,500 sq ft exterior typically runs $2,625 to $6,375, depending on siding, stories, and condition.
How many gallons of paint does a 1,500 sq ft exterior need in Austin?
Roughly 4 to 6 gallons per coat, or 8 to 12 gallons total for a standard two-coat job.
Does a 1,500 sq ft house cost less to paint than a 2,000 sq ft house?
Generally yes, since fewer square feet means less paint and less labor time, though condition and siding type can close that gap.
Is a 1,500 sq ft single-story cheaper than a 1,500 sq ft two-story?
Yes. The two-story version has more total wall area and requires ladders or lift equipment to reach it safely, which adds both time and cost.
What's included in a 1,500 sq ft exterior painting estimate?
A proper estimate covers washing, scraping and sanding, caulking, priming where needed, two finish coats, and protection for windows, landscaping, and walkways.
Your 1,500 Sq Ft Home, Priced Right
A per-square-foot formula gets you close enough to plan a budget. Getting the exact number takes someone who has actually seen your siding, your trim, and your home's real condition.
If you are ready to trade a planning range for a real number, Book Your Free Estimate or call (512) 270-2617 and Ranger Painting will walk your home before writing anything down.
Nathan Wingate
Nathan Wingate is the owner and operator of Ranger Painting in Cedar Park, TX. With years of hands-on experience spraying custom cabinet enamels and residential finishes, Nathan personally oversees every project from initial walkthrough to final sign-off.
