Painting a house exterior: how much paint, and in what order
An exterior paint job is a big order and a long weekend or two of work. This guide covers how much paint houses of different sizes take on different sidings, where the coverage figures come from, and the order of work that keeps the paint on the house for years.
How much paint a house takes
Exterior latex on smooth siding covers about the same as interior paint: Sherwin-Williams lists its A-100 Exterior Latex at 350–400 sq ft per gallon per coat on aluminum, vinyl and wood siding. Rough wood and masonry take far more. For two coats on smooth siding, with typical gables, doors and windows:
| House | Siding to paint (one coat) | Two coats, smooth siding | Worked page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft, one story | about 1,167 sq ft | about 6.7 gal | 1,000 sq ft house exterior |
| 1,500 sq ft, one story | about 1,481 sq ft | about 8.5 gal | 1,500 sq ft house exterior |
| 2,000 sq ft, two stories | about 2,208 sq ft | about 12.6 gal | 2,000 sq ft house exterior |
Floor area is only a starting point. Two-story houses have more wall per square foot of floor than ranches of the same size, and porches, bump-outs and attached garages add wall. Measuring the outside walls gives a firmer number.
Siding changes the answer
| Siding | Planning coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl, aluminum, smooth fiber cement | 350 sq ft/gal | A-100 Exterior Latex: 350–400 |
| Wood clapboard, textured lap | 300 | Inside Behr exterior’s 250–400 range |
| Rough-sawn cedar, shakes, T1-11 | 250 | Low end of Behr’s range; WoodScapes solid stain 200–400 |
| Stucco, brick, block | 200 | Loxon masonry primer 200–300; about 80 on porous, rough stucco |
The same 1,500 sq ft ranch that takes about 8.5 gallons on vinyl takes nearly 15 on stucco. If your siding is very porous, buy for the first coat, apply it, and see how far it went before buying the second.
Buying in 5-gallon pails
Exterior jobs are where pails make sense: they are usually cheaper per gallon, and boxing everything in one bucket keeps the color even. A pail covers 1,750–2,000 sq ft per coat on smooth siding (how much does a 5 gallon bucket of paint cover), so a 1,500 sq ft ranch is two pails for two coats.
Order of work
- Check for lead first if the house was built before 1978; scraping and sanding old exterior paint spreads lead chips and dust into the soil. See lead paint safety.
- Wash the siding and let it dry for a couple of days.
- Scrape and sand loose and flaking paint; feather the edges.
- Repair rotten boards and re-nail loose ones.
- Caulk gaps at trim, corners and windows with an exterior sealant: about half a tube per window at a 1/4 in bead (how many tubes of caulk per window).
- Prime bare wood, repairs and masonry (primer calculator).
- Paint the siding top down, following the shade around the house.
- Paint the trim, doors and shutters last, usually in a glossier sheen: how much paint for a front door and how much paint for a garage door.
Weather and temperature
Every exterior paint lists its application limits. The A-100 data sheet, for example, allows application down to 35°F but asks that air, surface and paint all be above that and at least 5°F above the dew point, and that no rain or snow be expected for a few hours; many paints need 50°F or more. Avoid painting in direct, hot sun, which dries the paint too fast and leaves lap marks.
Decks and fences
Decks and fences are usually stained rather than painted, and rough wood drinks stain. Solid stains list 200–400 sq ft per gallon and semi-transparent stains 100–350 (Sherwin-Williams WoodScapes). A 12 × 16 deck floor is about two gallons for two coats of solid stain (how much paint for a 12x16 deck); a painted picket fence 50 ft long about 1.8 gallons (how much paint for a picket fence); a rough-sawn 6 ft panel about 2 litres a coat (how much paint for a 6 ft fence panel).
Ladders and safety
- Ladder work is the biggest risk on an exterior job: set the ladder at the angle shown on its label, on firm, level ground, and keep three points of contact.
- Second-story walls are often safer from scaffolding or a rented lift than from an extension ladder.
- Keep sprayers away from cars, windows and neighbors’ property, and stop when the wind picks up.
Frequently asked questions
How many coats of paint does a house exterior need?
Two, over primer on bare wood or masonry, is what the A-100 and Behr exterior data sheets specify for most siding.
What temperature can you paint outside?
It depends on the product: the A-100 data sheet allows down to 35°F with conditions, while many paints need 50°F. Check the can, and keep surfaces above the dew point.
Sources
- Sherwin-Williams, A-100 Exterior Latex Flat (A06 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; for aluminum, vinyl and wood siding, shakes, masonry; two coats.
- Behr, Premium Plus Exterior Satin Paint (No. 9050), technical data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 250–400 sq ft per gallon depending on application method and substrate porosity.
- Sherwin-Williams, Loxon Concrete & Masonry Primer/Sealer (A24W8300), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 200–300 sq ft per gallon; about 80 sq ft per gallon on porous, rough stucco.
- Sherwin-Williams, WoodScapes Exterior Acrylic Solid Color Stain (A15-50 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 200–400 sq ft per gallon at 4–8 mils wet; two coats.
- Sherwin-Williams, WoodScapes Exterior Polyurethane Semi-Transparent Stain (A15T00005), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 100–350 sq ft per gallon depending on porosity and texture; weathered wood takes more than new.
- US EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules (opens in a new tab) — Covers homes, child care facilities and kindergartens built before 1978; firms and renovators must be certified.
- US EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Do-It-Yourselfers (opens in a new tab) — Assume pre-1978 paint has lead unless tested; contain the area, mist before sanding, HEPA vacuum, N-100 respirator, wet cleanup.