How Often Should You Repaint Your House?

Bottom line up front

Most homes need a fresh exterior paint job every 5 to 15 years. Wood siding needs the most frequent repainting (every 3 to 7 years), while stucco and brick can go 10 to 15 years between coats — and some masonry paint systems last even longer. The right answer for your house depends on siding material, paint quality, sun exposure, and how well the previous job was prepped.

These ranges are national baselines; labor rates in high-cost metros can push them 15 to 30 percent higher.

How long exterior paint lasts by siding material

What drives the price of a repaint

A full exterior repaint for a typical 2,000 sq ft home runs $3,000 to $8,500 nationally, with most homeowners landing around $4,500 to $6,000. The paint itself is only part of the bill — here is where the money goes:

• Labor and access (50–60%): single-story ranch homes are the cheapest; three-story homes and steep rooflines add scaffolding and safety costs of $500 to $2,000.
• Prep work (15–25%): power washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, and spot-priming. A house with failing paint can need $800 to $2,500 of prep alone.
• Paint and primer (10–20%): premium 100% acrylic exterior paint runs $50 to $85 per gallon and typically covers 250 to 400 sq ft per coat.
• Repairs before painting: replacing rotted trim, re-caulking, and fixing fascia boards — $200 to $1,500 depending on how far it has gone.

For a rough planning number before you call anyone, run your square footage through the paint estimator to get a baseline on gallons and materials.

9 signs your house needs repainting now

1. Peeling, flaking, or blistering paint — moisture is getting behind the film.
2. Chalky residue on your fingers when you rub the siding — the binder has broken down.
3. Faded or uneven color, especially on the south and west faces that take the most UV.
4. Visible cracks in caulk lines around windows, doors, and trim.
5. Wood that feels soft or splintery under thin paint — rot may be starting.
6. Stucco stains or efflorescence — white mineral deposits signal moisture migration.
7. Mildew or algae streaks that do not wash off, common on shaded north walls.
8. Exposed primer or bare spots where paint has worn through.
9. Your paint is 7+ years old on wood or 12+ on masonry — even if it still looks okay from the curb.

Waiting too long does not just look bad: once moisture penetrates bare wood or cracked stucco, the repair bill typically doubles versus painting on schedule.

Common omissions and watchouts

• One coat vs. two: most professional jobs include two coats of paint over one coat of primer on bare spots. A bid that is much cheaper than the others often means one coat only, which cuts lifespan in half.
• Primer is non-negotiable on bare wood and patched stucco. Paint applied over raw spots will peel within a season or two.
• Season and weather: painting below 50°F or above 90°F (or onto damp siding) causes adhesion failure. Spring and early fall are the sweet spots in most of the country.
• Dark colors fade faster and absorb more heat, which stresses the film on south-facing walls. Budget for a shorter cycle if you love deep charcoal or navy.
• Caulking matters more than brand: water entering through failed caulk behind trim is the number one cause of premature paint failure.

Get a personalized estimate

Every house is different — siding condition, stories, and local labor rates all move the number. Before you sign a bid, compare a contractor quote against your own baseline with the paint estimator tool, and consider running any quote through our quote analyzer to spot line items that look out of range.

Bottom line

Paint your wood siding every 5 years or so, stucco and masonry every 10 to 15, and do not let the calendar do the deciding — walk the perimeter once a year and look for chalking, peeling, and cracked caulk. A $5,000 paint job done on time protects a house worth hundreds of thousands; the same job done late also repairs the damage it failed to prevent.