Last Updated on February 14, 2026
When you look online for the average cost for painting a house, you often stumble upon numbers that are unrealistically and surprisingly low. It’s a red flag that deserves a second thought. The numbers you often hear—sometimes house painting costs that are just a few thousand dollars for an entire exterior—can be deceivingly low because they rarely reflect the true scope of quality work.
Painting a home properly requires skilled labor, premium materials, thorough surface preparation, and multiple coats, all of which add up in cost. If a contractor’s bid seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remember that old adage… “You get what you pay for.” This also means you don’t get what you don’t pay for. A contractor charging less is likely cutting corners somewhere, whether in materials, labor, or prep, which ultimately shortchanges you, the homeowner.
A contractor who invests more time, expertise, and quality materials will naturally charge more for their house painting costs, and that higher price reflects the value of a durable, beautiful paint job that lasts. A really good painter should be charging $100 per hour, though not that many do. Low bids often come from smaller crews working longer hours or from those willing to sacrifice quality just to win the job.
This can lead to rushed work, inadequate surface prep, and fewer coats—resulting in paint that fades, peels, or chips prematurely. So, when evaluating bids, don’t just focus on the bottom line; consider what you’re actually getting for your money. A higher price often means a better, longer-lasting finish and fewer headaches down the road. Let’s explore further.
How Painting Contractors Keep Bids Low (Corner-Cutting Tactics)
Painters who offer bids that seem unusually low often achieve these prices by cutting corners, which ultimately compromises the quality of the paint job. Common signs of corner-cutting include the use of cheap or diluted paints, applying fewer coats than necessary, and inadequate surface preparation. These shortcuts can lead to uneven color coverage, visible brush or roller marks, and paint that chips or peels prematurely. While it might be tempting to save money upfront, such low bids usually mean the homeowner will face additional house painting costs down the line to fix or redo the work.
While researching the average cost for painting a house, also remember this… Painting contractors who submit low bids often do so by cutting corners in several key areas. Here are the most common tactics:
Rushed Labor: To keep labor costs down, contractors may use less experienced workers, rush the job, or skip quality control checks. This can lead to sloppy work—such as drips, missed spots, or painting over debris and hardware.
Skipping Safety and Best Practices: Cutting corners on worker safety and proper techniques can not only endanger workers but also compromise the quality and longevity of the paint job.
Painting doors painted in place: While this sure saves time, this is not the way to do it in my opinion. The best way to get a smooth door surface is to dismantle knobs and hinges and lay the door flat/horizontally. This is another thing that some painters refuse to do, leaving bad under/overpainting. It is best to paint with a sprayer to minimize or eliminate paintbrush strokes. While this may seem like a restoration process, it really makes a difference and helps make your home expensive looking. I like to treat doors as if they were furniture. Doors get a lot of abuse over their lifetime and need attention to detail and the right paints.
One coat of paint versus two: High-quality jobs typically require two or more coats for even coverage and durability. To save time and materials, some contractors may only apply one thin coat, resulting in visible streaks, uneven color, and poor protection for the underlying surface. An estimated 89% of all Phoenix painting contractors bid their projects based on single-coat painting jobs.
This is the #1 reason the average cost for painting a house is so low. I’ve heard of painters, when talking with homeowners, that they claim that they can achieve a good paint job by painting the entirety of the outside of home with only one coat of paint. While it might look “OK,” a single coat of paint lacks quality. You can easily see color variations from the previous paint showing through. Also, a single coat of paint doesn’t last as long as two coats.
Masking fixtures instead of removing them: This leads to slopy lines. I avoid doing this whenever possible. I take the time needed. Example: what if you decide to change the wall sconce in your hallway? You want to be able to have the whole area behind it painted just in case the new fixture is smaller. This goes for switch and outlet plates as well. When you see low house painting costs from a contractor, you have to ask about details like this.
Not painting under the soil line: For exterior painting, I think this is a big bad mistake. An estimated 94% of painters do not include this in their quotes. Soil, gravel and bark tends to move around over time. If the home is not painted below the soil line, this reveals not only a sloppy paint line, but the old paint (if there is any) below. If we are painting anywhere near the base of the house, don’t we want to give it the most protection possible? Before I paint, and even before the power washing phase, I dig a trench in the soil around all exterior walls that will be painted. The area where the soil was gets power washed then painted a week later (after drying thoroughly). Once painted, the soil gets replaced, giving a very finished look.
Not using primer: This is an area I see a lot of painting mishaps. I’m often called in after another painter has done shoddy work. I see evidence of single-coat paint jobs (uneven color especially on ceilings and walls) and even lack of using a primer when called for. Remember: If you currently have semigloss paint on your walls, ceilings and woodwork, you really need to lay down a coat of primer before painting. This allows the paint to adhere properly to the substrates and helps prevent premature peeling. If you have peeling paint, chances are that a primer coat wasn’t used.
Using Cheap Materials: Contractors may opt for lower-quality paints, primers, and supplies. Cheaper paints often have less pigment and binder, resulting in poor coverage, less durability, and colors that fade or wash off more quickly.
Minimal Prep Work: Proper surface preparation is crucial for a long-lasting paint job. Low-bid contractors may skip or rush steps like cleaning, sanding, patching holes, caulking gaps, or priming surfaces. This can lead to peeling, bubbling, or uneven finishes soon after the job is done.
Comparison to a High-Quality Paint Job
In contrast to the low-ball quote, high-quality house painting costs involve using premium paints that may cost significantly more but offer better durability and warranties. Proper preparation, including cleaning, sanding, and priming, is essential to ensure the paint adheres well and lasts longer. Skimping on these steps or rushing the job can result in a finish that deteriorates quickly, forcing costly repairs or complete repainting. Ultimately, investing in a reputable contractor who prioritizes quality over low bids saves money and hassle in the long term.
A high-quality paint job, typically offered by reputable contractors with higher bids, will include:
Premium Materials: Use of high-grade paints and primers that offer better coverage, color retention, and durability. In my opinion, you want to get the best paint available. And though this will cost more now, it will last longer and you will be paying less over the lifetime of the house.
Thorough Prep Work: Detailed cleaning, sanding, patching, caulking, and priming to ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish.
Multiple Coats: Application of at least two coats for even color and protection.
Skilled Labor: Experienced painters who take the time to do the job right, including careful masking, cutting in, and attention to detail. This is the item that affects house painting costs the most.
Safety and Professional Standards: Adherence to safety protocols and industry best practices, ensuring both worker safety and a quality result.
Crisp Lines: The more colors you have on your house, the more costly and time intensive it will be. If everything is painted a single color, it takes less time and attention that if the walls were one color, the eaves and fascia in a contrasting color, and the trim and doors in yet another. The difference between a good painter and a bad one can be found in the lines between each color. Getting the paint to behave and not seep under the masking tape takes skill, time and attention. A talented painter will give you straight boundaries with no flaws.
Final Brush Strokes
The average cost for painting a house that you see online is highly affected by the overwhelming quantity of low painting quotes. Low-bid painting contractors often cut corners by using cheap materials, skipping prep work, applying fewer coats, rushing labor, and neglecting safety. Simply put… They’re doing less so they are charging less. This results in a paint job that may look acceptable at first but will likely deteriorate quickly, costing the homeowner more in the long run. It also affects the house painting costs numbers on those charts you are looking at on Google, Angi or other home improvement websites. High-quality contractors invest in materials, preparation, skilled labor, and safety, resulting in a durable and attractive finish that stands the test of time. It’s no secret. If it takes more time, it will cost more… as it should. Give me a call if you need more clarity on any if the items in this article. I’m glad to help.
