Painting Cost Calculator: Interior & Exterior House Painting Prices

House Painting Costs in San Diego

Professional house painting in San Diego costs $3,000 to $12,000 for interior and $4,000 to $15,000 for exterior. Interior per room: $300-$800 (walls and ceiling). Whole house interior (1,500 sq ft): $3,000-$7,000. Exterior (1,500 sq ft home): $4,000-$10,000. Per square foot: interior walls $2-$4/sq ft, exterior $2.50-$5/sq ft. Trim, doors, and accent walls add $150-$400 each. San Diego painters charge $40-$70/hour.

Interior vs Exterior Painting Costs

Interior: $1.50-$4.00 per sq ft of wall space. Includes 2 coats, primer if needed, trim painting. Ceiling adds $1-$2/sq ft. Cabinet painting: $3,000-$7,000 for a full kitchen. Exterior: $2.50-$5.00 per sq ft. Includes pressure washing, scraping, caulking, primer, and 2 coats. Stucco homes (common in SD) cost less than wood siding. Multi-story homes add 20-30% for scaffolding and safety equipment.

Paint Quality Makes a Difference

Budget paint ($25-$35/gallon): 5-7 year lifespan, adequate coverage. Mid-range ($40-$55/gallon): Better coverage, 8-12 years, most popular choice. Premium ($55-$80/gallon): Best coverage in fewer coats, 12-15+ years, fade-resistant. For San Diego's sun exposure, premium exterior paint with UV protection is worth the upside — a $500 paint upgrade can extend your paint job by 5 years, saving $3,000+ in earlier repainting.

DIY vs Professional Painting

DIY saves 60-70% on labor but takes 3-5x longer. A professional crew paints a 1,500 sq ft interior in 2-3 days — DIY takes 2-3 weekends. Risks of DIY: uneven coverage, drips, poor prep leading to peeling within 1-2 years. Professional painters handle prep (40% of the job), use sprayers for smooth finishes, and warranty their work. Our calculator shows both DIY and professional pricing so you can compare the real savings.