Exterior House Painting cost: Aurora vs Centennial (2026)
Exterior house painting costs about the same in Aurora and Centennial in 2026 — roughly $3,550 in each.
Aurora CO
Typically around $3,550
Centennial CO
Typically around $3,550
Aurora vs Centennial: full breakdown
| Factor | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,550 | $3,550 |
| Estimated range | $2,000–$5,050 | $2,000–$5,050 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.1 | ×1.1 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,050 | $1,050 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
No real cost edge either way
This is a statistical tie on exterior house painting cost, so let contractor reputation and project timing decide, not geography.
Exterior house painting by type: Aurora vs Centennial
Below, each exterior house painting option is priced independently for both cities, with identical local labor, climate and permit logic applied — so the comparison holds up.
| Type | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,900–$4,500 | $1,900–$4,500 |
| Wood siding | $2,150–$5,050 | $2,150–$5,050 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,450–$5,750 | $2,450–$5,750 |
| Stucco | $2,450–$5,600 | $2,450–$5,600 |
| Brick | $2,800–$6,200 | $2,800–$6,200 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Exterior house painting by home size: Aurora vs Centennial
Exterior painting is priced by the siding area, which tracks home size and the number of stories. Expect roughly $1–$4 per square foot of wall area; prep — scraping, sanding, and washing — often costs as much as the paint itself.
| Size | Aurora | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,700–$3,950 | $1,700–$3,950 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,000–$5,050 | $2,000–$5,050 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,450–$6,200 | $2,450–$6,200 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,350–$7,850 | $3,350–$7,850 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,250–$9,550 | $4,250–$9,550 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,050–$11,250 | $5,050–$11,250 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
What painting pros earn in each metro
Labor is about 70% of a exterior house painting bill, so local wages drive most of the gap. These are real metro hourly wages for skilled installers (BLS OEWS), not estimates.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro · about 15% above the US average installer wage.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro · about 15% above the US average installer wage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metro wages for HVAC installers (used as a trade-labor index).
Cheapest time for exterior house painting in either city
There's a hard weather floor for exterior work (50-85°F), which crowds all that demand into summer. Interior jobs dodge that limit, so winter — when painters are otherwise slow — is when they cost the least.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
Paint is the smallest line item in a painting budget — prep and labor are where the real cost sits. Our editors on where to actually spend.
The coverage case
A quote that promises 'one coat, done' is usually promising a thin film that telegraphs whatever was underneath. Primer and two finish coats is what holds the color and buries the old wall. Put both in writing; otherwise the cheaper bid is just less product spread further.
The prep-first case
Most of a durable coat is what happens to the surface first: filling holes, scuffing old sheen so the paint grips, sealing seams. Premium paint over an unwashed, unsanded wall fails just as fast as the bargain stuff. Spend on the hours a crew puts into the wall, not the label on the bucket.
The timing case
Winter is dead season for interior painters, and the good crews will take your rooms then at a rate they won't quote in July. Exterior work runs the opposite calendar — it needs dry, mild days, so hold it for spring or fall. Paint rolled onto a cold or damp wall never cures right, and you end up paying for the job twice.
Two numbers matter more than the total: how many hours go into prep and how many coats land on the wall. Get both right — real surface work, primer under two finish coats, timed to the season — and the result outlasts anything you'd save on the cheapest quote.
Aurora vs Centennial
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Aurora or Centennial?
exterior house painting costs about the same in both — roughly $3,550 in each city.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Centennial than Aurora?
The main driver is local labor rates: Centennial's labor index is 1.1 versus 1.1 in Aurora. Climate zone (cold vs cold) also shift the total.
How much is exterior house painting in Aurora, CO?
Expect to pay $2,000 to $5,050 for exterior house painting in Aurora in 2026, averaging around $3,550.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
They do, and the BLS wage data confirms it: installers earn about $35.7/hr around Denver-Aurora-Centennial versus $35.7/hr near Denver-Aurora-Centennial. With labor making up about 70% of a exterior house painting job, that difference carries straight through to the final price.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
No, the seasonal pattern is the same in Aurora and Centennial: book during Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior for about 10–20% (interior, off-season) in savings. Mid-summer (exterior peak) is the priciest stretch in both cities, mostly due to emergency replacements.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Cost shouldn't be the deciding factor between Aurora and Centennial — they land at nearly the same price. Contractor reputation, scope, equipment tier and timing matter more.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik