Exterior House Painting cost: Bloomington vs Maplewood (2026)
Exterior house painting costs about the same in Bloomington and Maplewood in 2026 — roughly $3,600 in each.
Bloomington MN
Typically around $3,600
Maplewood MN
Typically around $3,600
Bloomington vs Maplewood: full breakdown
| Factor | Bloomington | Maplewood |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,600 | $3,600 |
| Estimated range | $2,050–$5,150 | $2,050–$5,150 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.12 | ×1.12 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,100 | $1,100 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
No real cost edge either way
The two metros are effectively a wash for exterior house painting — pick on contractor quality and timing, not location.
Exterior house painting by type: Bloomington vs Maplewood
We localize each exterior house painting type separately for both metros, applying the same labor, climate and permit adjustments each time, so you're comparing like for like.
| Type | Bloomington | Maplewood |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,950–$4,600 | $1,950–$4,600 |
| Wood siding | $2,200–$5,150 | $2,200–$5,150 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,500–$5,850 | $2,500–$5,850 |
| Stucco | $2,500–$5,750 | $2,500–$5,750 |
| Brick | $2,850–$6,300 | $2,850–$6,300 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Exterior house painting by home size: Bloomington vs Maplewood
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 | Bloomington | Maplewood |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,700–$4,000 | $1,700–$4,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,050–$5,150 | $2,050–$5,150 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,500–$6,300 | $2,500–$6,300 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,450–$8,050 | $3,450–$8,050 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,350–$9,750 | $4,350–$9,750 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,150–$11,450 | $5,150–$11,450 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
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.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro · about 18% above the US average installer wage.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro · about 18% 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
Summer's exterior-painting rush is really a weather requirement, not a preference, and prices reflect it. Interior work has no such requirement, making the trade's quiet winter months the cheapest time to book it.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
The paint can is almost beside the point. Our editors on what actually drives a painting budget — and where corners get cut.
The timing case
Interior work in the trade's slow winter season catches the best crews at the best price. Save exterior jobs for dry weather — rushing paint onto a damp or cold wall guarantees a redo.
The coverage case
Two coats over primer is the honest standard; one-coat bids hide thin coverage. Confirm coats and primer in writing so a "lower" price isn't just less paint on the wall.
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.
A low bid usually buys you less prep and one thin coat, which reads as savings right up until the wall starts showing wear. Ask what surface work is included and how many coats you're getting before you line the totals up against each other.
Bloomington vs Maplewood
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Bloomington or Maplewood?
exterior house painting costs about the same in both — roughly $3,600 in each city.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Maplewood than Bloomington?
The main driver is local labor rates: Maplewood's labor index is 1.12 versus 1.12 in Bloomington. Climate zone (cold vs cold) also shift the total.
How much is exterior house painting in Bloomington, MN?
exterior house painting in Bloomington runs $2,050–$5,150 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,600.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
It's not a myth — BLS data puts installer wages at about $36.7/hr in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area and $36.7/hr in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington. Given labor is around 70% of a exterior house painting job's cost, that gap explains most of the price spread.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
No, the seasonal pattern is the same in Bloomington and Maplewood: 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?
No — the cost is essentially identical between Bloomington and Maplewood. Base the decision on the things that actually vary: contractor reputation, scope, equipment tier and timing.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik