Exterior House Painting cost: Cedar Falls vs Davenport (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Cedar Falls sits 2% below Davenport, or roughly $2,950 versus $3,000 — about $50 apart.
Cedar Falls IA
Lower costTypically around $2,950
Davenport IA
Typically around $3,000
Cedar Falls vs Davenport: full breakdown
| Factor | Cedar Falls | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $2,950 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,200 | $1,700–$4,250 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.92 | ×0.92 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,050 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $900 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
2% is within noise for exterior house painting — contractor selection and timing move the price more than which of these two metros you're in.
Exterior house painting by type: Cedar Falls vs Davenport
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 | Cedar Falls | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,600–$3,750 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,200 | $1,800–$4,250 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,050–$4,750 | $2,050–$4,800 |
| Stucco | $2,050–$4,650 | $2,050–$4,700 |
| Brick | $2,350–$5,150 | $2,350–$5,200 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
Exterior house painting by home size: Cedar Falls vs Davenport
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 | Cedar Falls | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,400–$3,250 | $1,400–$3,300 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,200 | $1,700–$4,250 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,050–$5,150 | $2,050–$5,200 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,800–$6,550 | $2,800–$6,600 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,550–$7,950 | $3,600–$8,000 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,200–$9,350 | $4,250–$9,400 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Cheapest time for exterior house painting in either city
Exterior paint needs dry weather (50–85°F), so summer is peak and priciest. Interior work has no weather limit, and winter is the trade's slow season — the cheapest time to book.
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 coverage case
One-coat quotes win on price by putting less paint on the wall, and you see the difference within months as the old color ghosts through. The defensible standard is primer plus two finish coats. Get coat count and primer named in the contract so a lower number can't quietly mean thinner coverage.
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.
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.
Don't shop a painting quote on price alone — shop it on prep and coat count. Get those two right and the season timed correctly, and the result beats a bargain bid every time.
Cedar Falls vs Davenport
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Cedar Falls or Davenport?
Cedar Falls comes out ahead here, at roughly $2,950 for exterior house painting compared with $3,000 in Davenport — a 2% ($50) gap as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Davenport than Cedar Falls?
It comes down to labor: Davenport indexes at 0.92 against Cedar Falls's 0.92. The cold-vs-cold climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Cedar Falls, IA?
Expect to pay $1,700 to $4,200 for exterior house painting in Cedar Falls in 2026, averaging around $2,950.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
It doesn't vary by location — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the discount window in both Cedar Falls and Davenport (roughly 10–20% (interior, off-season) off), while mid-summer (exterior peak) tends to be the most expensive in either city.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Probably not. Yes, $50 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Davenport with off-season timing and tighter bids. Long-term factors like energy prices and home condition matter more than this one number.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik