Exterior House Painting cost: Centennial vs Colorado Springs (2026)
Centennial runs 13% higher than Colorado Springs for exterior house painting — expect around $3,550 in Centennial against $3,150 in Colorado Springs, a difference of about $400.
Centennial CO
Typically around $3,550
Colorado Springs CO
Lower costTypically around $3,150
Centennial vs Colorado Springs: full breakdown
| Factor | Centennial | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,550 | $3,150 |
| Estimated range | $2,000–$5,050 | $1,800–$4,500 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.1 | ×0.98 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,500 | $2,200 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,050 | $950 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
That's a real $400 difference (13%) on exterior house painting — worth factoring in, though off-season timing and a tighter quote in Centennial can narrow it.
Exterior house painting by type: Centennial vs Colorado Springs
Every exterior house painting type gets its own localized price for each metro, using the same labor, climate and permit adjustments — a true apples-to-apples comparison.
| Type | Centennial | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,900–$4,500 | $1,700–$4,000 |
| Wood siding | $2,150–$5,050 | $1,900–$4,500 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,450–$5,750 | $2,200–$5,100 |
| Stucco | $2,450–$5,600 | $2,200–$5,000 |
| Brick | $2,800–$6,200 | $2,500–$5,500 |
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: Centennial vs Colorado Springs
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 | Centennial | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,700–$3,950 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $2,000–$5,050 | $1,800–$4,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,450–$6,200 | $2,200–$5,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,350–$7,850 | $3,000–$7,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,250–$9,550 | $3,800–$8,500 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $5,050–$11,250 | $4,500–$10,000 |
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
With labor making up about 70% of a exterior house painting job, wage differences between metros do most of the work here. These figures are real BLS OEWS installer wages, not modeled estimates.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro · about 15% above the US average installer wage.
No BLS metro wage series for Colorado Springs; we use Colorado regional price parity instead.
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?
Strip a paint quote down and most of it is the crew's time and the surface work — the paint in the can is nearly a rounding error. What follows is where that money should actually land.
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
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.
A paint job is only as good as the prep underneath it. Confirm coats and primer in writing, time the work to the season, and the finish will outlast a cheaper, thinner job.
Centennial vs Colorado Springs
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Centennial or Colorado Springs?
In 2026, exterior house painting is cheaper in Colorado Springs at about $3,150, versus $3,550 in Centennial — a difference of about $400 (13%).
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Centennial than Colorado Springs?
Centennial's higher labor index (1.1 vs 0.98 in Colorado Springs) is the biggest factor, with the cold/cold climate split playing a smaller role.
How much is exterior house painting in Centennial, CO?
In Centennial, exterior house painting typically runs $2,000–$5,050 in 2026, with most homeowners paying around $3,550.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
Timing doesn't change by city here — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the cheapest window in both Centennial and Colorado Springs, saving roughly 10–20% (interior, off-season). Avoid mid-summer (exterior peak) in either location, when emergency replacements push prices up.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Probably not. Yes, $400 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Centennial 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