Exterior House Painting cost: Colorado Springs vs Highlands Ranch (2026)
In 2026, exterior house painting is about 13% less expensive in Colorado Springs than in Highlands Ranch. Most homeowners pay around $3,150 in Colorado Springs versus $3,550 in Highlands Ranch — a gap of roughly $400.
Colorado Springs CO
Lower costTypically around $3,150
Highlands Ranch CO
Typically around $3,550
Colorado Springs vs Highlands Ranch: full breakdown
| Factor | Colorado Springs | Highlands Ranch |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,150 | $3,550 |
| Estimated range | $1,800–$4,500 | $2,000–$5,050 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.98 | ×1.1 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,200 | $2,500 |
| Materials/equipment | $950 | $1,050 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
13% (about $400) is enough to notice on a exterior house painting budget. Timing the purchase for the off-season and pushing for an apples-to-apples bid in Highlands Ranch can close much of that gap.
Exterior house painting by type: Colorado Springs vs Highlands Ranch
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 | Colorado Springs | Highlands Ranch |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,700–$4,000 | $1,900–$4,500 |
| Wood siding | $1,900–$4,500 | $2,150–$5,050 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,200–$5,100 | $2,450–$5,750 |
| Stucco | $2,200–$5,000 | $2,450–$5,600 |
| Brick | $2,500–$5,500 | $2,800–$6,200 |
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: Colorado Springs vs Highlands Ranch
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 | Colorado Springs | Highlands Ranch |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,500–$3,500 | $1,700–$3,950 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,800–$4,500 | $2,000–$5,050 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,200–$5,500 | $2,450–$6,200 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,000–$7,000 | $3,350–$7,850 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,800–$8,500 | $4,250–$9,550 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,500–$10,000 | $5,050–$11,250 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
What painting pros earn in each metro
About 70% of a exterior house painting bill goes to labor, so wage differences between these two metros matter more than almost anything else. These are real, government-sourced (BLS OEWS) installer wages, not estimates.
No BLS metro wage series for Colorado Springs; we use Colorado regional price parity instead.
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?
Most of a paint quote is labor and prep, not paint. Our editors on where the money should go.
The prep-first case
Surface prep — patching, sanding, caulking, washing — is most of a lasting finish. A bid that's cheap because it skips prep will peel within a year. Pay for the prep, not the brand name.
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 headline price on a painting bid tells you almost nothing — ask about prep and coat count instead. Two coats over primer, done in the right season, consistently outperforms the cheapest quote.
Colorado Springs vs Highlands Ranch
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Colorado Springs or Highlands Ranch?
Colorado Springs comes out ahead here, at roughly $3,150 for exterior house painting compared with $3,550 in Highlands Ranch — a 13% ($400) gap as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Highlands Ranch than Colorado Springs?
Labor rates explain most of it — 1.1 in Highlands Ranch vs 0.98 in Colorado Springs. A cold climate versus cold accounts for the rest.
How much is exterior house painting in Colorado Springs, CO?
exterior house painting in Colorado Springs runs $1,800–$4,500 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $3,150.
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 Colorado Springs and Highlands Ranch, 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?
Not really — the $400 gap is one-time, and smart timing and tighter quotes in Highlands Ranch can shrink it. Factors that compound over time, like energy prices and home condition, deserve more weight than a single upfront difference.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik