Exterior House Painting cost: Florence vs Montgomery (2026)
Florence runs 3% lower than Montgomery for exterior house painting — expect around $2,900 in Florence against $3,000 in Montgomery, a difference of about $100.
Florence AL
Lower costTypically around $2,900
Montgomery AL
Typically around $3,000
Florence vs Montgomery: full breakdown
| Factor | Florence | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $2,900 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,650–$4,100 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.89 | ×0.93 |
| Climate zone | Hot | Hot |
| Climate factor | ×1.03 | ×1.03 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,050 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $850 | $900 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
3% 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: Florence vs Montgomery
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 | Florence | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,550–$3,650 | $1,650–$3,850 |
| Wood siding | $1,750–$4,100 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,000–$4,650 | $2,100–$4,900 |
| Stucco | $2,000–$4,550 | $2,100–$4,800 |
| Brick | $2,300–$5,050 | $2,400–$5,250 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Exterior house painting by home size: Florence vs Montgomery
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 | Florence | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,350–$3,200 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,650–$4,100 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,000–$5,050 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,750–$6,400 | $2,850–$6,700 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,500–$7,750 | $3,650–$8,150 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,100–$9,150 | $4,300–$9,600 |
Localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. Each city adjusts the national exterior house painting range for local labor, climate and permits.
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 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 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.
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.
Florence vs Montgomery
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Florence or Montgomery?
In 2026, exterior house painting is cheaper in Florence at about $2,900, versus $3,000 in Montgomery — a difference of about $100 (3%).
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Montgomery than Florence?
It comes down to labor: Montgomery indexes at 0.93 against Florence's 0.89. The hot-vs-hot climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Florence, AL?
In Florence, exterior house painting typically runs $1,650–$4,100 in 2026, with most homeowners paying around $2,900.
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 Florence and Montgomery, 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?
That would be a stretch. $100 is a one-time difference, not an ongoing one, and off-season buying plus apples-to-apples bids in Montgomery can close a good chunk of it. What matters more long-term is energy costs, climate and the condition of the home.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik