Exterior House Painting cost: Kingsport vs Memphis (2026)
Budget-wise, exterior house painting in Kingsport ($2,850) runs 5% less than in Memphis ($3,000), a roughly $150 spread.
Kingsport TN
Lower costTypically around $2,850
Memphis TN
Typically around $3,000
Kingsport vs Memphis: full breakdown
| Factor | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $2,850 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,600–$4,050 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.9 | ×0.95 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,000 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $850 | $900 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for exterior house painting, not quotes from a contractor.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
That 5% gap is small — for exterior house painting it's usually less than the spread between two local contractors' quotes, so the metro matters far less than who you hire and when you buy.
Exterior house painting by type: Kingsport vs Memphis
Each exterior house painting option, priced separately for both metros — the same local labor, climate and permit adjustments applied per city, so you can compare like for like.
| Type | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,550–$3,600 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Wood siding | $1,700–$4,050 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,000–$4,600 | $2,100–$4,850 |
| Stucco | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,100–$4,750 |
| Brick | $2,250–$4,950 | $2,400–$5,250 |
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: Kingsport vs Memphis
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 | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,350–$3,150 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,600–$4,050 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,000–$4,950 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,700–$6,300 | $2,850–$6,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,450–$7,650 | $3,600–$8,100 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,050–$9,000 | $4,300–$9,500 |
Exterior house painting numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
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 Kingsport; we use Tennessee regional price parity instead.
Memphis metro · about 7% below 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
Because exterior paint needs warm, dry conditions, summer bookings are unavoidable and pricier. Interior painting sidesteps that constraint entirely — schedule it in winter, when crews have far less competing work.
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 coverage case
A quote that promises 'one coat, done' is usually promising a thin film that telegraphs whatever was underneath. Primer and two finish coats is what holds the color and buries the old wall. Put both in writing; otherwise the cheaper bid is just less product spread further.
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.
Kingsport vs Memphis
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Kingsport or Memphis?
Yes — Memphis costs more. Expect around $3,000 for exterior house painting there against $2,850 in Kingsport, about $150 (5%) apart in 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Memphis than Kingsport?
The main driver is local labor rates: Memphis's labor index is 0.95 versus 0.9 in Kingsport. Climate zone (mixed vs mixed) also shift the total.
How much is exterior house painting in Kingsport, TN?
In Kingsport, exterior house painting typically runs $1,600–$4,050 in 2026, with most homeowners paying around $2,850.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
The best window is the same in both Kingsport and Memphis: Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior, when demand drops and installers discount to keep crews busy — typically 10–20% (interior, off-season) off peak pricing. The most expensive time anywhere is an emergency replacement during mid-summer (exterior peak).
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Probably not. Yes, $150 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Memphis 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