Exterior House Painting cost: Knoxville vs Memphis (2026)
Budget-wise, exterior house painting in Knoxville ($2,950) runs 2% less than in Memphis ($3,000), a roughly $50 spread.
Knoxville TN
Lower costTypically around $2,950
Memphis TN
Typically around $3,000
Knoxville vs Memphis: full breakdown
| Factor | Knoxville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $2,950 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,200 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.94 | ×0.95 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| 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?
That 2% 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: Knoxville vs Memphis
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 | Knoxville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,200 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,050–$4,800 | $2,100–$4,850 |
| Stucco | $2,050–$4,700 | $2,100–$4,750 |
| Brick | $2,350–$5,150 | $2,400–$5,250 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Exterior house painting by home size: Knoxville 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 | Knoxville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,400–$3,300 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,200 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,050–$5,150 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,800–$6,550 | $2,850–$6,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,550–$7,950 | $3,600–$8,100 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,200–$9,350 | $4,300–$9,500 |
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.
No BLS metro wage series for Knoxville; 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
Summer's exterior-painting rush is really a weather requirement, not a preference, and prices reflect it. Interior work has no such requirement, making the trade's quiet winter months the cheapest time to book it.
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 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 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
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.
Knoxville vs Memphis
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Knoxville or Memphis?
Yes — Memphis costs more. Expect around $3,000 for exterior house painting there against $2,950 in Knoxville, about $50 (2%) apart in 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Memphis than Knoxville?
The main driver is local labor rates: Memphis's labor index is 0.95 versus 0.94 in Knoxville. Climate zone (mixed vs mixed) also shift the total.
How much is exterior house painting in Knoxville, TN?
exterior house painting in Knoxville runs $1,700–$4,200 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $2,950.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
The best window is the same in both Knoxville 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?
Not really — the $50 gap is one-time, and smart timing and tighter quotes in Memphis 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