Exterior House Painting cost: Memphis vs Nashville (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: Memphis sits 2% below Nashville, or roughly $3,000 versus $3,050 — about $50 apart.
Memphis TN
Lower costTypically around $3,000
Nashville TN
Typically around $3,050
Memphis vs Nashville: full breakdown
| Factor | Memphis | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,000 | $3,050 |
| Estimated range | $1,700–$4,300 | $1,750–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.95 | ×0.96 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,100 | $2,150 |
| Materials/equipment | $900 | $900 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
Is the price difference a dealbreaker?
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: Memphis vs Nashville
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 | Memphis | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,600–$3,800 | $1,650–$3,850 |
| Wood siding | $1,800–$4,300 | $1,850–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,100–$4,850 | $2,100–$4,900 |
| Stucco | $2,100–$4,750 | $2,100–$4,800 |
| Brick | $2,400–$5,250 | $2,400–$5,300 |
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: Memphis vs Nashville
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 | Memphis | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,450–$3,350 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,700–$4,300 | $1,750–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,100–$5,250 | $2,100–$5,300 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,850–$6,650 | $2,900–$6,750 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,600–$8,100 | $3,650–$8,150 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,300–$9,500 | $4,300–$9,600 |
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.
Memphis metro · about 7% below the US average installer wage.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro · about 6% 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 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 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.
Judge a paint quote by prep and coats, not the headline number. Good prep, two coats over primer and the right season beat a cheap bid every time.
Memphis vs Nashville
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Memphis or Nashville?
Memphis wins on price: exterior house painting runs about $3,000 there versus $3,050 in Nashville, a gap of roughly $50 (2%) as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Nashville than Memphis?
It comes down to labor: Nashville indexes at 0.96 against Memphis's 0.95. The mixed-vs-mixed climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in Memphis, TN?
Memphis homeowners can expect $1,700 to $4,300 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,000 the typical number.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
Yes — and the wage data shows it. A skilled installer earns about $29/hr in the Memphis area versus $29.4/hr around Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin (BLS metro wage data). Since labor is roughly 70% of a exterior house painting job, that wage gap is the biggest reason the installed prices differ.
When is the cheapest time to buy exterior house painting — and does it differ by city?
It doesn't vary by location — Winter for interior; dry spring/fall for exterior is the discount window in both Memphis and Nashville (roughly 10–20% (interior, off-season) off), while mid-summer (exterior peak) tends to be the most expensive in either city.
Should I choose where to live based on exterior house painting cost?
Rarely. The $50 difference is real but one-time, and you can often close most of it in Nashville by buying in the off-season and getting tighter, apples-to-apples bids. Ongoing factors — energy prices, climate and home condition — matter more over the life of the system.
Compare exterior house painting in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik