Exterior House Painting cost: New Orleans vs Shreveport (2026)
The two metros aren't quite in sync on exterior house painting: New Orleans sits 5% above Shreveport, or roughly $3,150 versus $3,000 — about $150 apart.
New Orleans LA
Typically around $3,150
Shreveport LA
Lower costTypically around $3,000
New Orleans vs Shreveport: full breakdown
| Factor | New Orleans | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,150 | $3,000 |
| Estimated range | $1,800–$4,450 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.96 | ×0.92 |
| Climate zone | Hot | Hot |
| Climate factor | ×1.03 | ×1.03 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,200 | $2,100 |
| Materials/equipment | $950 | $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?
A 5% difference on exterior house painting is minor — you'll typically see a wider spread just from getting multiple quotes in the same city, so don't let location drive the decision.
Exterior house painting by type: New Orleans vs Shreveport
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 | New Orleans | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,700–$3,950 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Wood siding | $1,850–$4,450 | $1,800–$4,300 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,150–$5,050 | $2,100–$4,850 |
| Stucco | $2,150–$4,950 | $2,100–$4,750 |
| Brick | $2,450–$5,450 | $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: New Orleans vs Shreveport
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 | New Orleans | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,500–$3,450 | $1,450–$3,350 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,800–$4,450 | $1,700–$4,300 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,150–$5,450 | $2,100–$5,250 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $2,950–$6,900 | $2,850–$6,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $3,750–$8,400 | $3,600–$8,100 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,450–$9,850 | $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.
Cheapest time for exterior house painting in either city
Summer is peak season for exterior painting because the weather demands it, and prices follow demand. Interior painting isn't weather-dependent at all, which makes it the cheapest job to book in a slow winter month.
What are you really paying for in a paint job?
Strip a paint quote down and most of it is the crew's time and the surface work — the paint in the can is nearly a rounding error. What follows is where that money should actually land.
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
Most of a durable coat is what happens to the surface first: filling holes, scuffing old sheen so the paint grips, sealing seams. Premium paint over an unwashed, unsanded wall fails just as fast as the bargain stuff. Spend on the hours a crew puts into the wall, not the label on the bucket.
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.
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.
New Orleans vs Shreveport
Is exterior house painting cheaper in New Orleans or Shreveport?
Yes — New Orleans costs more. Expect around $3,150 for exterior house painting there against $3,000 in Shreveport, about $150 (5%) apart in 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in New Orleans than Shreveport?
It comes down to labor: New Orleans indexes at 0.96 against Shreveport's 0.92. The hot-vs-hot climate difference adds to the gap.
How much is exterior house painting in New Orleans, LA?
New Orleans homeowners can expect $1,800 to $4,450 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,150 the typical number.
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 New Orleans and Shreveport (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?
Not really — the $150 gap is one-time, and smart timing and tighter quotes in New Orleans 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