Exterior House Painting cost: Philadelphia vs Queens (2026)
In 2026, exterior house painting is about 10% less expensive in Philadelphia than in Queens. Most homeowners pay around $3,400 in Philadelphia versus $3,750 in Queens — a gap of roughly $350.
Philadelphia PA
Lower costTypically around $3,400
Queens NY
Typically around $3,750
Philadelphia vs Queens: full breakdown
| Factor | Philadelphia | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $3,400 | $3,750 |
| Estimated range | $1,950–$4,800 | $2,150–$5,350 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×1.05 | ×1.16 |
| Climate zone | Cold | Cold |
| Climate factor | ×1.02 | ×1.02 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $2,400 | $2,650 |
| Materials/equipment | $1,000 | $1,100 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Is the gap worth worrying about?
10% (about $350) is enough to notice on a exterior house painting budget. Timing the purchase for the off-season and pushing for an apples-to-apples bid in Queens can close much of that gap.
Exterior house painting by type: Philadelphia vs Queens
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 | Philadelphia | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $1,800–$4,300 | $2,000–$4,750 |
| Wood siding | $2,050–$4,800 | $2,250–$5,350 |
| Fiber-cement | $2,350–$5,450 | $2,600–$6,050 |
| Stucco | $2,350–$5,350 | $2,600–$5,900 |
| Brick | $2,700–$5,900 | $2,950–$6,500 |
These are 2026 planning figures for exterior house painting, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
Exterior house painting by home size: Philadelphia vs Queens
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 | Philadelphia | Queens |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft home (1 story) | $1,600–$3,750 | $1,800–$4,150 |
| 1,500 sq ft home | $1,950–$4,800 | $2,150–$5,350 |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,350–$5,900 | $2,600–$6,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft home (2 story) | $3,200–$7,500 | $3,550–$8,300 |
| 3,000 sq ft home | $4,050–$9,100 | $4,500–$10,050 |
| 3,500+ sq ft home | $4,800–$10,700 | $5,350–$11,850 |
All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for exterior house painting — get an actual quote before you commit.
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.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro · about 7% above the US average installer wage.
New York-Newark-Jersey City metro · about 23% above 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
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 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.
A paint job is only as good as the prep underneath it. Confirm coats and primer in writing, time the work to the season, and the finish will outlast a cheaper, thinner job.
Philadelphia vs Queens
Is exterior house painting cheaper in Philadelphia or Queens?
Philadelphia wins on price: exterior house painting runs about $3,400 there versus $3,750 in Queens, a gap of roughly $350 (10%) as of 2026.
Why does exterior house painting cost more in Queens than Philadelphia?
Queens's higher labor index (1.16 vs 1.05 in Philadelphia) is the biggest factor, with the cold/cold climate split playing a smaller role.
How much is exterior house painting in Philadelphia, PA?
Philadelphia homeowners can expect $1,950 to $4,800 for exterior house painting in 2026, with $3,400 the typical number.
Do painting pros really charge more in one city?
Yes — and the wage data shows it. A skilled installer earns about $33.4/hr in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area versus $38.3/hr around New York-Newark-Jersey City (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 Philadelphia and Queens (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 $350 difference is real but one-time, and you can often close most of it in Queens 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