How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Brick House in 2025?
Painting a brick house costs an average of $7,000
Painting a brick house costs an average of $7,000, with most homeowners spending between $3,500 and $10,500. It can cost as little as $2,000 or as much as $13,000, depending on your unique situation and desired finish.
Brick house painting cost factors include home size, paint and primer costs, prep work, and labor.
Hiring a professional to paint your brick house is recommended to ensure expert-level results and a durable finish.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Painting a brick house can enhance its curb appeal and protect it from weathering. On average, the cost to paint a brick home is $7,000, with most homeowners spending between $3,500 and $10,500, on average. Key factors influencing the cost include the size of your home, paint quality, and labor, so it's important to budget accordingly.
Expect to pay $1.40 to $4.20 per square foot, with equipment rentals such as a power washer adding another $40 to $150 to your budget.
Brick House Painting Cost Factors
The total cost of painting your brick house depends on several key factors, and walking through them upfront helps you avoid surprises later.
Paint
When you choose paint for brick, focus on a product labeled for masonry so it adheres and lasts. Plan on $30 to $70 per gallon, which is enough to cover roughly 250 square feet. A professional can get an accurate measurement of your home and provide the appropriate amount of paint with little waste.
Paint costs increase as the size of the home increases, including the number of stories. You can expect to pay roughly the following brick paint costs, depending on the size of your home:
| House Size (Sq. Ft.) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $1,400–$4,200 |
| 1,500 | $2,100–$6,300 |
| 2,000 | $2,800–$8,400 |
| 2,500 | $3,500–$10,500 |
| 3,000 | $4,200–$12,600 |
| 3,500 | $4,900–$14,700 |
Primer
Primer runs $7 to $15 per gallon and, like paint, covers about 250 square feet. Depending on the condition of the masonry, you may need to apply a separate primer before you paint.
Applying primer helps seal the surface of the brick so the paint doesn’t soak into it and requires extra coats. There are also some paint options that include a primer. If the brick surface was previously painted, you could use a paint with primer. Otherwise, you’ll need a separate primer for an unpainted brick surface.
Finish Options
You can choose from a variety of brick painting finishes, each with its own associated costs and pros and cons.
Whitewash
Whitewash delivers a vintage look for less than a full paint job. It can be DIY-friendly, but a professional will determine the correct paint-to-water ratio and ensure even coverage.
Limewash
Limewash leaves some of the original brick peeking through, adding a breathable, chalky layer that brightens the façade without hiding all the texture.
Standard Paint
A standard paint job on a brick house costs an average of $7,000 but will chip over time and need repainting every 10 years.
German Schmear
This method costs $1,500 to $3,000 and involves adding whitewash to dark-colored bricks.
Size of Home
The average cost of painting a brick home exterior is $1.40 to $4.20 per square foot. The larger the footprint—and the higher the walls—the more you’ll spend.
Additionally, the number of stories also significantly affects the cost. Painting brick on a multi-story home costs up to 50% more because of the extra labor and equipment, including scaffolding, lifts, and ladders.
Preparation & Power Washing
Proper prep sets the stage for paint that lasts. The average cost of power washing equipment and chemicals is $35 to $100 per project. A power washer and mild cleaning agents may be required to properly prepare the surface to receive a paint application.
For stubborn stains, a pro may add trisodium phosphate (TSP). After washing, the brick needs 24 to 48 hours to dry completely before paint goes on.
Labor
Professional exterior painters charge $150 to $350 per hour for planning, prep, caulking, setup, and clean‑up. Multiple stories, overhanging trees, and other accessibility challenges will make the job take longer and will increase your labor costs.
Location and Weather
Labor rates fluctuate with the local cost of living, so your ZIP code matters. The best way to determine the labor cost near you is to ask local professionals and get a few quotes.
Weather also plays a big factor in the cost of painting a brick house. Damp and cool weather can create delays and extend the drying time of the paint job, increasing labor costs for the project. When planning for this project, pick a span of days without rainfall in the weather forecast. Summer and fall are the ideal seasons to paint a brick house due to the warmer weather.
DIY Brick Painting vs. Hiring a Pro
You may be tempted to tackle brick painting yourself, but remember—it’s permanent, and mistakes are hard to hide. You’ll need to budget for tape, paper, repair materials, cleaning chemicals, and disposal fees—items a pro usually rolls into one quote.
Additionally, DIY gear isn’t cheap: renting a ladder or scaffold runs $130 to $160 each, and a power washer adds $35 to $100 per day.
If you’d rather skip the ladders and guarantee an even coat, let a local exterior painting pro handle the job. They’ll get your brick house painted efficiently and safely and will deliver a durable, high-quality result.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Painted brick looks sharp, but it’s a commitment. Once the coating goes on, you can’t strip it back to bare brick—repainting is the only fix. You’ll also notice dirt and mildew sooner, so plan on more frequent washing. Finally, moisture trapped behind paint can shorten the brick’s life if you skip routine touch‑ups and caulking. Stay on top of maintenance and choose breathable, masonry‑rated paint to keep problems at bay.
With thorough prep work and high‑quality paint, a brick exterior should look good for 10 years or longer. Lower‑grade products or skipped repairs can cut that to as little as three to five years. Keep cracks sealed, wash the surface yearly, and touch up chips early to extend the finish. Ask your painting pro for recommendations on maintenance and care to help prolong the life of your paint job.
A combination approach is most effective for painting brick houses. Pros often spray the first coat for speed, then back‑roll to push paint into the brick’s pores. Brushing alone is slow and can leave a surface film that peels sooner. By spraying and rolling, you get full coverage and a finish that lasts.
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