House Painting Cost in Boston (2026)
Average cost in Boston
$4,800 – $28,000
$3 – $9 per sq ft
In Boston, the average is $10,566 and most projects cost between $4,800 and $28,000, or about $3 – $9 per sq ft. Prices are before tax and based on 7 sources.
Cost Breakdown
ItemizedSkilled painting hours at $85-$100/hr
47%
Premium weatherproof paints and primers
21%
Insurance, equipment, and logistics
17%
Business profit and project management
15%
Sales Tax at 6.25%
📋What's Included
ScopeTypically Includes
- Interior or exterior paint (2 coats)
- Primer
- Surface preparation (sanding, patching)
- Trim painting
- Masking & protection
- Cleanup
Typically Excludes
- Wallpaper removal
- Extensive repairs (drywall, siding)
- Lead paint abatement
- Specialty finishes (faux, texture)
- Deck or fence staining
Based on painting a standard 1,500 sq ft home exterior or 3-4 rooms interior.
🧮Estimate your project
LiveYour estimate in Boston
Likely range $4,800 – $23,245
- Labor47%$4,966
- Materials21%$2,219
- Overhead17%$1,796
- Contractor Margin15%$1,585
Interior only
$10,566
Exterior only
$14,792
Interior + Exterior
$23,244
Calibrated to 7 researched sources for Boston. Before tax. Real quotes vary with site conditions.
📈Price Momentum
Year-over-year~1 year ago
$10,111
Today
$10,566
House Painting in Boston is ↑ 4.5% compared to roughly a year ago — about $455 more on the average project.
Comparison derived from the year-over-year change rate, not a month-by-month price index. We don't store historical snapshots yet — when we do, this will become a real time series.
🏢Top Painting Contractors in Boston
Verified providersGonnella Painting & Restoration
1037 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446, USA
108 reviews
Motti Painting Solutions Inc
68 Harrison Ave Ste 605, Boston, MA 02111, USA
156 reviews
Provider data sourced from public business directories. Ratings and reviews are public and may change. LookupCost is not affiliated with listed providers.
💬What People Actually Paid
Community❓Common Questions
Since the majority of Boston's housing stock was built before 1978, EPA Lead-Safe RRP protocols are mandatory. This typically adds a 15% to 25% surcharge to the total estimate, or roughly $1,800 to $3,200 for a standard 2,200 sq ft home.
Boston painting costs are approximately 20.8% higher than the national average. This is driven by local labor rates that are 22% to 30% above the national median and the complexity of historic architecture in neighborhoods like Back Bay and Beacon Hill.
Location significantly impacts the quote. A 2,200 sq ft home in Back Bay averages $12,100 to $18,700 due to historic preservation rules, while a similar-sized home in Quincy or Dorchester ranges from $7,150 to $11,550.
In 2026, professional painting contractors in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA typically charge between $85 and $100 per hour for skilled labor.
📊Our Methodology
How we collect dataAggregated from 5+ verified web sources and cost databases
Licensed contractor estimates and regional cost guides
Government construction and labor statistics
Community-reported project costs and reviews
Last data collection: 1 months ago. Updates run weekly. All costs in USD.
About this data
Cost figures are estimates synthesized from public market data using AI research and refreshed regularly. Real project costs vary by scope, materials, contractor, and site conditions. Always get verified quotes from licensed contractors for your specific project.
Spotted bad data? Let us know — we'll review and update.