House Painting Cost in New York City (2026)
Average cost in New York City
US$1,800 — US$12,500
US$3 — US$9 per sq ft
Cost Breakdown
ItemizedProfessional painting and application
75%
Premium paint and primer
10%
Sanding, patching, and priming
8%
Brushes, rollers, tape, and drop cloths
5%
NYC-specific parking, COI, and waste disposal
2%
Sales Tax at 4%
📋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 Cost
InteractiveEstimated Cost
US$4,500 — US$6,750
Based on 8 sources and market data for New York City. Actual costs may vary depending on specific project requirements.
🏢Top Painting Contractors in New York City
Verified providersJB Painters Manhattan
20 W 33rd St 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
210 reviews
Sandoukas Painting Company NYC
350 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
41 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
Manhattan rates average $6.79 per sq ft, roughly 19% higher than Brooklyn's $5.71, due to strict building insurance (COI) requirements, limited parking for contractor vans, and the logistical challenges of high-rise service elevators.
In older NYC buildings, surface prep like patching and sanding typically adds $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. For historic pre-war homes with significant plaster damage, prep work can account for up to 25% of the total labor cost.
Standard painting does not require a DOB permit. However, if the project involves scraping lead-based paint in buildings with 3+ units where a child under 6 resides, you must follow NYC Local Law 1, which can increase costs by $2,000 or more for specialized abatement.
Professional painters in NYC currently charge between $400 and $800 per day. Skilled labor rates for high-end finishes or union-required projects can reach $80 to $120 per hour.
📊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: today. Updates run weekly. All costs in USD.