House Painting Cost in San Francisco (2026)
Average cost in San Francisco
US$6,750 — US$25,000
US$5 — US$10 per sq ft
Cost Breakdown
ItemizedSkilled painting and prep work
80%
Premium paint and primers
12%
Scaffolding and hill access
5%
City permits and disposal
3%
Sales Tax at 7.25%
📋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 Cost
InteractiveEstimated Cost
US$4,392 — US$6,588
Based on 18 sources and market data for San Francisco. Actual costs may vary depending on specific project requirements.
📈Price Momentum
Year-over-year~1 year ago
US$14,172
Today
US$14,852
House Painting in San Francisco is ↑ 4.8% compared to roughly a year ago — about US$680 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 San Francisco
Verified providersPrestige Custom Painting
100 Pine St #1250, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
59 reviews
CertaPro Painters of San Francisco, CA
2398 Jerrold Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124, USA
123 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
Restoring a multi-tone Victorian home in 2026 typically costs between $15,000 and $35,000. These projects require extensive detail work, specialized trim painting, and often involve lead paint abatement, which can add $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot to the total cost.
Labor rates in San Francisco for 2026 average $79 per hour, with high-end specialty work reaching $113 per hour. These rates are driven by the city's high cost of living and the technical difficulty of painting on steep hills and historic structures.
Yes, the marine layer and salt air require premium 100% acrylic paints and extra preparation to prevent moisture entrapment. Contractors often include a 'microclimate surcharge' for homes in the Sunset or Richmond districts where persistent fog can extend project timelines by 20%.
While simple repainting often doesn't require a permit, projects in historic districts like Pacific Heights or those requiring sidewalk scaffolding must obtain city permits. Scaffolding permits and street occupancy fees can add $500 to $1,500 to the project budget.
📊Our Methodology
How we collect dataAggregated from 18+ 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: 2 weeks 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.