Pricing is one of the most common questions we get before a free estimate, and it’s a fair one to ask. Exterior painting costs in South Florida have a genuinely wide range — a 2,000 sq ft home might get quotes anywhere from $2,500 to $8,000 depending on the contractor and the scope. Understanding what drives that range will help you evaluate proposals, ask the right questions, and recognize when a low bid is a good deal versus a warning sign.
What the typical range looks like
For a single-story CBS home in Port St. Lucie, Stuart, or Broward County, a professional exterior paint job typically runs $3.50–$6.00 per square foot of paintable surface area using quality materials and proper prep. For a 2,000 sq ft home with a moderate amount of trim and a single-story footprint, that puts the range roughly at $3,500–$6,500 for a complete job.
Two-story homes, homes with complex rooflines, homes with significant stucco cracking, and homes with lots of detailed trim work on the high end. Straightforward single-story homes with simple architecture on the low end.
These are estimates for a quality job — the kind that involves full surface prep, crack filling and caulking, appropriate primer, two finish coats of a product like Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Duration Exterior, and a crew that’s doing the work correctly. It’s not a price for a roll-and-go one-coat job.
What drives cost
Size and complexity. Paintable surface area is the starting point, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. A 2,000 sq ft home with a complex hip roof, dormers, decorative banding, and a lot of window trim has much more labor than a simple box house of the same square footage. Multi-story work adds staging or ladder time, which affects labor costs.
Surface condition. A home that needs significant crack repair, peeling paint removal, mold remediation, or caulk replacement throughout takes more prep time and materials. Good contractors price this into the job rather than cutting corners on prep to keep the number low. If you’re seeing cracking or peeling, expect the quote to reflect that — and be skeptical of quotes that seem to ignore it.
Paint product specified. There’s a meaningful cost difference between a mid-grade paint and Sherwin-Williams Emerald Exterior. On a 2,000 sq ft home, the material cost difference between a builder-grade product and Emerald might be $400–$600. That’s real money, but a quality product also lasts significantly longer in South Florida’s climate — see our breakdown of how long stucco paint jobs last for context on how to think about that tradeoff.
Number of coats. A proper two-coat system over primer is the standard for a long-lasting job. Single-coat applications are faster but produce a thinner film that won’t hold up as well to UV, humidity, and salt air. Ask any contractor what their coat system is — primer plus how many topcoats.
Crew type. There’s a real difference in cost structure between a licensed contractor with its own employees and one who subs work out to whoever is available. Direct employees mean workers’ comp and consistent quality control. Subcontractor-based operations can sometimes underbid because their liability exposure is different. If something goes wrong — a worker is injured, a window is broken, the paint fails — the difference matters.
What’s included in a KB Painting estimate
When we give you a written estimate, it includes: pressure washing or soft washing the exterior before painting, hand-scraping all loose and peeling paint, filling cracks with appropriate patching compound, caulking all window and door perimeters and any open joints, priming bare substrate, and applying two finish coats of Sherwin-Williams product. We give you the exact paint product and sheen specified in writing.
We also include our 5-year workmanship warranty in every exterior paint job. If there’s adhesion failure or peeling related to our work within five years, we come back and correct it at no charge.
How to evaluate competing quotes
If you’re getting multiple quotes — which is reasonable — here’s what to look at beyond the bottom line:
Is the scope written down? A verbal quote isn’t a quote. You need to know exactly what prep is included, what product is being used, how many coats, what’s covered by warranty, and whether the contractor is licensed and insured.
What’s the paint product? Ask for the Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore color code and product name. “Sherwin-Williams” without a specific product name could be anything from a $25/gallon contractor grade to a $75/gallon Emerald. The difference matters for how long the job lasts.
Who’s doing the work? Ask whether the crew are employees or subcontractors. Ask to see the contractor’s license number (you can verify it at MyFloridaLicense.com) and certificate of insurance.
Is the low bid leaving something out? A bid that’s $1,500 lower than everyone else usually means something isn’t in scope — typically prep. A one-coat job without primer over a stucco home that needs cracking addressed is going to fail in 2–3 years regardless of what the paint label says.
Pressure washing and additional services
Most exterior paint jobs on South Florida homes should begin with pressure or soft washing to remove dirt, mold, and algae before prep and painting. We include this in our estimates. If you’re getting quotes that don’t mention washing, ask whether it’s included or whether you need to arrange it separately.
For homes that are generally in good condition but have specific trouble areas — peeling sections, mold concentrations, faded accent trim — a targeted refresh rather than a full repaint may be appropriate. We’ll tell you honestly which situation you’re in during the estimate walkthrough.
For a look at what to watch for that signals your home needs attention sooner rather than later, see our post on 7 signs your South Florida home needs repainting.
Get a free written estimate
There’s no reliable way to quote an exterior job accurately without seeing the home. Surface condition, substrate type, existing paint condition, and scope all affect the number. We provide free written estimates across the Treasure Coast and South Florida — Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Vero Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Wellington, and surrounding areas.
Request a free estimate — we’ll walk the property, assess condition, and give you a complete written scope with product specifications before you commit to anything. Our exterior painting service page has more on the full process.
KB Painting & Refinishing is family-owned and operated. BBB A+, Google Guaranteed, PCA member. Our crew brings 25+ years of combined experience painting South Florida homes — our own employees on every job, no subcontractors.
