How much does it cost to paint aluminum siding?
$1 – $4 cost per square foot
$1,500 – $7,000 total cost for average house
$1,500 – $7,000 total cost for average house
Get free estimates from siding painters near you, or view our cost guide below.
November 4, 2021
Reviewed by Tom Grupa and 6 expert exterior painters on HomeGuide.Cost to paint aluminum siding
The average cost to paint aluminum siding is $1,500 to $7,000 for an average house. Painting metal, steel, or aluminum siding costs $1 to $4 per square foot, depending on the surface prep, paint prices, repainting labor, and clean up.
| Home size (square feet) | Paintable area (square feet)* | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 – 1,500 | 800 – 1,200 | $1,000 – $4,800 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 1,200 – 1,700 | $1,200 – $6,800 |
| 2,000 – 2,500 | 1,700 – 2,100 | $1,700 – $8,400 |
| 2,500 – 3,000 | 2,100 – 2,500 | $2,100 – $10,000 |
| 3,000 – 4,000 | 2,500 – 3,350 | $2,500 – $13,400 |
*Approximate paintable surface area.
- Paint on aluminum siding lasts 5 to 10 years.
- Replacing aluminum siding costs $3 to $11 per square foot or $6,300 to $20,100.
- Painting an aluminum mobile home costs $750 to $4,200.
Table of contents
[hide]- Cost to paint aluminum siding
- Cost factors to paint aluminum house siding
- Painting metal siding and galvanized steel cost
- Cost to repaint aluminum siding vs. replacing
- Aluminum siding paint prices
- Painting aluminum siding pros and cons
- Frequently asked questions
- Hiring a painter for aluminum siding
- Exterior house painters near me
Average aluminum siding painting cost
The following table shows the average cost to paint aluminum siding on a house.
| National average cost | $4,300 |
| Minimum cost | $1,100 |
| Maximum cost | $10,000 |
| Average cost range | $1,500 to $7,000 |
Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Cost factors to paint aluminum house siding
The following factors affect the cost to paint aluminum siding:
- Accessibility – Painting two- and three-story homes costs up to 50% more and requires more labor and involve extension ladders or scaffolding. A scaffolding permit costs $100 to $300 and is required in most cities.
- Surface prep and cleaning – Power washing siding costs $90 to $250 for heavily soiled or oxidized siding. Removing the chalky residue caused by oxidation is crucial to a long-lasting paint job.
- Painting a metal roof or awning costs $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot on average.
- Exterior door painting costs $100 to $225.
- Exterior trim painting costs $1 to $6 per linear foot.
- Labor makes up 70% to 80% of the total exterior painting cost.
- Removing paint – Paint removal costs $2 to $8 per square foot. Replacing the aluminum siding or cleaning and repainting directly over old paint are more cost-effective options.
- Hazardous material testing – Homes built before 1978 may need lead paint testing and removal:
- Lead paint testing costs $300 to $600.
- Lead paint removal costs $8 to $15 per square foot.
Labor cost to paint aluminum siding
The cost to hire a professional painter is $20 to $50 per hour or $200 to $600 per day to paint aluminum siding. Painting an average-sized home typically takes a three-person crew 2 to 4 days, including surface prep, removing loose paint, priming, caulking, painting, and cleanup.
Painting metal siding and galvanized steel cost
Painting metal siding costs $1 to $4 per square foot on average but may cost up to $7 per square foot if extra cleaning is required to remove the oil film from new steel before painting. Galvanized steel requires a water-based primer coat before applying acrylic latex paint.
Cost to repaint aluminum siding vs. replacing
Replacing aluminum siding costs $3 to $11 per square foot or $6,300 to $20,100, including old siding removal and disposal. Consider repairing and painting aluminum siding if the damage is minor. Replacing one section is difficult to color match to the original siding due to weather and fading.
| Service | Cost per square foot | Average cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Painting | $1 – $4 | $1,700 – $6,800 |
| Replacing | $3 – $11 | $6,300 – $20,100 |
*Based on a 2,000 square foot house.
Aluminum siding paint prices
Aluminum siding paint prices are $30 to $80 per gallon on average. One gallon of exterior paint covers 250 to 400 square feet.
Oil-based primer costs $20 to $50 per gallon and is required when painting bare aluminum or updating to a lighter color. One gallon of primer covers 200 to 300 square feet.
| Paint or primer type | Price per gallon | Coverage (square feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior paint | $30 – $80 | 250 – 400 |
| Oil-based primer | $20 – $50 | 200 – 300 |
- Dirt-resistant paints are ideal for city homes.
- Moisture-resistant paints combat mold and mildew and are best for rural or shaded homes.
- Choose a matte finish for dented or worn siding to prevent light reflection from highlighting the imperfections.
Aluminum siding paint prices by brand
The best brands of paint for aluminum siding include Behr, Benjamin Moor, Valspar, and Sherwin-Williams.
| Brand | Price per gallon | Dirt Resistant | Moisture resistant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behr Premium Plus | $30 – $40 | ✓ | |
| Behr Ultra | $40 – $50 | ✓ | |
| Behr Marquee | $50 – $60 | ✓ | |
| Benjamin Moore | $50 – $80 | ✓ | |
| Clark + Kensington | $40 – $50 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pittsburgh Paints (PPG Timeless) | $20 – $50 | ✓ | |
| Sherwin-Williams | $40 – $70 | ✓ | |
| Valspar DuraMax | $40 – $50 | ✓ |
Other painting materials required
| Item | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Drop cloths | $10 – $30 |
| Extension pole | $10 – $30 |
| Ladder | $50 – $350 |
| Painters Tape (per roll) | $2 – $8 |
| Surface protection film or paper (200') | $20 – $50 |
| Paint rollers, brushes, and pans (per set) | $20 – $50 |
Painting aluminum siding pros and cons
Painting aluminum siding is cost-effective to refresh its appearance and extend its life, but may void the siding's warranty and increase maintenance requirements.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Frequently asked questions
Can you DIY a siding painting project?
You can paint aluminum siding as a DIY project. However, it requires intensive labor, renting a power washer and paint sprayer, and removing the oxidation film before painting. Painting aluminum siding with the recommended spray method also requires special equipment and skill.
How long does paint last on aluminum siding?
Paint on aluminum siding lasts 5 to 10 years on average. Homes in mild climates with infrequent severe weather typically do not need repainting as often.
What are signs your aluminum siding needs to be repainted or replaced?
Paint aluminum siding that is fading or oxidized to refresh its appearance and hide minor imperfections. Consider replacing the siding if it has significant damage.
| Paint siding if: | Replace siding if: |
|---|---|
|
|
What kind of paint is best to use on aluminum siding?
The best paint to use on aluminum siding is 100% acrylic latex paint with a low-gloss or flat finish to hide imperfections. Bare aluminum also requires an oil-based or self-etching primer to prevent premature paint bubbling from a chemical reaction between the aluminum and the paint.
How much does it cost to paint an aluminum mobile home?
The cost to paint an aluminum mobile home is $750 to $4,200 on average, including labor and materials. DIY painting a mobile home costs $250 to $750 and takes 2 to 5 days of labor, depending on the size.
How much does it cost to replace aluminum siding with vinyl?
Replacing aluminum siding with vinyl siding costs $5,500 to $17,200 for an average 2,000 square foot home, including the aluminum siding removal and disposal and the new vinyl siding installation.
Hiring a painter for aluminum siding
Before hiring local painting contractors, remember to:
- Get at least three estimates to compare.
- Look for licensed and insured painters with experience painting aluminum.
- When also painting the roof, look for contractors with experience painting both roofing and siding.
- Ask for references or a portfolio of past projects to see how their work holds up over the long term.
- Browse their reviews on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Select companies that are insured, bonded, and have been in business for more than five years.
- Avoid selecting the lowest quote as quality may suffer.
- Get a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins.
- Never pay in full before the project starts. Use a payment plan instead for work completed.
Questions to ask
- Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
- What experience do you have painting aluminum?
- Do you have a portfolio of your previous paint jobs?
- What brand of exterior paint do you recommend, and why?
- Is a primer coat required?
- Does self-priming paint work as well as a separate primer?
- What's your most-used color for exterior paint?
- How long should the paint job last?
- Is there a warranty, and if so, what does it include?
- How long will the job take?
- How long will the paint take to dry?
- What is and is not included in the estimate?
- What additional costs should I expect?
- Do you need a permit to paint aluminum siding?
Get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted pros:
- HomeGuide Exterior Painting Pro Survey - 48 Professionals. (2021).
- Craftsman National Estimator Cloud. (2021).
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