Sherwin-Williams A-100 exterior paint typically costs about $45-$85 per gallon before tax, with many buyers paying around $62 for a standard finish. The final price depends on finish, local store pricing, account discounts, container size, and whether the project needs primer or extra coats.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-100 paint, 1 gallon | $45 | $62 | $85 | Typical retail range before tax |
| A-100 paint, 5 gallons | $225 | $310 | $400 | Price varies by finish and store |
| Paint for 1,000 sq. ft., two coats | $250 | $390 | $680 | Paint only; assumes 125-200 sq. ft. per gallon for two coats |
| Professional exterior painting | $1,500 | $4,500 | $10,000+ | Broad house-project range; prep and home size drive total |
What A-100 Costs for One Gallon or Five
Budget roughly $45-$85 per gallon for A-100, or $225-$400 for a five-gallon pail. A practical midpoint is about $62 per gallon, though a store promotion or contractor account may lower the checkout price. Local shelf prices and discounts change, so the price on a specific color and finish should be confirmed with the nearby Sherwin-Williams store.
A-100 is an exterior acrylic latex line sold in finishes such as flat and satin, with availability and exact product options varying by market. Flat paint often falls toward the lower end of the range; satin or other sheen options may cost more. Custom colors do not always add a separate charge, but deep or highly saturated colors can require a more expensive base or additional coats.
For planning, a gallon commonly covers about 250-400 square feet on a prepared surface for one coat. Rough siding, porous substrate, color changes, and application method can reduce coverage. Two coats on 1,000 square feet may therefore require about 5-8 gallons, or approximately $250-$680 at the prices above. Assumptions: standard A-100 finish, typical U.S. retail pricing, no sales tax, and sound exterior surfaces.
Paint-only estimates do not include primer, brushes, rollers, masking materials, labor, or repairs. A full exterior painting project can cost several thousand dollars because washing, scraping, caulking, ladder or lift access, and trim work may take more time than applying paint.
How Paint, Labor, and Preparation Shape the Quote
Paint is only one part of an exterior painting bill; preparation and labor can exceed the paint allowance. The following ranges illustrate common cost components for a 1,000-square-foot paintable exterior area. Actual quotes may combine several items rather than list them separately.
| Cost component | Low | Average | High | Typical basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-100 paint | $250 | $390 | $680 | 5-8 gallons for two coats |
| Primer and spot sealing | $50 | $150 | $350 | One to three gallons, depending on substrate |
| Labor | $1,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 | Preparation and application, access dependent |
| Equipment and masking | $100 | $300 | $800 | Drop cloths, tape, ladders, or lift rental |
| Cleaning and disposal | $50 | $175 | $450 | Wash, scrapings, and waste handling |
These component amounts are not a fixed bid and may overlap with a contractor’s bundled price. For a small repaint with little scraping, labor and materials may stay near the low end. Extensive peeling, damaged siding, tall gables, or detailed trim can raise both labor and equipment charges. Confirm whether the quote includes two finish coats, primer where needed, caulking, and cleanup.
Homeowners buying paint separately should also budget for application supplies. A basic roller-and-brush setup may cost $40-$120, while higher-quality brushes, extension poles, masking tools, and protective coverings can push supplies to $150-$350. A sprayer can add rental or purchase expense and still require back-brushing or masking labor.
Coverage, Surface Condition, and Finish Change the Gallons Needed
Measured paintable area and actual coverage matter more to the total paint bill than the home’s floor area. A 2,000-square-foot house does not necessarily have 2,000 square feet of exterior wall; the siding area depends on shape, stories, gables, openings, porches, and trim. Measure wall width by height, subtract large doors and windows, then add separately painted trim if needed.
At 250-400 square feet per gallon for one coat, 1,000 square feet of smooth, sound siding may use 3-4 gallons for one coat. For two coats, a safer allowance is 5-8 gallons. If siding is porous or weathered and coverage drops to 200-250 square feet per coat, two coats on the same area can require 8-10 gallons, costing roughly $360-$850 at typical A-100 prices.
Color and substrate can affect the estimate. A major change from dark to light, or from a bright color to a muted one, can require a primer or an additional coat. Bare wood, patched areas, chalky paint, and repaired stucco may need spot priming or full priming for adhesion and uniform appearance. Primer is a separate product and can add roughly $20-$60 per gallon, depending on type and local pricing.
Finish selection also affects appearance and maintenance expectations. Flat finishes can help disguise minor surface irregularities and may be priced lower. Satin finishes reflect more light and can be easier to clean, but the surface may show imperfections more clearly. Estimate formula: paintable square feet ÷ practical coverage per gallon × number of coats. Add about 10% for waste, touch-ups, and irregular surfaces when ordering.
What Does a Contractor Charge to Apply A-100?
Professional labor often costs about $1-$4 per paintable square foot, separate from or bundled with materials. The lower end generally assumes easy access, sound siding, and limited preparation; the upper end can reflect scraping, repairs, multiple stories, detailed trim, or expensive local labor. Some contractors instead quote by the project, elevation, or crew day.
For a labor estimate, a painter may charge about $40-$85 per hour, with a two-person crew costing roughly $80-$170 per working hour before overhead. A straightforward 1,000-square-foot wall-area job might take a small crew 2-4 working days, including washing, minor preparation, masking, and two coats. Heavier restoration or difficult access can extend the schedule substantially.
For example, 40-70 labor hours at $40-$85 per hour implies $1,600-$5,950 in direct hourly labor before a contractor’s overhead, materials, and profit. A fixed quote may not show those calculations, so compare the work description instead of judging bids by the total alone.
Ask whether the bid specifies the A-100 product, sheen, number of coats, surface preparation, and areas included. A low quote that includes one coat or excludes scraping may not be comparable to a higher quote covering repairs and two finish coats. If the contractor supplies the paint, confirm whether the estimate reflects a discount or a different product line.
Regional Paint Prices and Labor Rates Across the U.S.
Local labor and store pricing can shift a project estimate by 10%-30% or more. Paint prices tend to be less variable than full-service labor, but promotions, taxes, and distribution costs affect the final receipt. A gallon priced near $55 in one market may be closer to $70 in another, especially when the finish or color requires a less common base.
In lower-cost rural and Midwestern markets, straightforward exterior labor may fall around $1-$2.50 per paintable square foot. Large coastal cities and high-cost metro areas can run roughly 20%-40% above that level, with labor commonly around $2-$4 or more per square foot for comparable scope. These are broad comparisons, not guaranteed regional rates; access, crew availability, and house condition can outweigh geography.
Climate influences scheduling and surface preparation. In wet or humid areas, contractors may need longer drying windows between washing and painting. In hot, sunny regions, crews may avoid painting in direct midday heat, while cold-weather restrictions can shorten the season in northern states. Delayed schedules or peak-season demand can add cost when contractors have limited availability.
Compare at least three local estimates for the same surfaces and coating plan. Ask each bidder to identify paint quantity, labor scope, and preparation assumptions. A quote that is 15% lower may simply omit trim, primer, or a second coat, while a higher quote may include those items. Sales tax also varies by state and locality and is usually added to the paint purchase.
When Five-Gallon Pails Beat Separate Gallons
Buy by the project’s measured quantity, not by the apparent discount on a large container. A five-gallon pail at $225-$400 works out to about $45-$80 per gallon, while separate gallons may total $225-$425 for five. A pail can simplify color consistency and reduce packaging, but it may not be the cheaper choice if the job needs only two or three gallons or if the finish is sold at a premium.
Three gallons at $45-$85 each would cost about $135-$255 before tax; buying a five-gallon pail could leave two gallons unused. On the other hand, a 5,000-square-foot siding project needing roughly 25-40 gallons for two coats may justify pails, especially when a store or contractor discount applies. Confirm the tint and finish for every container, and keep a small labeled amount for future touch-ups.
Compare A-100 with other exterior paints only when the products have similar intended use, finish, and coverage. A cheaper gallon is not necessarily a cheaper project if it needs more coats or performs poorly on the specific substrate. Likewise, stepping up to a premium coating should be based on documented project needs, such as exposure or maintenance plans, rather than a vague expectation that the highest-priced paint always lasts longer.
Ask the store for a written estimate showing the product name, sheen, tint base, gallon count, and discount. Contractor pricing may differ from walk-in pricing, and advertised promotions may exclude certain products or require a minimum purchase. Check the final receipt for the actual per-gallon price and any return limits on tinted paint.
Prep Work, Primer, and Access Add to A-100 Projects
Surface condition is a major reason two A-100 painting quotes differ by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Pressure washing or careful cleaning may add about $150-$500 for a small home, depending on size and access. Scraping and sanding failing paint can add $1-$3 per square foot of affected area, while localized wood repair may cost $75-$150 per hour plus materials.
Caulking and patching are often included in a standard preparation allowance, but extensive gaps or damaged trim may be billed separately. Replacing rotten siding, repairing stucco, or rebuilding trim is generally outside a paint-only quote. Request a written limit for included repairs, such as a stated number of labor hours or a defined allowance, and ask how extra work will be approved and priced.
Two-story walls, steep ground, narrow side yards, and landscaping can complicate ladder placement. Lift rental may add roughly $200-$600 per day, plus delivery and operator costs where required. Lead-safe work on older homes can involve containment, specialized procedures, and disposal expenses; requirements depend on the age of the building and applicable rules.
Primer should be applied where the surface or product system calls for it, not automatically over every previously painted wall. Spot priming bare patches may use one or two gallons; extensive bare siding can require considerably more. Make sure the quote identifies whether primer is included, which surfaces receive it, and whether the price covers one or two finish coats afterward.
How to Lower the Paint Bill Without Cutting Coverage
The safest savings usually come from controlling scope, reducing avoidable preparation, and comparing equivalent bids. Measure the siding and trim separately, identify surfaces that truly need painting, and avoid ordering extra gallons without accounting for coverage and coat count. A 10% waste allowance is often more sensible than an unplanned 25%-30% overbuy.
Schedule the work before urgent peeling or water damage requires repairs. Sound paint that only needs cleaning and a compatible repaint can be less expensive than a project involving widespread scraping and bare-substrate priming. Homeowners can often handle movable furniture, simple plant protection, or clearing access, but should leave hazardous-height work and lead-related preparation to qualified professionals.
Get written quotes with matching paint, finish, coat count, preparation, and cleanup. Ask whether the contractor can use a store promotion or contractor account, and whether combining exterior work with another planned painting project changes mobilization costs. Do not choose a thinner application or omit necessary primer solely to reduce the immediate price; insufficient coverage can lead to visible defects and earlier repainting.
Consider buying only the exact finish and color needed after confirming the store’s return policy. Tinted paint may not be returnable, and separate batches can show slight color differences. Keep a sealed, labeled touch-up container in a temperature-appropriate storage location, and retain the product details so later repairs can be matched more accurately.