Exterior Painting cost in Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica homeowners typically pay $4,150 – $12,400 for exterior painting. Local labor and materials price 38% above the national average.
Santa Monica average
$8,300
Typical low
$4,150
Typical high
$12,400
Per square foot
$2 – $6
Sample ZIP
90401
What drives Santa Monica pricing
Local labor
Licensed Santa Monica contractors carry California workers' comp and prevailing wage pressure, and crews here quote roughly 38% above the national labor average. Demand in the Los Angeles market peaks in spring, so booking early usually beats a rush premium.
Permits & code
Santa Monica follows the California Building Standards Code, so most structural, electrical, plumbing and re-roof work needs a permit from the Santa Monica building department plus Title 24 energy compliance. Seismic bracing and soft-story retrofit rules apply to many older LA-area properties, and hillside lots trigger extra geotechnical review.
Climate & conditions
Santa Monica sits in a warm Mediterranean climate with intense summer sun, so expect UV-stable, heat-tolerant materials and shaded scheduling in peak summer.
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Estimated project cost
$4,883 – $6,688
Most homeowners pay around $5,786
Compare quality / material level
Cost by material in Santa Monica
Installed Santa Monica pricing per square foot.
| Option | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Builder-grade paint | $3 – $4 |
| Standard 100% acrylic | $4 – $5 |
| Premium 25-year paint | $5 – $6 |
| Elastomeric / specialty coating | $6 – $8 |
Where the money goes in Santa Monica
A typical $8,300 Santa Monica project, broken down by line item.
- Labor0.45% · $37
- Materials0.38% · $32
- Permits & inspections0.05% · $4
- Overhead & profit0.12% · $10
Common add-ons
Extras that show up on Santa Monica quotes but rarely in the headline price.
Trim and shutters
Wood repair and replacement
Pressure washing
Lead-safe prep (pre-1978 homes)
Ways to save in Santa Monica
- Repaint the same color to avoid a second coat.
- Do prep work like scraping and washing yourself.
- Collect three written bids on an identical scope — spreads of 20–40% are normal.
- Book in the off-season and stay flexible on the start date to save 5–15%.
- Bundle nearby work into one mobilization so you only pay setup and travel once.
- Ask what the contractor would change to cut 10% without hurting durability.
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Exterior Painting cost near Santa Monica
Exterior Painting cost in Los Angeles, CA
$3,729 – $11,142
Exterior Painting cost in Long Beach, CA
$3,669 – $10,962
Exterior Painting cost in Pasadena, CA
$3,849 – $11,501
Exterior Painting cost in Glendale, CA
$3,759 – $11,232
Exterior Painting cost in Santa Clarita, CA
$3,488 – $10,423
Exterior Painting cost in Torrance, CA
$3,699 – $11,052