How to Price Aluminum Siding Painting in 2026: What Contractors Should Charge

You got a call about painting aluminum siding. Maybe it's a ranch house from the '70s, maybe a duplex that's been chalking for years. Either way, you need a number, and you need it to be right.

Aluminum siding painting is one of those jobs that looks simple until you're halfway through it. The prep is different from wood. The paint has to be different. And if you underbid because you treated it like a regular exterior, you're going to eat those hours.

Here's how to price it so you actually make money.

What aluminum siding painting costs in 2026

The going rate for painting aluminum siding is $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot, depending on your market, the condition of the siding, and how much prep work is involved.

For a typical 2,000-square-foot house, that works out to:

• Low end (good condition, minimal prep): $3,000 - $4,000
• Mid range (some oxidation, minor repairs): $4,000 - $6,000
• High end (heavy chalking, dents, lots of trim): $6,000 - $8,000+

Those numbers include materials, labor, and cleanup. If you're subbing out the pressure washing, add that separately.

Why aluminum siding is different from wood

Most painters treat aluminum siding like any other exterior surface. That's where the problems start.

Aluminum chalks. That white, powdery residue that comes off when you rub it? That's oxidation, and it has to come off completely or your paint won't stick. A quick rinse with a pressure washer isn't enough. You need to wash it, sometimes by hand in bad spots, and let it dry fully before priming.

Aluminum also dents. Every ding and dent shows through paint. You need to decide upfront: are you fixing dents, or painting over them? That conversation with the homeowner will save you headaches later.

And aluminum expands and contracts with temperature more than wood does. You need paint that can flex. Acrylic latex is the standard — skip oil-based on aluminum unless you want callbacks.

How to calculate your price

Here's the simple version:

1. Measure the exterior square footage. Multiply the perimeter of the house by the wall height. Subtract windows and doors (roughly 15-20 sq ft per window, 20 sq ft per door). Use the SnapBid paint calculator to speed this up.

2. Assess the prep work. Walk the house and look for:

• Chalking (rub your hand on the siding — white residue = chalking)
• Peeling or flaking paint from a previous job
• Dents and damage
• Caulk failures around windows and trim
• Mildew or algae (north-facing walls especially)

More prep = more hours = higher price. Don't wing this part.

3. Figure your material costs. For aluminum siding, plan on:

• Primer: $30-$50/gallon (bonding primer like Zinsser or Kilz)
• Paint: $40-$70/gallon (100% acrylic latex, exterior grade)
• Coverage: roughly 300-400 sq ft per gallon on aluminum (it's smoother than wood, but the ridges eat paint)
• Caulk, plastic sheeting, tape, etc.: budget $100-$200 for a typical house

4. Calculate your labor. A two-person crew can typically paint 800-1,200 sq ft of aluminum siding per day, depending on the prep involved. At your target daily rate (whatever that is for your market), divide the total square footage by your daily output to get your labor days.

5. Add your markup. Materials + labor + overhead + profit margin. Most painters run 35-50% gross margins on exterior work. If you're not hitting at least 35%, you're working too cheap.

The prep work pricing trap

Here's where most guys lose money on aluminum siding: they underestimate prep.

On wood siding, you scrape, sand, prime bare spots, and go. On aluminum, the prep is different:

• Pressure washing: The whole house needs it. Budget 2-4 hours for a typical house. Use a wide fan tip — too much pressure and you'll dent the siding.
• Hand washing chalked areas: After pressure washing, check for remaining chalk. If it's still coming off on your hand, you need to wash again or use a chemical cleaner like TSP.
• Drying time: Aluminum needs 24-48 hours to dry after washing. That's a full day you can't paint. Build that into your schedule and your quote.
• Priming: Bare aluminum or heavily chalked areas need a bonding primer. This is a separate step, separate coat, separate time. Price it accordingly.

If you skip any of this, the paint peels within a year and you're back there for free.

What to charge for common add-ons

Most aluminum siding jobs come with extras:

• Trim painting (different color): Add $1.50 - $3.00 per linear foot of trim
• Soffit and fascia: Add $2.00 - $4.00 per linear foot
• Shutters: $25 - $75 per shutter, depending on size
• Dent repair: $15 - $50 per dent (if it's more than a handful, price it as a line item)
• Gutter painting: $1.50 - $2.50 per linear foot

List these as separate line items on your estimate. It shows the homeowner exactly what they're paying for and makes you look more professional. Our estimate writing guide covers this in detail.

Paint choices that actually work on aluminum

Don't let the homeowner pick whatever's on sale at the big box store. Aluminum siding needs specific paint.

Go with 100% acrylic latex in a satin or semi-gloss finish. The acrylic flexes with the metal as it expands and contracts. Semi-gloss hides imperfections better than flat and cleans up easier.

Good brands for aluminum siding:

• Sherwin-Williams Duration or SuperPaint
• Benjamin Moore Aura or Regal Select
• PPG Manor Hall

For primer, use a bonding primer specifically rated for metal surfaces. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 and Kilz Adhesion are both solid.

Budget $40-$70 per gallon for quality paint. Cheap paint on aluminum is a false economy — you'll be back in 3 years instead of 8-10.

How to bid the job (step by step)

When you're standing in the driveway looking at an aluminum-sided house, here's your checklist:

1. Walk the perimeter. Note the condition on each side (sun-facing walls are usually worse).
2. Measure or estimate the square footage. Snap a photo and run it through SnapBid if you want a quick number.
3. Check the trim situation. Is it the same color? Different? Wood or aluminum?
4. Ask the homeowner about the last paint job. When was it done? Did it peel? What paint was used?
5. Look at access. Two-story? Steep landscaping? Power lines? All of these affect ladder setup time.
6. Check for lead paint if the house was built before 1978. Aluminum siding on older homes sometimes has lead-based paint underneath from a previous owner's DIY job.

Once you have all that, go home and build your estimate. Don't give numbers on the spot — you'll lowball yourself every time.

Sample estimate breakdown

Here's what a real estimate might look like for a 1,800 sq ft ranch with moderate chalking:

Your numbers will be different based on your area and your labor rate. The point is: break it down so the homeowner sees the value, and so you don't forget to charge for something.

Use the SnapBid profit calculator to check your margins before you send it.

FAQ

Can you paint aluminum siding any color? Yes, but going from light to dark (or vice versa) requires an extra coat and better primer. Price accordingly — a color change job costs 15-20% more than a same-color repaint.

How long does paint last on aluminum siding? With proper prep and quality paint, 8-12 years. Without proper prep, you might get 2-3 years before it starts peeling.

Should I spray or brush aluminum siding? Spray. Aluminum siding has a ridged texture that's a pain to brush. Back-brushing is a waste of time on aluminum. Spray a solid coat, do two passes, and move on.

Do I need to prime aluminum siding before painting? If it's heavily chalked, previously painted with oil-based paint, or showing bare metal — yes. If the existing paint is in good shape and you're going acrylic over acrylic, you can sometimes skip primer. But when in doubt, prime. The extra $300-$500 in materials is cheaper than a callback.

What if the homeowner wants to just replace the siding instead? New vinyl siding runs $6-$12 per sq ft installed. Painting aluminum is about a third of that cost. That's your selling point.

Stop guessing on estimates

Aluminum siding jobs can be solid money if you price them right. The margins are good because most homeowners don't want to replace their siding — they just want it to look decent again.

The biggest mistake is treating it like a regular paint job. It's not. The prep is different, the paint is different, and the timeline is different. Price for what the job actually takes, not what you hope it takes.

If you're tired of doing math in your truck, try SnapBid free. Snap a photo, get a number in 60 seconds. Your first 3 estimates are on us.