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PAINT CALCULATOR

Brick paint calculator

Brick is the most paint-hungry common exterior surface — the porous face plus deep mortar joints can drop coverage to 150 sq ft/gal. Plan for two coats minimum and a masonry primer first; painted brick is a one-way decision (very hard to reverse cleanly).

HOW IT WORKS

Why texture sets the coverage

Brick is the most paint-hungry common exterior surface. The porous face soaks up paint and the deep mortar joints add a lot of hidden surface area, so a gallon goes far less distance than it would on flat siding. The calculator adjusts coverage to the condition you select:

  • Smooth / sealed brick: about 200 sq ft per gallon; previously painted or factory-smooth face.
  • Standard porous brick: around 175 sq ft per gallon; typical residential brick.
  • Old / very rough / wide joints: as low as 150 sq ft per gallon; weathered brick with deep raked mortar.
  • Limewash: roughly 150 to 175 sq ft per gallon per coat; a reversible lime slurry rather than a film-forming paint.

Painting brick is a one-way decision

Once brick is painted, you can't easily go back. Stripping paint off brick involves chemical strippers, a lot of mess, and often damages the brick face. Be sure before you commit. Limewash is the reversible alternative: it bonds chemically with the brick, ages softly, and weathers off naturally over several years if you change your mind.

Prime, then two coats minimum

Seal bare brick with a masonry primer first; it tames the alkalinity and porosity that otherwise eat your topcoat. On the finish coats, brush the first coat to force paint into the mortar joints, then spray and back-roll the second for an even film. Spraying without back-rolling leaves pinholes in the mortar lines, and one coat always looks patchy.

What it costs to paint brick

Material is the easy part. Acrylic-latex masonry paint runs about $20 to $70 per gallon, and you need a gallon roughly every 175 to 250 square feet because brick drinks paint. Add a masonry primer at about $20 to $50 per gallon — non-negotiable on bare brick — plus another $100 or so in rollers, brushes, tape, and drop cloths.

  • Acrylic-latex masonry paint: $20 to $70 per gallon.
  • Mineral / silicate masonry paint: $50 to $80 per gallon.
  • Masonry primer: $20 to $50 per gallon.
  • DIY whole-house total: about $700 to $1,400 plus roughly $100 in supplies.
  • Pro whole-house total: about $2,000 to $13,000, averaging near $7,000.

The gap between DIY and pro is labor — brick prep, priming, and the extra coats it demands eat the hours. For a full breakdown with labor by region, use thepaint cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to paint a brick house?+
Doing it yourself, expect about $700 to $1,400 in materials for a typical home, plus roughly $100 in supplies. Hiring a pro runs about $2,000 to $13,000, averaging near $7,000, because brick needs heavy prep, primer, and two to three coats. Use the cost calculator for a paint-plus-labor total.
How much does masonry paint cost per gallon?+
Acrylic-latex masonry paint runs about $20 to $70 per gallon, with mineral and silicate paints reaching $50 to $80. Masonry primer adds roughly $20 to $50 per gallon, and you typically need a gallon of each per 250 square feet of brick.
How much paint do I need to paint brick?+
Bare brick covers roughly 150 to 200 sq ft per gallon, far less than the 350 to 400 you get on smooth siding. Old, rough brick with wide mortar joints lands at the low end, around 150 sq ft per gallon. Plan for two coats plus a masonry primer.
Do I need to prime brick before painting?+
Yes. Bare brick is porous and alkaline, so a masonry or alkali-resistant primer is essential for the topcoat to bond and look even. Skipping primer leads to blotchy color and early peeling.
How many coats of paint does brick need?+
Two coats minimum. The first coat soaks into the brick face and mortar lines unevenly and looks patchy; the second is what reads as a finished color. A bold color change can take three.
What is limewash and how much does it cover?+
Limewash is a high-pH slurry of lime, water, and pigment that bonds chemically with masonry. It covers about 150 to 175 sq ft per gallon per coat on porous brick and weathers off naturally over years, so it is reversible.
Can you remove paint from brick later?+
Not easily. Stripping paint off brick means harsh chemical strippers, a lot of mess, and a real risk of damaging the brick face. Painting brick is essentially a one-way decision, which is why many people choose reversible limewash instead.
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