Exterior Paint Material Prices — Live Index
$0.15–$0.5 $/sq ft (May 2026) · +0.9% vs last month · +5.9% vs last year. Derived from BLS PPI — Paint and Coating Manufacturing (PCU325510325510), verified 2026-06-10, refreshed monthly.
Exterior Paint Material Price History
This chart shows estimated $/sq ft prices derived from the BLS Producer Price Index since 2010. When the line goes up, the material costs more. The current estimated price is $0/sq ft as of 2026-05.
Current estimate: $0/sq ft (PPI 442.2, 2026-05). Source: BLS Producer Price Index (series PCU325510325510)
Exterior Paint Material price by region
National pricing scaled by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (a cost-of-living proxy, not a per-state material quote).
| Region | Index (US=100) | Estimated range |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 86.9 | $0–$0 $/sq ft |
| Illinois | 100 | $0–$1 $/sq ft |
| California | 110.7 | $0–$1 $/sq ft |
How today compares
Over the last 16 years of BLS PPI — Paint and Coating Manufacturing (PCU325510325510) data, exterior paint material prices are currently at their all-time peak and 88.8% above the low of March 2010.
Methodology
Premium exterior acrylic latex paint (e.g., Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Behr Marquee) retails at $55–85/gallon. Coverage ~350–400 sq ft/gallon for 1 coat on smooth siding; 2 coats (prime + finish) = 175–200 sq ft/gallon net = $0.28–0.49/sq ft material. BLS PPI PCU325510325510 tracks the upstream paint manufacturing cost index. Mid-estimate $0.28/sq ft for 1 coat; full 2-coat project $0.40–0.50/sq ft. Range excludes caulk, primer on bare wood (add $0.05–0.10/sq ft). Series cadence: monthly. The dollar range is re-derived whenever the underlying index moves more than 5% from the derivation point.
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Exterior Paint Material price FAQ
How much does exterior paint material cost in May 2026?
$0.15–$0.5 $/sq ft, with a mid-estimate of $0.28 $/sq ft. This is derived from BLS PPI — Paint and Coating Manufacturing (PCU325510325510) and refreshed monthly.
Are exterior paint material prices going up or down?
Up +0.9% versus last month and +5.9% versus a year ago, based on the BLS producer price index through May 2026.
How do today's exterior paint material prices compare to the historical range?
Current prices are at their 16-year peak (May 2026) and 88.8% above the low (Mar 2010).
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Exterior paint material price: $0.15–$0.5 $/sq ft (May 2026). Source: LiveDataCalc Exterior paint material Price Index, derived from BLS PPI — Paint and Coating Manufacturing (PCU325510325510). https://livedatacalc.com/data/exterior-paint-material/<a href="https://livedatacalc.com/data/exterior-paint-material/">Exterior paint material prices — live BLS-derived index (LiveDataCalc)</a>