Painters in St Louis, MO: 2026 Costs & How to Hire
St Louis is a brick city. Century-old two-family flats in Tower Grove South and Benton Park, gabled homes in Webster Groves and Kirkwood, and mid-century frame houses out in the county each ask a different question of a painter. Humidity runs high from June through August, the freeze-thaw cycle chews at trim and glazing every winter, and almost everything inside the city limits predates 1978. Here is what painting costs in St Louis in 2026 and how to vet a crew.
By Jason Green · Interior & Exterior Painting · Published August 26, 2026 · Updated August 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Missouri has no state painting license — the city and county do the licensing
There is no statewide contractor license for painters in Missouri, which means the check happens locally. The City of St. Louis requires a business license through the License Collector, and St. Louis County and most municipalities require their own contractor or business registration. Ask which jurisdiction your house sits in and for the matching license number. Then require a certificate of insurance emailed directly by the agency showing general liability and workers compensation with you as certificate holder, and confirm the business name matches the contract and the license. Because the licensing bar is low here, the insurance certificate and the references are your real filter.
Interior work: plaster, woodwork and old-house realities
Estimates vary widely because of what is under the paint. Plaster walls need skim coating along cracks, not spackle; original stained woodwork raises the question of painting versus restoring; and enclosed stairwells and high foyers add staging time that a per-square-foot number hides. Ask whether the price covers ceilings, trim, doors and closets or walls only, how many coats, and what patching is included. Summer humidity slows dry times inside as much as out — ask about dehumidification and recoat windows on trim and cabinets so you do not get a soft finish that marks up the first week.
Outside: brick, freeze-thaw and lead rules
Before anyone quotes paint on brick, ask whether it should be painted at all — coating unpainted historic brick traps moisture and tuckpointing is often the real repair. On previously painted brick and wood, prep is the job: wash, scrape, sand, spot prime bare areas, reglaze failed window putty, and caulk. Any scrape or sand on a pre-1978 home falls under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule and requires a Lead-Safe certified firm. The dependable exterior window here is late April into June and September into mid-October — midsummer surface temperatures and afternoon storms both work against a good film, and coatings stop performing once nights drop into the forties.
Permits, historic districts and what belongs in writing
Repainting needs no permit. Replacing siding, windows or structural trim does, and the City of St. Louis Building Division or your county municipality issues it. Local historic districts — Lafayette Square, Soulard, Compton Heights and others — review exterior changes including colors on some contributing properties, so check before you commit. A fair estimate names product and sheen per surface, coat count, prep and repair scope, exclusions, lead-safe practices, and the crew lead on site. Deposits above a third of the contract are a red flag.
Typical cost ranges
| Interior room, walls only (12x12) | $325 - $575 |
| Whole-house interior, 1,800 sq ft | $3,100 - $6,400 |
| Plaster crack repair and skim coat, per room | add $350 - $950 |
| Exterior repaint, 1,800 sq ft wood or previously painted brick | $4,200 - $8,500 |
| Exterior trim, soffit and window glazing only | $1,800 - $4,200 |
| Kitchen cabinets, sprayed finish | $3,000 - $6,200 |
Ranges are general estimates gathered from homeowner-reported quotes, not an offer or a quote for your project.
Common questions
How much does interior painting cost in St Louis?
In 2026, a single 12x12 room with walls only runs about $325 to $575, and a full 1,800 square foot interior runs $3,100 to $6,400. Plaster repair and skim coating add roughly $350 to $950 per room.
Do painters need a license in Missouri?
Missouri has no statewide painting license. Licensing is local: the City of St. Louis requires a business license through the License Collector, and St. Louis County municipalities require their own contractor registration. Verify the license for the jurisdiction your home is in, plus insurance.
Should I paint my brick house?
Usually not, if the brick has never been painted. Coating historic brick traps moisture and can accelerate spalling; tuckpointing is often the real repair. On already-painted brick, a proper wash, spot prime and two coats is the right approach.
When is the best time to paint outside in St Louis?
Late April through June and September through mid-October. Midsummer heat and humidity slow cure and afternoon storms interrupt work, and once overnight lows fall into the forties most exterior coatings are out of spec.
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