How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Garage Door?

Garage door painting costs

A freshly painted garage door can add curb appeal to your home. If you’re wondering about the average garage door painting cost, it’s typically around $165 to paint one single car-sized garage door. However, prices for a standard single-car door may range from as low as $100 to as much as $230. As with most home improvement projects, the larger the door, the more you can expect to pay for the job to be complete. It typically costs $1 to $4 per square foot to paint a garage door. A three-car garage door will cost significantly more, usually up to $680. This guide explains how much you should expect to pay for a newly painted garage door.

Painting a garage door cost per square foot

The price per square foot to paint a garage door costs between $1 and $4, but your actual cost may vary depending on various factors. The exact amount you’ll pay will depend on the type and quality of paint you use, the cost of labor, and any additional prep work before the painting can begin. Anything on the garage door — like excess dirt, grime, rust, corrosion, or general stains will require more cleaning time and prep work — and a higher labor cost. You may be able to clean your garage door yourself before you have it professionally painted to save some money. Just make sure you follow the correct protocol so you don’t damage the door.

Cost of garage door painting by type

The price for garage door painting varies based on a few things, including whether or not repairs are required first, whether or not it’s new construction and the size of the garage door itself. Since most garage doors are uniform in size, it’s not uncommon for professionals to charge a flat rate based on the size unless there are other unique features or unusual details that need to be accounted for. Smaller, single-car garage doors cost between $100 and $230 to paint, on average. Plan to pay between $120 and $500 for a two-car garage door, and between $170 and $680 for a three-car garage door.

Garage Door Painting Cost Breakdown

Painting a garage door requires the correct type of paint, plus some experience and skill. For most projects, your cost will consist of materials and labor, and you’ll likely need to hire a professional painter to do the job correctly. Any additional work to prepare the surface will also cost you more.

Materials

Most materials required to paint a garage door include rollers, pans, and other consumables. On average, your material cost should be somewhere between $25 to $50. Most professional painters already have the necessary tools and equipment, so the paint will likely be the most significant part of any “material” cost. 

Labor

If you hire a handyman to paint your garage door, the average labor cost is between $55 and $75 per hour. If you hire a professional exterior painting contractor, the price is typically anywhere from $25 to $100 per hour, depending on who you choose. Some local painting contractors may even charge per square foot or square inch, while others may charge a flat rate. On average, it takes between 4 and 8 hours to paint an average-sized garage door, but this time will increase if your door is larger. It also depends on how much preparation work is required before the actual painting can start.

Garage doors with a lot of heavy buildups or peeling paint will need to be pressure washed, and any existing paint will need to be removed. Once this part of the process is complete, the garage door will need to be dried completely, and then primed. If your garage door has a lot of rust or corrosion, this will also need to be removed. Any holes or pitting must be filled first before the area can be sealed, primed, then painted. If you need any additional prep work such as the examples listed here, plan to pay more for labor.

Paint

The type of paint you choose for your garage door will also affect the price. For example, aluminum garage doors require exterior acrylic paint, while vinyl and wood doors usually need exterior latex paint. Steel garage doors may also use latex or oil-based paint. You’ll usually need one gallon of paint to cover an entire single-car garage door, and this should produce between two and three coats. If you’re painting a lighter color over a darker color, you will probably need more paint to complete the job and ensure an even application. Make sure you tell the garage door painting contractor what type of material your door is made of since they’ll need this information to determine which type of paint is best for you.

DIY or Hire a Pro

You may consider trying to paint your garage door DIY to avoid paying for labor. This could save you from $20 to as much as $100 per hour, which would equate to about $100 or more in savings overall. However, you will likely take more time to finish the job than an experienced painter would. If time is valuable to you, then it’s recommended to hire a professional who can get it done in about one day. It’s also challenging to paint a garage door — especially if you have to prepare the surface first. Hiring a local garage door painter might be the best way to not only save you time but also to ensure the job is done right the first time.