Does interior or exterior painting have a better ROI?

Published national figures favor interior painting: HomeLight reports about a 107% ROI for repainting interior walls and about 51% for exterior painting. Both are agent estimates, not Minnesota studies.

How much does exterior painting cost in the Twin Cities?

One local painter's published 2026 pricing lists $7,500 to $12,500 for a two-story colonial of about 2,200 sq ft.

When can exterior painting be done in Minnesota?

Roughly mid-May to mid-October, when surface temperatures stay above 50°F.

Should I paint before selling?

In the NAR/NARI 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, 50% of REALTORS recommend painting the entire home before listing and 41% recommend painting one interior room.

All guides

Interior vs. exterior painting ROI in the Twin Cities

Interior repainting shows a higher published return than exterior painting: HomeLight puts interior walls at about a 107% ROI and exterior painting at about 51%. Both are national figures based on agent estimates, not Minnesota paint ROI studies. Twin Cities costs run well above the national cost basis, so use these numbers as direction, not a promise.

Interior painting ROI

HomeLight (July 2026) reports that repainting interior walls nets about a 107% ROI: about $3,500 spent and $7,245 in added value. This is a national agent-estimate figure, and the article does not name the underlying study.

Exterior painting ROI

HomeLight's Top Agent Insights for Q1 2019 found that painting a home exterior cost $2,803 and added $4,228, for a 51% ROI. HomeLight calculates ROI as (value added minus cost) divided by cost.

HomeLight also notes that peeling or flaking exterior paint is a signal it is time to repaint.

What agents recommend before listing

In the NAR/NARI 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, 50% of REALTORS recommend that sellers paint the entire home before listing, and 41% recommend painting one interior room.

What painting costs in the Twin Cities (2026)

Published 2026 pricing from one local painter: a two-story colonial (about 2,200 sq ft) exterior runs $7,500 to $12,500.
The same source lists a 3-bed rambler interior (1,200 to 2,200 sq ft) at $5,500 to $9,500.
Exterior work in Minnesota runs roughly mid-May to mid-October, when surface temperatures stay above 50°F.

The caveat

These ROI numbers are national figures based on agent estimates. They are not Minnesota paint ROI studies, and Twin Cities project costs run well above the national cost basis behind them. A local written estimate is the only way to know your real cost.

Common questions

Does interior or exterior painting have a better ROI?: Published national figures favor interior painting: HomeLight reports about a 107% ROI for repainting interior walls and about 51% for exterior painting. Both are agent estimates, not Minnesota studies.
How much does exterior painting cost in the Twin Cities?: One local painter's published 2026 pricing lists $7,500 to $12,500 for a two-story colonial of about 2,200 sq ft.
When can exterior painting be done in Minnesota?: Roughly mid-May to mid-October, when surface temperatures stay above 50°F.
Should I paint before selling?: In the NAR/NARI 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, 50% of REALTORS recommend painting the entire home before listing and 41% recommend painting one interior room.

Sources

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