How Long Does Paint Last? Lifespans by Surface

Every surface has a clock. These are typical repaint cycles — not guarantees — assuming proper prep, primer where needed, and two coats of quality paint. Sun, moisture, and foot traffic move any surface toward the short end of its range. If you're budgeting a job, start with our NJ house painting cost guide and our interior painting cost guide.

Inside the house

0 years5101520 years

Living room & adult bedroom walls — 5–7 years (up to 10 in low-traffic rooms)

Kitchen & bathroom walls — 3–4 years (humidity, steam, grease)

Hallways & entryways — 2–3 years (highest traffic in the house)

Kids' bedrooms & playrooms — 2–3 years

Ceilings — 7–10 years (repaint for fading or yellowing)

Trim, baseboards & doors — 2–5 years (scuffs and chips show first)

Kitchen cabinets, painted — 2–5 years (longer with cabinet-grade enamel and careful prep)

Outside the house

0 years5101520 years

Wood siding — 3–7 years (about 4 years if stained, not painted)

Stucco — 5–10 years (up to 15 with an elastomeric system)

Painted brick — 10–20 years (the longest-lasting exterior surface)

Fiber cement siding — 10–15 years

Aluminum siding — 5–8 years (needs a bonding primer over oxidation)

Painted vinyl siding — 5–10 years (needs a flexible product that moves with heat)

Front door — 3–6 years (direct sun and daily handling wear it fastest)

Exterior trim & garage doors — 4–7 years (sun-exposed panels fade and chalk first)

Signs it's time, whatever the calendar says Peeling or flaking, fading or chalking, cracking, mildew, cracked caulk around windows, or bare wood showing. On exteriors, any of these means moisture is getting in — repaint before it becomes rot. A New Jersey note Freeze-thaw winters, humid summers, and coastal salt air push most exteriors toward the short end of these ranges. South- and west-facing walls fade first, and dark colors fade faster than light ones.

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Ranges reflect typical published repaint cycles from painting guides and manufacturers. They assume proper surface prep, primer where needed, and two coats of quality paint. Your home's exposure, previous coatings, and maintenance move any number up or down.