$827B
Home improvement spending over two years
U.S. homeowners spent $827 billion on improvements from 2021 through 2023. This is all home improvement spending, not paint spending alone.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey (2024) ↗Reference
U.S. Painting & Home Improvement Statistics
Clear, citable figures on home improvement spending, older homes, lead-safe preparation, and the painting workforce.
These figures give homeowners, writers, and building professionals a grounded view of the work around a painting project. Each statistic links directly to the source that supports it, and dates reflect the source’s publication or data period.
Home investment
Homeowners are still investing in the places they live.
51.6M
Homeowners who made improvements
51.6 million of 86.9 million homeowners, or 59%, made improvements between 2021 and 2023.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey (2024) ↗$6,500
Median improvement spend
The median amount spent by homeowners making improvements between 2021 and 2023 was $6,500.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey (2024) ↗41 years
Median age of owned homes
The median age of owner-occupied homes was 41 years in 2021, a useful reminder that surface condition and preparation often matter as much as color.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey (2023) ↗61%
Older-home owners who started an improvement project
About 61% of owners of older homes began a home improvement project from 2019 through 2021, spending a median of $4,100 across their projects.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey (2023) ↗Older homes and safety
Age changes the painting conversation.
87%
Pre-1940 homes likely to contain lead-based paint
EPA says 87% of homes built before 1940 are likely to contain lead-based paint. For homes built from 1940 to 1959, the figure is 69%.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Renovate Right (2011) ↗24%
1960 to 1978 homes likely to contain lead-based paint
EPA reports that 24% of homes built from 1960 through 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Renovate Right (2011) ↗6 / 20
RRP repair thresholds in older homes
EPA identifies minor repair thresholds of six square feet per interior room and 20 square feet on an exterior before its Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule may apply to larger paint-disturbing work in covered pre-1978 properties.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RRP Program (March 2026) ↗Painting workforce
The trade behind the finish.
326,900
Construction and maintenance painters employed
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 326,900 construction and maintenance painters in 2025 and projects about 24,900 openings per year from 2025 to 2035.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2026) ↗$49,400
Median annual pay for construction and maintenance painters
The median annual wage for construction and maintenance painters was $49,400 in May 2025.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2026) ↗Sources and notes
Use the figure. Keep the context.
Figures describe U.S. conditions and may not reflect a specific neighborhood, property, or project. The home-improvement figures cover more than painting, while the lead-safety figures explain why an older home deserves careful attention before paint is disturbed.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Housing Survey (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey (2023)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Renovate Right (2011)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RRP Program (March 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2026)
Cite this page
“U.S. Painting & Home Improvement Statistics 2026.” Dale’s Painting Service, updated October 13, 2026, https://dalespaintingpros.com/painting-statistics.
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