Painting Cost in Australia
Painting in Australia has a modelled range of $800–$5,000, with a midpoint estimate of $2,900. See your city for local modelling assumptions and available evidence.
Independent source review pending. See the evidence card for any actual verification date.
$800–$5,000
Midpoint estimate: $2,900 per job
Australia · Broad service estimate; confirm the job scope
Modelled estimate, not calculated from consumer submissions. GST treatment unknown; city, suburb and materials differences are assumptions rather than observed prices. Confirm scope and inclusions with the provider.
How this figure is put together
Modelled estimate; verified submission count unavailable. These figures are not calculated from consumer submissions.
Modelled estimate. City, suburb and materials factors are assumptions, not observed price differences. Confirm GST, units and inclusions with the provider.
GST treatment is unknown for this basis; confirm it with the provider.
No verified observation date for this model.
Existing guide assumptions; not a measured market sample or verified rate card.
How painting is priced in Australia
Painting is priced by the area and by the preparation. Interior painting of sound plasterboard is quick; exterior painting of weathered timber is mostly preparation, with the paint itself a small share of the cost. Painters quote by the room, by the square metre or by the job, and the number of coats and the product should be specified in writing so quotes can be compared.
What moves the price is surface condition, height and access, the number of coats, product quality and season. In Queensland, building work valued over $3,300 generally requires a QBCC licence, and painting is treated as building work; other states fold it into general building licensing or do not license painters at all. Confirm the current threshold and any exemptions with the QBCC. Older homes may have lead paint layers that need safe handling.
Estimate or verified?
Here painting prices on this page are modelled estimates using existing guide assumptions, without a reconciled source dataset. An observed range is published only when its numbers are computed from at least 10 eligible submissions with matching scope, tax and materials treatment. Quotes and paid invoices are kept separate. How we build estimates · Submit a price
Painting cost by city
Estimates by city, adjusted from the national range. Click your city for local detail and city-specific FAQ.
Painting by city
Modelled ranges, not observed prices. The spread between cities comes from a published city multiplier applied to the national range — it is an assumption about each market, not a measurement of it.
Adelaide
Modelled estimate
See Adelaide estimate →
Toowoomba
Modelled estimate
See Toowoomba estimate →
Albury-Wodonga
Modelled estimate
See Albury-Wodonga estimate →
Perth
Modelled estimate
See Perth estimate →
Hobart
Modelled estimate
See Hobart estimate →
Gold Coast
Modelled estimate
See Gold Coast estimate →
Bendigo
Modelled estimate
See Bendigo estimate →
Ballarat
Modelled estimate
See Ballarat estimate →
Brisbane
Modelled estimate
See Brisbane estimate →
Townsville
Modelled estimate
See Townsville estimate →
Darwin
Modelled estimate
See Darwin estimate →
Melbourne
Modelled estimate
See Melbourne estimate →
Mackay
Modelled estimate
See Mackay estimate →
Canberra
Modelled estimate
See Canberra estimate →
Sydney
Modelled estimate
See Sydney estimate →
Common painting jobs and what they cost
National estimates (Sydney baseline). Each job has its own page with materials, GST and callout detail.
Interior Room Paint
Paint a single room — walls, ceiling, trims (2 coats)
$350–$950
Exterior House Repaint
Full exterior repaint of 3-bedroom single-storey home
$4,500–$14,000
Ceiling Paint Only
Paint ceiling per m² (often cheaper than walls due to single colour)
$15–$35
Trim / Architrave Paint (per linear m)
Skirting, architrave, window frame painting
$8–$22
Deck Staining / Oiling
Clean, sand and apply two coats of stain or oil to a timber deck (20 to 30 m²)
$600–$2,500
Roof Restoration
Pressure clean, repair, seal and recoat a tiled or metal roof on a standard home
$3,500–$9,000
Price by type and size
National estimates. Actual prices vary by city, see your city above for local pricing.
1-bed interior
2-bed interior
3-bed interior
3-bed exterior
Add-on pricing
| Add-on | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ceiling (per room) | $150–$300 |
| Door (per door) | $60–$120 |
| Wallpaper removal | $20–$40 |
What drives price up
Usually included
- ✓Surface prep
- ✓Two coats
- ✓Masking/protection
- ✓Minor crack fill
- ✓Clean-up
Usually excluded
- ○Major plaster repair
- ○Wallpaper removal
- ○Lead paint
- ○Scaffolding
Who is allowed to do painting in each state
Licensing is the first thing to check before comparing prices. An unlicensed quote for licensed work is not a quote you can use.
Who licenses this work
Building and trade work, state by state
On a small screen, scroll across to see every column.
| State | Regulator | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Government – contractor qualifications | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for NSW. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| VIC | Building and Plumbing Commission | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for VIC. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for QLD. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| WA | Building and Energy | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for WA. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for SA. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| TAS | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for TAS. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| ACT | Access Canberra | Confirm the licence, registration, contract and certificate requirements for this exact job with the official authority for ACT. This guide does not assert a dollar threshold or an exemption. For permits, ask the relevant council; for consumer-contract questions, consult the ACCC guidance. |
| NT | Building Practitioners Board | Confirm the relevant Northern Territory licensing authority for this occupation. No licence rule or threshold is asserted here. |
Rules without a checked source have been replaced with official pointers. Qualified trade review is pending; no universal licence exemption is asserted.
Common mistakes
Cheapest quote, bad paint
Single-coat builder paint fades in 2 years.
Skipping prep
Good paint on bad surface = bad result.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many coats?
Two is standard.
Paint before selling?
Almost always yes. Highest-ROI improvement.
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