A fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a home, but prices swing wildly depending on whether you are painting a single bedroom or the full exterior of a two-storey weatherboard. The national average house painting cost in Australia falls between $5,000 and $15,000 for a complete repaint of a standard three-bedroom home, though interior-only or exterior-only jobs can come in well under that. This guide breaks down every cost component by the square metre, by the room, and by budget tier so you can compare quotes from a licensed painter with confidence.
How Much Does House Painting Cost? The Short Answer
Total house painting cost depends on whether you need interior, exterior, or both, plus the size of your home, the condition of existing surfaces, and your location. Here is how the three main budget tiers compare for a typical three-bedroom, single-storey home.
| Budget Tier | Interior Only | Exterior Only | Full Interior + Exterior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $3,000–$5,500 | $3,500–$6,000 | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Mid-range | $5,500–$9,000 | $6,000–$12,000 | $10,000–$18,000 |
| Premium | $9,000–$14,000 | $12,000–$20,000 | $18,000–$30,000+ |
Budget projects involve a basic repaint in the same colour family with minimal prep work on surfaces in reasonable condition. Mid-range projects include thorough preparation, a colour change, quality paint (such as Dulux Wash & Wear or Taubmans Endure), and two topcoats over a dedicated primer. Premium projects cover extensive surface repairs, specialty coatings, feature walls, decorative finishes, and high-end paints with extended warranties.
Interior Painting Cost Per Square Metre
Interior house painting cost ranges from $20 to $60 per square metre of wall area, depending on surface condition, ceiling height, and the number of coats required.
| Surface Type | Cost Per Sqm (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard walls (plasterboard) | $20–$35 | Smooth surface, standard 2.4m ceiling, two topcoats |
| Walls with colour change | $25–$45 | Extra primer coat required for dark-to-light or light-to-dark |
| Textured or rendered walls | $30–$50 | Internal rendered feature walls, textured coatings |
| Ceilings | $15–$30 | Flat white finish, access via ladder or stilts |
| Doors (per door) | $80–$200 | Both sides, including frames and architraves |
| Skirting and architraves (per lm) | $8–$15 | Prep, prime, and two coats of enamel |
| Window frames (per window) | $60–$150 | Sanding, priming, and two coats |
A standard bedroom (3m x 4m) with 2.4-metre ceilings has roughly 33 square metres of wall area, putting the painting cost at $660 to $1,155 for walls alone. Add ceiling, skirting, and a door, and a single room typically costs $800 to $1,500.
Per-Room Estimates
| Room | Typical Cost Range (AUD) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bedroom | $800–$1,500 | Walls, ceiling, skirting, one door |
| Master bedroom | $1,000–$2,000 | Larger area, walk-in robe entry |
| Living room | $1,200–$2,500 | Larger wall area, feature wall options |
| Kitchen | $600–$1,200 | Walls and ceiling only (no cabinetry) |
| Bathroom | $400–$800 | Ceiling and non-tiled wall areas, wet-area paint required |
| Hallway and stairwell | $800–$1,800 | Narrow access, high ceilings in stairwell |
These per-room estimates include walls, ceiling, and standard trim. They assume surfaces in fair condition needing light preparation (wash, sand, fill minor holes) and two topcoats of quality acrylic. For a full interior, house painting cost adds up quickly across multiple rooms, so prioritise high-traffic areas if budget is tight.
Exterior Painting Cost Per Square Metre
Exterior house painting cost runs higher than interior work due to scaffolding, weather exposure, and the surface preparation required on Australian homes. Expect to pay $30 to $80 per square metre of paintable exterior surface.
| Surface Type | Cost Per Sqm (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rendered masonry | $30–$50 | Pressure wash, fill cracks, two coats of exterior acrylic |
| Brick (painted) | $30–$55 | Requires thorough prep; previously unpainted brick needs a bonding primer |
| Weatherboard (timber) | $35–$65 | Sand, scrape loose paint, prime bare timber, two topcoats |
| Fibro (fibre cement) | $30–$55 | Low-pressure wash only (no high-pressure on fibro), check for asbestos if pre-1990 |
| Metal cladding | $25–$45 | Light sand, etch primer on bare metal, two topcoats |
| Eaves and fascia (per lm) | $15–$30 | Access cost drives the price; often done with roof or exterior repaint |
| Gutters (per lm) | $10–$20 | Clean, sand, prime, and topcoat |
Whole-Home Exterior Estimates
| Home Size | Single Storey | Double Storey |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom | $3,000–$6,000 | $5,000–$9,000 |
| 3-bedroom | $5,000–$9,000 | $8,000–$15,000 |
| 4-bedroom | $7,000–$12,000 | $12,000–$20,000 |
| 5-bedroom | $9,000–$15,000 | $15,000–$25,000+ |
Double-storey homes cost 40 to 60 percent more than single-storey equivalents due to scaffolding hire ($1,500–$5,000 depending on access), increased safety requirements, and slower production rates at height. If your exterior also needs electrical work (outdoor lighting, sensor lights) or roof repairs before painting, bundling these with the painting project can reduce overall scaffolding costs.
Factors That Affect House Painting Cost
Every painting project is different. These eight factors have the biggest impact on your final bill.
1. Surface Area
The total paintable surface area is the primary cost driver. A compact two-bedroom unit has roughly 120 square metres of interior wall area, while a four-bedroom home can exceed 300 square metres. Exterior surface area depends on home footprint, storey count, and the number of windows, eaves, and architectural features.
2. Surface Condition and Preparation
Preparation is where painting quotes diverge most. A home with clean, sound paintwork needs a wash, light sand, and minor hole filling. A home with peeling paint, water stains, cracked render, or chalking surfaces needs scraping, sanding, patching, and multiple primer coats. Prep can account for 50 to 70 percent of total labour time on older homes.
3. Interior, Exterior, or Both
Interior painting is generally cheaper per square metre because there is no scaffolding, no weather delays, and surfaces are usually in better condition. Exterior painting involves access equipment, weather-dependent scheduling, and heavier surface preparation. Combining both in a single project often attracts a bundled discount of 5 to 15 percent from your painter.
4. Number of Storeys
Single-storey homes are painted from ladders and low platforms. Double-storey homes require scaffolding, which adds $1,500 to $5,000 to the project and increases labour rates due to working-at-heights requirements. Homes on sloping blocks or with limited side access push scaffolding costs higher.
5. Paint Quality and System
Paint costs range from $30 per litre for builder-grade acrylics to $120 per litre for premium products like Dulux Weathershield or Haymes Ultra Premium. A standard three-bedroom home uses 40 to 60 litres of paint. The difference between budget and premium on a full repaint is $1,500 to $3,500 in materials alone. Premium paints offer better coverage, longer fade resistance, and manufacturer warranties up to 15 years.
6. Colour Change
Repainting in the same colour or a similar shade requires two topcoats. Changing from a dark colour to a light colour (or the reverse) requires a tinted primer plus two to three topcoats to achieve full coverage without bleed-through. A full colour change can add $500 to $2,000 to your house painting cost depending on the severity of the change and the area involved.
7. Ceiling Height and Architectural Detail
Standard 2.4-metre ceilings are the baseline for pricing. Raked ceilings, cathedral ceilings (3.5 metres or higher), ornate cornices, picture rails, dado rails, and decorative ceiling roses all increase labour time. Each hour of additional prep and cutting-in on detail work adds $60 to $100 to the bill.
8. Your Location
Where you live in Australia affects both labour rates and material delivery costs. Painting in Sydney or Melbourne costs 10 to 20 percent more than the national average, while regional areas and smaller capitals like Adelaide and Hobart tend to be more affordable. Coastal homes require marine-grade coatings that cost more than standard exterior paint.
Regional Cost Comparison
House painting cost varies across Australia. Here is how the major capital cities compare for a full interior and exterior repaint of a standard three-bedroom, single-storey home.
| City | Interior + Exterior Cost Range | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $12,000–$22,000 | 15–20% higher |
| Melbourne | $11,000–$20,000 | 10–15% higher |
| Brisbane | $9,000–$17,000 | Close to average |
| Perth | $9,500–$17,500 | Close to average |
| Adelaide | $8,000–$15,000 | 5–10% lower |
| Hobart | $8,000–$14,000 | 5–10% lower |
| Canberra | $10,000–$18,000 | 5–10% higher |
| Darwin | $11,000–$20,000 | 10–15% higher |
Sydney’s premium reflects higher labour rates and increased access costs in dense urban areas. Darwin’s costs are driven by limited painter supply and the need for specialist tropical coatings that resist humidity and UV exposure. Regional areas within each state are typically 10 to 15 percent cheaper than the capital, though scheduling can take longer due to fewer available painters.
How to Get Accurate Quotes
Getting the right price starts before you contact a painter. Follow these steps to get quotes you can actually compare.
Get at least three quotes. Three itemised quotes from licensed painters give you a realistic price range and help you identify outliers. If one quote is 40 percent below the others, that is a red flag. The painter may be cutting corners on preparation, using cheaper paint, or planning fewer coats.
Be specific about your scope. Provide each painter with the same brief: rooms to be painted, ceiling inclusion, trim and skirting, any colour changes, known surface issues (cracks, peeling, water damage), and whether you need exterior work. Vague briefs produce incomparable quotes.
Ask what is included. A proper painting quote should specify the number of coats, the paint brand and product, surface preparation method, furniture protection, and clean-up. Ask whether the quote includes moving furniture, filling holes, sanding surfaces, and priming bare areas. These are where cheap quotes save money at your expense.
Confirm the paint system. Ask for the specific products: primer, undercoat, and topcoat by brand and product name. A quote listing “two coats of acrylic” is not the same as one specifying “one coat Dulux 1 Step Prep, two coats Dulux Wash & Wear.” You need to know what you are paying for.
Verify licensing. Check your painter holds the relevant state licence or registration. In Queensland, painting work over $3,300 requires a QBCC licence. In Western Australia, the threshold is $1,000. Verify credentials on TradieVerify or the relevant state register.
Hidden Costs and Exclusions
Budget blowouts happen when items not in the original quote appear during the project. Watch for these common hidden house painting costs.
Lead paint. Homes built before 1970 are likely to contain lead-based paint. Homes built between 1970 and 1997 may also contain lead paint in some areas. Testing costs $30 to $50 per sample (or $200–$500 for a full property assessment). If lead paint is found, your painter must follow AS/NZS 4361.2 guidelines for removal or encapsulation. Safe lead paint removal can add $2,000 to $8,000 to an exterior project depending on the area and condition.
Asbestos. Fibro (fibre cement) cladding and eaves installed before 1990 may contain asbestos. High-pressure washing or sanding asbestos-containing surfaces is illegal and dangerous. Testing costs $50 to $200 per sample, and licensed removal runs $1,500 to $6,000 depending on the area. Your painter should not begin work on suspected asbestos surfaces without testing. If asbestos cladding needs replacing, a licensed builder can coordinate the removal and re-cladding.
Surface repairs. Rotten weatherboard replacement by a licensed carpenter ($80–$200 per board), crack repair in render ($500–$2,000), and plaster patching ($50–$150 per patch) are often excluded from painting quotes. Ask whether surface repairs are included or quoted separately.
Wallpaper removal. Stripping wallpaper before painting adds $15 to $40 per square metre depending on layers and adhesive type.
Scaffolding. External scaffolding is sometimes quoted separately from the painting work. For a double-storey home, scaffolding hire ranges from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on complexity and duration.
Tips to Save Money on House Painting
Reducing house painting cost does not mean accepting a lower quality finish. These strategies lower your bill without compromising the result.
Keep the same colour. Avoiding a colour change eliminates the need for a tinted primer and extra topcoats, saving $500 to $2,000 on a full repaint.
Do your own prep. Moving furniture away from walls, removing curtains and blinds, taking off switch plates and outlet covers, and washing interior walls with sugar soap can save $500 to $1,200 off a professional quote. Leave sanding, patching, and priming to your painter.
Paint interior and exterior together. Bundling both jobs gives your painter better scheduling efficiency and often attracts a 5 to 15 percent discount compared to separate projects.
Book in the off-season. Painters are busiest from October to March. Booking interior work during winter (June to August) can result in better availability and potentially lower quotes, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney where demand is seasonal.
Choose mid-range paint. Premium paint delivers better coverage and durability, but the difference between a quality mid-range product (Dulux Wash & Wear, $75–$90/10L) and the top-shelf option (Dulux Professional, $100–$120/10L) is marginal for most residential applications. Avoid the cheapest builder-grade products, which require more coats and fade faster.
Maintain your paintwork. Washing exterior surfaces annually and touching up chips or cracks early extends the life of a paint job from five years to eight or more. This reduces repainting frequency and long-term house painting cost. In the Australian climate, exterior paint degrades faster than in cooler regions, with north-facing and west-facing walls typically needing attention first.
State-Specific Considerations
Painter licensing requirements vary across Australia, and not every state has a specific painter licence.
Queensland. Painting work over $3,300 (including GST) requires a QBCC licence. Queensland has 6,300+ licensed painters. The QBCC handles complaints and disputes. Check your painter on TradieVerify’s QLD page.
Western Australia. WA has the lowest threshold at $1,000 and a unique two-tier system: Painting Practitioners supervise work, Painting Contractors deal directly with clients. Over 4,700 registered painters in WA.
New South Wales. Painting work over $5,000 (labour and materials) requires a licence from Building Commission NSW. Always verify the licence number before signing a contract.
Victoria. Domestic painting work valued over $10,000 requires registration with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Below this threshold, no specific painter registration is needed.
South Australia. Painters performing building work need a contractor licence through Consumer and Business Services (CBS). No specific dollar threshold applies.
ACT, Tasmania, and Northern Territory. These jurisdictions have no specific painter licensing. Painters still need an ABN, appropriate insurance, and should hold a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30620). Always check insurance and qualifications in these states. Unlike trades such as plumbing and electrical, painting licensing is not mandatory in every state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a 3-bedroom house in Australia?
Interior painting for a standard three-bedroom home costs $4,500 to $9,000 depending on ceiling height, surface condition, and paint quality. This includes walls, ceilings, doors, skirting, and architraves. Homes requiring extensive preparation or a full colour change sit at the higher end.
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house in Australia?
Exterior painting for a single-storey, three-bedroom home costs $5,000 to $9,000. Double-storey homes run $8,000 to $15,000 due to scaffolding and increased labour. The surface material (weatherboard, render, brick) and condition of existing paint are the biggest variables.
Is it cheaper to paint a house yourself or hire a professional?
DIY painting saves on labour but takes significantly longer. A professional completes a room in a day; a homeowner typically takes a weekend. Materials for a full DIY interior repaint cost $1,500 to $3,000. Professional results last longer because preparation and application technique affect durability. For exterior work, working-at-height safety risks make hiring a professional the better option.
How often should you repaint a house in Australia?
Interior paintwork lasts 7 to 10 years under normal conditions. Exterior paint in Australia typically needs refreshing every 5 to 8 years due to UV exposure, heat, and weather. North-facing and west-facing walls degrade fastest. Coastal homes may need repainting every 4 to 6 years due to salt spray. Regular washing and touch-ups extend the interval.
Do painters charge per square metre or per room?
Most professional painters quote per project after a site inspection, but their internal pricing is based on square metres of paintable surface. Per-square-metre rates range from $20 to $60 for interior and $30 to $80 for exterior. Some painters quote per room for interior jobs, which typically ranges from $400 to $2,500 depending on the room size and scope.
Should I paint before or after selling my house?
A fresh interior and exterior paint job is one of the highest-return pre-sale improvements. Industry data suggests a full repaint can add 2 to 5 percent to a home’s sale price. For a home valued at $800,000, that is $16,000 to $40,000 in perceived value against a house painting cost of $8,000 to $15,000. Stick to neutral colours: whites, warm greys, and light greiges appeal to the broadest range of buyers.
Related Guides
- How to Hire a Licensed Painter — Our painter hiring guide
- Selling Your Home: Trade Jobs That Add the Most Value — Our value-adding trade jobs
- Getting Quotes from Tradies — Our getting quotes guide
Sources
- Housing Industry Association (HIA), renovation cost data and industry benchmarks, 2024–2025
- QBCC, Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed painter register and contractor thresholds
- DEMIRS, WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, painter registration requirements
- AS/NZS 2311:2017, Guide to the painting of buildings, Standards Australia
- AS/NZS 4361.2, Guide to hazardous paint management: Lead paint in residential, public, and commercial buildings
- Australian Consumer Law, consumer guarantees for services, ACCC
- Dulux Australia, recommended paint systems and product specifications, 2025
- Safe Work Australia, workplace health and safety guidelines for working at heights and hazardous materials