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Painting

How much does house painting cost?

Painting one room usually costs about $400 to $920.

One interior room, walls (ceiling optional), light preparation:$400–$920 per room

Updated 15 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a painter works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a painter works out the price

A painter usually builds a price from the surfaces to be painted (walls, ceilings, trim, doors), the preparation each needs, the number of coats and whether the painter supplies the paint. Many painters quote a fixed price for the job rather than by the hour. Labour is the largest part: the Fair Work award minimum for a painter at Level 3 (weekly hire, residential work) is $31.12 an hour from 1 July 2026, and the price a customer pays also covers the painter's materials, vehicle, insurance, tools and time spent quoting.

  1. Inspect the job: surfaces, ceiling height, condition and access
  2. Preparation: cleaning, filling, sanding, masking and any repairs
  3. Primer and paint coats, with the paint supplied or not as quoted
  4. Labour for each surface, often fixed for the job
  5. Access equipment for high ceilings or a second storey
  6. GST, if the painter charges it

Worked example: One bedroom, walls and ceiling, two coats, light preparation (illustrative, not a quote)

Preparation: fill, sand and mask
$150
Labour: walls and ceiling, two coats
$350
Paint and materials
$120
Total
$620 total (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 15 October 2026 from Australian marketplace price guides, a painters' industry body guide, a renovation company guide and the Fair Work pay guide. Each range stays inside figures that at least two publishers share; some sources say whether GST is included and most do not, so we treat the basis as unconfirmed.

  • One interior room, walls (ceiling optional), light preparation (per room)

    Where the sources' per-room ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap because no source gives a single typical. Painters often do not price by the room, so a quote for several rooms can come in under the sum of single-room prices.

    Low
    $400
    Typical
    $660
    High
    $920

  • Whole interior, three-bedroom home, walls and ceilings (per job)

    Where whole-house interior ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap (one industry body's average for a three-bedroom interior is higher, at $8,500, and sits inside the range). Trim, doors, high ceilings and repairs push a quote toward the top.

    Low
    $4,000
    Typical
    $7,000
    High
    $10,000

  • Exterior repaint, single-storey brick home (per job)

    Thin evidence for brick specifically. Only one source (a renovation supplier) prices a single-storey brick exterior, at $3,000 to $8,000. A marketplace's whole-house exterior range ($800 to $6,000, from a 2024 page with a median of $2,800) shares $3,000 to $6,000 with it, and two single figures (about $4,000 for a simple job and $5,500 as an industry-body average) sit inside that band. Typical is the midpoint of the band, not a published figure. Weatherboard or a second storey with scaffolding costs well above this range, so we do not give a figure for those.

    Low
    $3,000
    Typical
    $4,500
    High
    $6,000
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
One interior room, walls (ceiling optional), light preparation (per room)Where the sources' per-room ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap because no source gives a single typical. Painters often do not price by the room, so a quote for several rooms can come in under the sum of single-room prices.$400$660$920
Whole interior, three-bedroom home, walls and ceilings (per job)Where whole-house interior ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap (one industry body's average for a three-bedroom interior is higher, at $8,500, and sits inside the range). Trim, doors, high ceilings and repairs push a quote toward the top.$4,000$7,000$10,000
Exterior repaint, single-storey brick home (per job)Thin evidence for brick specifically. Only one source (a renovation supplier) prices a single-storey brick exterior, at $3,000 to $8,000. A marketplace's whole-house exterior range ($800 to $6,000, from a 2024 page with a median of $2,800) shares $3,000 to $6,000 with it, and two single figures (about $4,000 for a simple job and $5,500 as an industry-body average) sit inside that band. Typical is the midpoint of the band, not a published figure. Weatherboard or a second storey with scaffolding costs well above this range, so we do not give a figure for those.$3,000$4,500$6,000

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What changes the price

  • Surfaces and trim. Ceilings, doors, architraves and skirting add time. A job with lots of trim costs more per square metre than plain walls.
  • Preparation and repairs. Filling, sanding, stain treatment and wallpaper removal can add hundreds per room before any paint goes on.
  • Ceiling height and access. High ceilings, stairwells and a second storey need ladders, platforms or scaffolding, which adds cost and time.
  • Paint quality and coats. Premium paint and a primer coat cost more than a basic two-coat finish, and a dark-to-light colour change may need extra coats.
  • Exterior surface. Brick, weatherboard and render take different preparation and paint, and weatherboard is usually the dearer of the two.
  • Age of the home. Older homes may have lead paint or asbestos-containing materials, which change how the work has to be done.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Labour for the surfaces named in the quote
  • Light preparation such as cleaning, minor filling and sanding where the quote says so
  • Masking and drop sheets to protect floors and fittings
  • Undercoat or primer and finish coats as listed
  • Paint, if the quote says the painter supplies it

Often extra

  • Repairing damaged plaster, rot or water damage before painting
  • Moving or storing furniture, unless quoted
  • Scaffolding or access equipment for tall or multi-storey work, unless quoted
  • Removing lead paint or asbestos-containing material, which needs specialist handling

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more painters and more competition, but wages, parking and travel time push prices up.

Regional: Our sources do not give separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. A longer drive can add to the price, and fewer providers means fewer quotes to compare.

Licensing and compliance

Painting is not licensed the same way everywhere, and we only report the states whose regulator pages we opened.

New South Wales: the Building Commission NSW page (updated 23 June 2026) says painting counts as trade work that needs a contractor licence when valued above $5,000 in labour and materials including GST, and that stand-alone contracts for internal paintwork no longer need a licence unless the painting is part of other home building work.

Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission page (updated 9 July 2025) says painters do not have to register for jobs that involve only painting, but do when combining skills, and registration applies to domestic building contracts worth more than $10,000.

Queensland: the QBCC lists a painting and decorating trade licence; the page we read sets no dollar threshold and was last reviewed in 2021, so ask the painter for their QBCC licence number and check it on the register.

We did not read the rules for Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory, so check your state regulator.

Whatever the state, some risks apply to painting older homes.

NSW LeadSmart says lead paint was used in most Australian homes built before 1970 and recommends a professional trained in safe lead paint work.

NSW Asbestos Safety says homes built between 1940 and 1990 are likely to contain asbestos and not to sand, scrub or scrape suspected asbestos.

SafeWork NSW advises working from the ground where possible, using scaffolds or work platforms before ladders, and says a site-specific safe work method statement is needed where a person could fall more than 2 metres in construction work.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Does the quote list every room and surface (walls, ceilings, trim, doors)?
  • Is the paint supplied, and which brand, product and number of coats?
  • What preparation and repairs are included, and what is extra?
  • Is the price fixed, or hourly with an estimate of hours?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?
  • Does the painter hold the licence or registration your state requires for the job value, and public liability insurance?
  • If the home is older, how will lead paint or asbestos be handled?

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to price painting per room or for the whole house?

Painters often do not price by the room, and a whole-house job usually costs less per room because set-up and travel are shared. Ask for the whole-house price and a per-room breakdown, and compare the same scope.

Does the painter supply the paint?

It depends on the quote. Some prices include paint and materials and some do not, so ask the quote to say which. A price that leaves paint out can look cheaper than one that includes it.

Do I need a licensed painter?

It depends on your state and the value of the job. In New South Wales a licence is needed above $5,000, apart from stand-alone interior painting; in Victoria painting-only jobs do not need registration; Queensland lists a painting licence class. We did not read the other states. See the licensing section.

Why does an older home cost more to paint?

Old paint can contain lead, and homes built between 1940 and 1990 are likely to contain asbestos, so sanding and scraping may need extra precautions or a specialist. A painter should say how they will handle it before starting.

Does a second storey cost more?

Yes. Higher walls need ladders, platforms or scaffolding, which add cost and time. The ranges in this guide are for single-storey exteriors only, so get quotes for a second storey.

Should I take the cheapest quote?

Compare the same scope first: surfaces, preparation, coats and paint. A much lower price can leave out preparation, a coat or the paint itself.

Sources and method

Built on 15 October 2026 from Australian marketplace price guides, a painters' industry body guide, a renovation company guide and the Fair Work pay guide. Each range stays inside figures that at least two publishers share; some sources say whether GST is included and most do not, so we treat the basis as unconfirmed. How we calculate our guides.

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