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General

How much does a plasterer cost?

Hanging plasterboard costs about $25 to $65 per square metre for labour, and a small patch repair about $150 to $200. A plasterer charges about $50 to $85 an hour.

Hang plasterboard on walls, labour only:$25–$65 per m²

Updated 19 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 plasterer 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 plasterer works out the price

A plasterer usually prices new walls and ceilings by the square metre, and repairs as a fixed amount for the job or by the hour. Hanging the plasterboard and setting it, which means taping and finishing the joints ready for paint, are often priced separately, and the board itself is often extra. The rate has to cover more than wages: the Fair Work Building and Construction General On-site Award sets minimum hourly rates from $26.67 to $30.38 for levels 1 to 4 (rates marked 1 July 2026), and the price also pays for tools, insurance and travel.

  1. Measure the walls and ceilings to be sheeted or repaired
  2. Hang the plasterboard, priced per square metre of labour
  3. Set the joints and finish, priced per square metre
  4. Cornices and other trims, priced per metre
  5. Patching and repairs, priced per job or per hour
  6. Plasterboard and materials, unless the plasterer supplies them
  7. GST on the total

Worked example: 30 m² of new wall in a small room, hung and set, plus 14 metres of cornice, labour only (illustrative, not a quote)

Hang plasterboard, 30 m² at $41 per m²
$1,230
Set the joints and skim, 30 m² at $28 per m²
$840
Install cornice, 14 metres at $15 per metre
$210
Total
$2,280 total, before plasterboard and materials (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages, plasterers' own published rates on ServiceSeeking, two compiled cost guides from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share. The sources do not state a GST basis, and several figures rest on a single publisher.

  • Hang plasterboard on walls, labour only (per m²)

    A compiled guide gives $25 to $65 for labour only. Airtasker gives $23 to $70 for plastering overall, with a $43 median. The board is extra. Ceilings cost more than walls.

    Low
    $25
    Typical
    $41
    High
    $65

  • Small patch repair, such as a hole in a wall (per job)

    A compiled guide gives $150 to $280. Reviewed Airtasker repair jobs cost $100 to $200. We use the overlap. Water damage or many holes cost more.

    Low
    $150
    Typical
    $175
    High
    $200

  • Plaster a ceiling in a small to medium room (per job)

    Airtasker's guide gives $380 to $850 for small and medium ceilings and its services page gives $245 to $637 with a $400 median. We use where they overlap. Large ceilings can cost much more.

    Low
    $380
    Typical
    $500
    High
    $637

  • Replace a ceiling in one room (12 to 16 m²), strip-out and new plasterboard (per room)

    One compiled guide only. Airtasker lists whole-room plastering from $1,100 to $2,800 or more, but the scope is not the same.

    Low
    $800
    Typical
    $1,900
    High
    $3,000

  • Cornice installation (per metre)

    One compiled guide only. Airtasker customers have posted budgets of $250 for finishing and cornice work and $1,000 for cornice and square-set plaster in a 7 by 3 metre room.

    Low
    $10
    Typical
    $15
    High
    $50

  • Cement render on external walls (per m²)

    One compiled guide only. It lists acrylic render at $40 to $70 and polished or Venetian plaster at $80 to $180. Quotes for solid plastering should be checked closely.

    Low
    $30
    Typical
    $45
    High
    $60

  • Plasterer hourly rate (per hour)

    A compiled guide gives $50 to $120. Plasterers on ServiceSeeking list $45 and $85 an hour. We use the range they share.

    Low
    $50
    Typical
    $70
    High
    $85
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Hang plasterboard on walls, labour only (per m²)A compiled guide gives $25 to $65 for labour only. Airtasker gives $23 to $70 for plastering overall, with a $43 median. The board is extra. Ceilings cost more than walls.$25$41$65
Small patch repair, such as a hole in a wall (per job)A compiled guide gives $150 to $280. Reviewed Airtasker repair jobs cost $100 to $200. We use the overlap. Water damage or many holes cost more.$150$175$200
Plaster a ceiling in a small to medium room (per job)Airtasker's guide gives $380 to $850 for small and medium ceilings and its services page gives $245 to $637 with a $400 median. We use where they overlap. Large ceilings can cost much more.$380$500$637
Replace a ceiling in one room (12 to 16 m²), strip-out and new plasterboard (per room)One compiled guide only. Airtasker lists whole-room plastering from $1,100 to $2,800 or more, but the scope is not the same.$800$1,900$3,000
Cornice installation (per metre)One compiled guide only. Airtasker customers have posted budgets of $250 for finishing and cornice work and $1,000 for cornice and square-set plaster in a 7 by 3 metre room.$10$15$50
Cement render on external walls (per m²)One compiled guide only. It lists acrylic render at $40 to $70 and polished or Venetian plaster at $80 to $180. Quotes for solid plastering should be checked closely.$30$45$60
Plasterer hourly rate (per hour)A compiled guide gives $50 to $120. Plasterers on ServiceSeeking list $45 and $85 an hour. We use the range they share.$50$70$85

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What changes the price

  • Ceilings or walls. Ceilings are harder to board and finish than walls, so the same area costs more.
  • Type of board. Acoustic, fire-rated or moisture-resistant board costs more. A compiled guide puts acoustic board labour at $35 to $85 per square metre.
  • Finish level. A smooth finish ready for gloss paint takes more coats and sanding than a basic finish.
  • Repairs and water damage. Patching cracks or water damage needs drying out and matching the existing surface, so it is often priced by the hour or the job.
  • Room height and access. High ceilings need scaffolding or planks, and a stairwell takes longer to work in.
  • Job size. A single room has a minimum charge that is high per square metre, while a whole house is priced lower per square metre.
  • Location. Airtasker's guide lists Sydney at $76 to $105 and Adelaide at $65 to $75 per square metre. See the metro and regional note below.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Labour to hang and set the plasterboard as agreed
  • Taping and sanding the joints ready for paint
  • Cutting openings for lights, switches and vents
  • Basic clean-up of plaster dust and offcuts, where the quote says so

Often extra

  • Plasterboard and other materials, unless the quote says they are supplied
  • Painting, which is a separate trade
  • Removing old plasterboard, insulation or asbestos-containing material
  • Electrical or plumbing work that has to be moved or reconnected
  • Scaffolding for high or stairwell ceilings

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more plasterers, but higher wages, parking and travel time push rates up. Airtasker's guide lists Sydney at $76 to $105 per square metre and Adelaide at $65 to $75, although it does not say what is included.

Regional: None of our sources gives separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive can add to the price and plasterboard may be delivered over a distance. Fewer plasterers means fewer quotes to compare.

Licensing and compliance

Plastering is regulated differently in each state, and we could not confirm every state.

New South Wales: Fair Trading, part of the NSW Government, requires a contractor licence for residential building work, including general trade work, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST, and wet plastering and dry plastering are separate licence classes on its page.

Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission requires registration for domestic building work above $10,000, but a job involving only plastering does not need registration (its page was last updated on 9 July 2025); combining plastering with other skills, such as painting, does.

Queensland: the QBCC requires a licence for building work valued over $3,300, and has two classes: Plastering drywall, which covers fixing plasterboard, cornices and joint finishing, and Plastering solid, which covers render and float and set coats.

Western Australia: Building and Energy requires a registered building contractor when work needs a building permit and is valued at $20,000 or more, and its page does not name plastering.

South Australia: Consumer and Business Services requires a building work contractor's licence for building work done for others.

Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) licenses builders, but we could not open its pages, so we could not confirm whether plasterers need a licence; check the register.

The ACT: Access Canberra and the Construction Occupations Registrar license builders, and its page does not mention plasterers.

Northern Territory: the Building Practitioners Board requires registration for residential building work valued at $12,000 or more.

Ask the plasterer for a licence number where one applies.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Does the price cover hanging only, or hanging and setting the joints?
  • Is the plasterboard included, and what thickness or type?
  • How many square metres are being priced, and are ceilings priced separately?
  • Is the finish level ready for paint, and who paints?
  • Is removal of old plaster or insulation included?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?

Frequently asked questions

How much does plastering cost per square metre?

A compiled guide puts plasterboard hanging labour at $25 to $65 per square metre, and Airtasker puts plastering overall at $23 to $70. The board and finishing may cost extra, so ask what the rate covers.

How much does it cost to patch a hole in a plaster wall?

Our sources overlap at about $150 to $200 for a small hole. Water damage, many holes or repairs to a ceiling cost more.

What does a plasterer charge per hour?

A compiled guide gives $50 to $120 an hour, and plasterers on ServiceSeeking list $45 and $85. The range they share is $50 to $85. Many jobs are quoted per square metre or as a fixed price instead.

What is the difference between plastering and rendering?

Plastering usually means finishing interior walls and ceilings, with plasterboard or a solid coat. Rendering is a cement or acrylic coat on external walls. One compiled guide puts cement render at $30 to $60 per square metre.

Is painting included in a plastering quote?

Usually not. Plasterers finish the surface ready for paint, and painting is a separate job and a separate trade.

Do I need a licensed plasterer?

It depends on the state and the value of the job, as set out in the licensing section. Ask for a licence number where one applies.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages, plasterers' own published rates on ServiceSeeking, two compiled cost guides from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share. The sources do not state a GST basis, and several figures rest on a single publisher. How we calculate our guides.

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