How Much Does a Carpenter Cost in Australia? (2026 Rates and Job Prices)
16 September 2026
A carpenter in Australia costs $60 to $110 an hour, or $500 to $850 a day. Hanging a door is $150 to $350 in labour. Skirting boards are $15 to $40 a metre installed. A 20 m² deck is $5,000 to $8,000. The full breakdown is below, along with what changes the price and when a carpenter needs to be a licensed builder.
Prices are typical 2026 metro ranges and include GST. Materials are listed separately where they matter.
Carpenter rates
| Charge | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $60 - $110 |
| Day rate | $500 - $850 |
| Call-out / minimum | 1 - 2 hours or $120 - $200 |
| Apprentice (when supervised) | $35 - $55 |
Finish carpenters - the ones doing trim, built-ins and anything you will look at every day - are at the top of these ranges and are worth it.
Common carpentry job prices
| Job | Typical labour | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Hang an internal door | $150 - $350 | $80 - $500 |
| Hang an external door | $300 - $600 | $300 - $2,000 |
| Skirting boards (per lineal metre) | $15 - $40 | $5 - $20 |
| Architraves (per door/window) | $80 - $200 | $30 - $80 |
| Custom built-in shelving | $500 - $2,000 | $200 - $1,000 |
| Built-in wardrobe (carcass and doors) | $1,500 - $4,000 | $800 - $3,000 |
| Timber deck (per m²) | $120 - $250 | $100 - $300 |
| Timber fence (per lineal metre) | $60 - $120 | $40 - $100 |
| Pergola frame | $1,500 - $5,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 |
| Wall framing (per m² of wall) | $40 - $80 | $20 - $50 |
| Stair repair / replacement tread | $150 - $400 | $50 - $200 |
| Window frame repair | $200 - $600 | varies |
What affects carpentry prices
- Timber choice. Treated pine is cheapest. Hardwoods like spotted gum, blackbutt and merbau cost two to four times as much and take longer to work.
- Level of finish. Painted MDF trim versus clear-finished hardwood. Both are “skirting boards.” One costs three times the other.
- Old houses. Nothing is square or level in a 1920s cottage, and every job takes longer. A good carpenter allows for it; a cheap quote may not.
- Access and height. Ladders, scaffold and second storeys.
- Design time. Custom built-ins involve measuring, drawing and sometimes a second visit before anything is cut.
When a carpenter needs a builder’s licence
Small jobs - doors, trim, shelving, deck repairs - do not need a licence in most states. But once work is structural (framing, load-bearing changes, decks over a certain height) or exceeds the state’s building threshold, it is “building work” and must be done by a licensed builder or under one:
- QLD: above $3,300
- VIC: above $10,000
- NSW: above $20,000
- WA: above $20,000
Decks in particular catch people out. A low deck with no balustrade is carpentry. An elevated deck with balustrade needs engineering, possibly council approval, and a licensed builder. See our builder cost guide for that side.
How to get a fair carpentry quote
- Send photos and measurements. Most carpentry jobs can be priced from a photo and a tape measure reading.
- Say what timber and finish you want - or ask for two options.
- Get two or three prices. Post the job once and local carpenters will quote.
- Ask whether materials are included and at what allowance.
- For built-ins, ask for a sketch before you sign off. It avoids the “I thought it would be deeper” conversation.
- Check public liability insurance. Standard for any legitimate tradie.
Related guides
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