House Painting Cost in Australia: Per Square Metre and Per Room (2026)
16 September 2026
Painters in Australia charge $25 to $50 per square metre for interior work and $40 to $70 per square metre for exterior. That works out to roughly $500 to $1,200 per room or $6,000 to $14,000 for a three-bedroom interior. Here is what the common painting jobs cost, what makes a quote high or low, and how to compare painters who quote in completely different ways.
Prices are typical 2026 metro ranges, include paint and GST, and assume standard 2.4 to 2.7 metre ceilings.
Painter rates
| Charge | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $50 - $80 |
| Day rate | $400 - $650 |
| Interior (per m² of wall, incl. paint) | $25 - $50 |
| Exterior (per m², incl. paint) | $40 - $70 |
| Ceilings (per m²) | $15 - $30 |
Interior painting prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (walls only) | $400 - $800 |
| Bedroom (walls, ceiling, trim) | $600 - $1,200 |
| Living room / open plan | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Kitchen (walls and ceiling) | $500 - $1,000 |
| Bathroom | $400 - $800 |
| Hallway and stairwell | $800 - $2,000 |
| Feature wall | $300 - $700 |
| Doors (each, both sides) | $100 - $200 |
| Whole 2-bed unit interior | $4,000 - $8,000 |
| Whole 3-bed house interior | $6,000 - $14,000 |
| Whole 4-bed house interior | $9,000 - $18,000 |
Exterior painting prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single-storey weatherboard | $8,000 - $15,000 |
| Single-storey render or brick | $6,000 - $12,000 |
| Double-storey | $15,000 - $25,000+ |
| Fascias, gutters and eaves only | $1,500 - $4,000 |
| Roof painting (tile or metal) | $3,000 - $7,000 |
| Fence (per lineal metre) | $15 - $35 |
| Front door | $200 - $400 |
What makes painting cost more
Prep is most of the job. A painter’s quote is mostly time, and time is mostly preparation: washing, sanding, filling, caulking, masking. Walls in good condition take a fraction of the time of walls with cracks, peeling paint or old wallpaper.
- Wallpaper removal: add $10 - $20 per m²
- Heavy patching or plaster repair: add $200 - $800 per room
- Lead paint (pre-1970 homes): specialised prep, add significantly
- Ceiling height. Above 2.7 m, add 15 to 30 per cent
- Number of coats and colour changes. Dark to light needs three coats
- Paint quality. Premium paint costs $30 - $50 more per 10 L tin but lasts longer, especially outside
- Access. Double storey means scaffold or elevated platform: $1,000 - $3,000 on its own
- Weather. Exterior work in winter takes longer and may be postponed
How to compare painter quotes
Painters quote in different units - per room, per m², per day, per house - and the quotes will not line up. Ask each one for:
- Scope: which surfaces (walls, ceilings, trim, doors, windows)
- Prep included: washing, sanding, filling, gap sealing
- Coats: primer plus two topcoats is standard
- Paint brand and grade (Dulux Wash&Wear, Taubmans Endure, Haymes etc.)
- Furniture moving and floor protection
- Timeline and whether they work continuously
Then compare like for like. The cheapest quote is often missing one of the above.
Getting a good price
- Get three quotes. Painting prices vary widely, and posting the job once lets local painters quote from your photos and room list.
- Paint the whole house at once. Per-room pricing drops 20 to 30 per cent when a painter can set up once.
- Do the moving yourself. Clear the rooms and take down curtains and pictures.
- Book winter for interior work. Painters are quieter and rates are softer.
- Check the licence where required. Painters need a licence in NSW (above $5,000), QLD (above $3,300) and some other states.
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