While painting your home may seem like a significant investment, it's often an extremely worthwhile task that can increase the value of your home and make it appear more aesthetically appealing.
We cover everything you need to know about hiring a professional painter to help you below.
Get quotes from our qualified and licensed tradies Australia-wide.
Here are some estimates on what you can expect to pay in Australia to paint a house (both interior and exterior):
As with interior painting, exterior painting is also priced by the square metre, at approximately $15 to $45. Exterior painters can charge $10,000 to $20,000 for the exterior of a large 4-bedroom home. The price will depend on the exterior make-up of your home, whether it is brick, timber, or weatherboard, for example.
Additional variables that affect the price include the paint products you choose, the amount of prep or repair work required and colour choices. If you would like to know more about exterior painting costs then read our cost guide on: “How much does it cost to hire an exterior painter?”
Australian painters will typically charge by the square metre, at an average cost of $35 to $45 per square metre. Expect this to include a single undercoat and two finish coats. The price fluctuates depending on your choice of materials, colours, and how much prep work is necessary. To paint the interior of your typical-sized home (230 square metres), it will cost between $4,000 to $11,000.
If you would like to know more about interior painting costs, then read our cost guide on: “How much does it cost to hire an interior painter?”
Often, the bedroom is the first place you'll begin your home improvement project. The standard 3x3.5 metre room will cost between $300 and $750 to paint, bearing in mind that you will need around 10L of paint and a can of primer to get the best results.
Bathrooms are typically smaller in size, meaning they cost less! You can expect to typically pay between $150 to $350 to paint your bathroom at the average bathroom size of 6.5 square metres. As a general rule, you will spend more per litre for high or semi-gloss paints over matte or eggshell finishes. The benefit is that these paints are much more durable and easier to maintain.
As we move into painting the living room or hallway, the area increases and in turn so does the price. You will pay anywhere between $900 to $2,000 depending on the specific size of the area you want to be painted. The price will increase if you opt for two colours for an accent wall or if you have high ceilings.
On average, painting your kitchen’s walls will be almost 50% less than most other rooms due to the cabinetry. Expect to pay around $1,000 for your kitchen, at $100 to $200 per linear metre.
You can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 to $10,000 to paint your property’s roof. Subjective to the products you use, the experience of the painter and the size of your roof. To read more on this, then read our cost guide: “How Much Does a Roof Painter Cost?”
Hiring a house painter should not be a split-second decision. As with any purchase, you want to consider the reputability of the company, their experience with this service, how long they have been in the business to ensure you receive a premium service.
Are you preparing your house for the market? Our top tip — ask a real estate agent for advice. Why? Because they have their finger on the pulse when it comes to current buyer trends. Keep in mind that some buyers will renovate once they buy, so do not over-sell on the paintwork. Focus on your kitchen and bathroom’s paintwork, offering the rest of the house as somewhat of a clean slate for prospective buyers.
Can I paint my house myself? Painting may seem like an easy DIY project anyone can take on, but the reality is that it is a skill that is best left to the experts, particularly when it comes to painting a house. DIY painting projects are great if you are redoing one room in the house, however, for bigger jobs we always recommend bringing in professionals.
If you’d still prefer to paint your house yourself, you will need the following items:
To receive the most accurate house painting quote, we recommend taking quotes from multiple painters to ensure you get a standard price range. Then, you can assess the best fit for the job.
To avoid any unexpected added costs to paint your house, ensure you have easy access for tradies and their equipment.
High-quality house paint products are always the best option for the best long-term finishes, so do your homework to ensure you know what paint products will be best for job. Factor in things location house location, weather, and other natural occurrences.
Always choose quality over a cheap price, as it may come back to bite you if you end up with poor-quality results. Usually, price is a reflection of the quality workmanship you will receive.
Hiring the right painter is crucial to the outcome of your job. Take note of qualifications, experience, references, and guarantees.
Get quotes from our qualified and licensed tradies Australia-wide.
Paint costs approximately $30 to $80 per 10L. The amount of paint you will need depends on the area you are painting, which can be worked out by the below formula;
Paint calculations = Wall length x height – windows/doors/unpaintable areas
Typically painters charge per square metre not per hour, however, if they do, you can expect to be charged between $40 to $60 per hour.
A single room can take anywhere from 5.5 to 10 hours to paint, depending on the experience of the painter. If you are undertaking a DIY paint job, it can take up to three hours longer than a professional.
All the costs quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are to be used as an AUD cost guide and may vary locally, and are subject to market changes.
