01
Prep is where quality lives
Ask what prep is included. Washing, scraping, filling, sanding, undercoat, each step should be listed. A bare scope ('2 coats') without prep details is a flag.
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Interior and exterior house painting prices in Australia, and why prep work, not paint brand, determines how long the job lasts.
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Painting is 70% prep, 30% paint. A cheap quote that skips filling, sanding, and proper undercoat will look great for 12 months and show every flaw by year three. Good painters spend more time on prep than brushwork.
Most residential jobs are priced per square metre of wall area, or per room for small jobs. Factors like ceiling height, existing colour, and prep state can double the labour.
What to look for
What separates a good painting job from a bad one
The differences between quotes usually come down to a few things. None are visible on day one, and all show up later.
02
Paint selection
Interior: low-sheen for main walls (forgiving), semi-gloss for trim (washable), flat for ceilings. Exterior: 100% acrylic for weatherboard, elastomeric for render with micro-cracks.
03
Number of coats matters
Two coats over a good undercoat is standard. Going over a dark colour or unpainted plaster often needs three. Cheap quotes sometimes promise one coat, avoid.
04
Warranty on workmanship
Good painters warranty their work for 5–7 years. Paint manufacturers warranty the product longer, but only if applied per spec.
05
Timing, exterior
Don't paint exterior in winter (cold surfaces don't adhere) or in heatwaves (flash drying). Spring and autumn are ideal in most AU climates.
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Typical pricing
What does house painting cost in Australia?
So you know what’s fair to pay, not because cheapest is best.
Get a tighter estimate with our pricing calculatorTypical packages at a glance
Single room, walls only
$400–$900
What’s included
One average-sized room, two coats, standard prep. Ceilings and trim extra.
When this fits
Refreshing one room after damage or before moving in.
Interior, 3-bedroom home
$3,500–$7,000
What’s included
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors. Two coats, quality acrylic paint, light filling and sanding.
When this fits
Whole-home refresh. Move-in, pre-sale, or after years of wear.
Exterior, weatherboard home
$6,000–$14,000
What’s included
Pressure wash, scrape, undercoat, 2 topcoats. Weatherboards, trim, eaves, doors.
When this fits
Every 7–10 years on exposed weatherboard. Crucial for weatherproofing.
Exterior, full house (render or brick)
$8,000–$22,000+
What’s included
All exterior surfaces, render prep, elastomeric or textured coating, high-access scaffold.
When this fits
Render or brick-cement house, especially 2-storey or in harsh coastal climates.
Quotes well below the entry tier usually skip prep work or use lower-grade product. Quotes above the premium tier are worth asking why. Use this as a fairness check, not a bargain hunt.
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What affects your quote
What affects your quote
A few factors do most of the work. Use them to decode why two quotes for “the same job” can be hundreds apart.
Prep state
Filling, sanding, stain blocking, and undercoating can add 30–80% to a quote if surfaces are damaged or previously painted poorly.
Coats required
Light to dark or dark to light needs 3+ coats, sometimes a stain-blocking primer. More paint, more labour.
Height and access
Two-storey exterior needs scaffolding ($500–$2,500) and safety equipment. Ground-floor only saves a lot.
Paint quality
Premium paints (Dulux Wash&Wear, Taubmans Endure) cost $100–$200/can but last 2x longer and wash easier.
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How we vet specialists
Only specialists who meet our quality bar
We don’t list every business in your area, only the ones who pass our checks. Here’s what we look for.
Verified ABN
Every business is checked against the Australian Business Register before they can quote. Sole-trader cowboys without registration don't make the cut.
Strong review history
Listed businesses meet our review and rating bar. We don't feature unproven operators, and we audit ongoing review velocity.
Quick to respond
We monitor how quickly each business responds to quote requests. Slow responders fall down the matching order automatically.
Customer feedback after every job
Real customers rate every completed job. That signal decides who keeps showing up in your matches, and who quietly disappears.
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Brands you’ll see
Common paint brands
Brand and product names you’re likely to see in quotes.
Dulux Wash&Wear / Weathershield
Market-leader premium range. 10-year+ warranty on Weathershield.
Taubmans Endure
Strong interior washable range, competitive on price.
Wattyl
Established Australian brand, particularly strong in protective/industrial coatings.
Haymes
Australian-made, popular with heritage and character homes.
British Paints
Budget-friendly, often used on rentals.
Porter's Paints
Premium finishes and limewash, designer-favoured.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
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Related guides
Interior Cleaning
Regular housekeeping, deep cleans, and end-of-lease pricing, including why a bond-back guarantee matters for tenants.
Exterior Cleaning
Pressure washing, soft washing, gutter cleaning, and solar panel cleaning, prices and when pressure is the wrong tool for the job.
Roofing
Roof repairs, re-roofing, and gutter replacement costs, plus the old-home gotchas like asbestos and structural batten upgrades.