How much does painter & decorator cost in Australia?
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Key takeaways
- Most painter & decorator jobs in Australia land between A$200–A$12,000 — known locally as painter.
- Australian painter licensing is state-based and threshold-triggered: Queensland's QBCC licenses painting work over $3,300, NSW Fair Trading licenses residential painting over $5,000, and Victoria requires registration for major domestic building work — always match the licence to the job size. Homes built before 1970 commonly contain lead paint, with government guidance requiring containment-based removal practices.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Painter & Decorator prices by job size in Australia
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room (walls and ceiling) Standard bedroom, two coats, minor prep | A$300 | A$550 | A$900 |
| Whole interior (3-bed home) Walls throughout, standard prep, two coats | A$3,000 | A$5,500 | A$8,000 |
| Exterior repaint (single-storey house) Weatherboard or render, wash and prep, two coats | A$4,000 | A$7,000 | A$12,000 |
| Doors, trim, and skirting (per room) Enamel or water-based enamel woodwork | A$200 | A$400 | A$700 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (labour) | A$50 | A$75 | A$100 |
| per m2 (interior, walls) | A$15 | A$30 | A$45 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in Australia typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a painter & decorator pro in Australia
- Check state licensing: QLD requires a QBCC licence for painting work over $3,300; NSW requires a licence for residential painting over $5,000; VIC requires registration for larger domestic building work
- Ask for public liability insurance (AUD 5m+ is standard) and whether the price includes GST
- Get itemised quotes on hipages or direct: prep level, coats, and paint brand (e.g., Dulux/Taubmans trade lines)
- For pre-1970 homes, ask about lead-safe practices — Australian homes built before 1970 commonly contain lead paint
- For exteriors, confirm access equipment and season timing around your state's wet season
- Agree progress payments; QLD and NSW cap deposits on regulated jobs (typically 10%)
Red flags
- Unlicensed for a job size that legally requires one (QLD >$3,300, NSW >$5,000)
- Dry-sanding old paint in a pre-1970 home
- Quote silent on GST and paint supply
- Large upfront deposit beyond state caps
- No ABN or insurance
- One-coat exterior bids
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to AUD, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: Australian cost guides 2026 ($50-$100/hr, room $300-$800, interior $15-$45/m2); hipages painter cost norms; QBCC and NSW Fair Trading licensing thresholds.
Frequently asked questions
Do painters also hang wallpaper or just paint?
Many painter-decorators do both — wallpaper hanging, feature walls, and removal — but it's a distinct skill, so ask for wallpaper-specific references. Wallpaper removal before painting is usually quoted separately since old paper can come off in minutes or take days depending on how it was applied. Never let anyone paint over wallpaper without discussing it; it's occasionally fine, usually a mistake.
Does a painting quote include paint and materials?
Not always — this is the biggest source of quote confusion. Some painters quote labour-only with you supplying paint; others include mid-range trade paint and itemise upgrades. Materials typically add 15-25% to a labour-only price. Always ask: is paint included, what brand and line, and how many coats? Two quotes can differ mostly because one includes premium paint and the other assumes you buy it.
Do painters fix cracks and holes before painting?
Good ones do — prep is most of the job. Standard prep includes filling small cracks and holes, sanding, caulking gaps, and spot-priming. What's usually excluded: major plaster repairs, water-damage remediation, and wallpaper removal, which are quoted separately. Ask the quote to state the prep level explicitly; 'paint over as-is' versus 'fill, sand, and prime' can be half the price difference between two quotes.
Is it worth paying more for premium paint?
Usually yes for high-traffic areas and exteriors. Premium lines cover better (sometimes saving a coat), scrub clean without burnishing, and hold colour longer outdoors. On a professional job, labour dominates the price — upgrading paint might add a small percentage to the total while meaningfully extending repaint intervals. Save budget paint for low-traffic ceilings and rental refreshes.
What licence should my painter have in Australia?
Depends on state and job size: in QLD any painting job over $3,300 requires a QBCC-licensed painter; in NSW residential painting over $5,000 requires a NSW Fair Trading licence. Check the licence number on the state register — unlicensed work at those values voids consumer protections and often insurance.
How much do painters charge in Australia?
Licensed painters typically charge $50-$100 per hour, with interior work at roughly $15-$45 per square metre. A standard room runs $300-$900, a full 3-bed interior $3,000-$8,000, and exterior repaints $4,000-$12,000 depending on cladding, height, and prep.
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