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One painter's quote can be thousands of dollars away from the next for the same house. The gap usually comes from four things: the paint they plan to use, how much preparation the walls need, how much area there is to cover and how easy the site is to work on.
This guide shows what painters quoted for common jobs, what moves a quote up or down, and what to ask before you hire.
Cost of a professional painter
Painters usually quote a price for the whole job. These are the prices painters quoted for common jobs through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026:
| Job | Typical quote | Most quotes fell between |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | $750 | $500 to $1,300 |
| Several rooms | $3,200 | $1,500 to $5,500 |
| Two-bedroom home, whole interior | $4,000 | $2,800 to $5,100 |
| Three-bedroom home, whole interior | $5,500 | $3,800 to $7,000 |
| Touch-ups and small repairs | $1,200 | $500 to $2,800 |
A quote given without a site visit can change once the painter sees the walls.
The ranges are wide because the jobs inside each row differ. "Several rooms" covers anything from two rooms to five or more, with or without ceilings. Touch-ups cover anything from one patched wall to repairs across a whole house.
Cost of painting a house
For a whole interior, the bedroom count is the quickest guide to price, as the table above shows. Ceilings, doors and skirting boards add to it, and so does a colour change from dark to light, which can need an extra coat.
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Exterior quotes depend more on the wall surface, such as brick, render or weatherboard, and on access, such as scaffolding for a second storey. Painters quoting exterior repaints through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026 priced them at a typical $3,000, with most quotes between $1,200 and $8,000. Those jobs ran from a single wall or front facade to a whole two-storey house, which is why the range is so wide.
For more detail, read our guides to the cost to paint a house, the cost to paint a room and the cost of an exterior painter.
Do painters charge by the hour?
Some do, mostly for small jobs where measuring up would take longer than the work. For a room or more, most painters quote a fixed price for the job, worked out from the wall and ceiling area, the prep and the number of coats.
A fixed price is easier to compare. If a painter offers an hourly or daily rate, ask how many hours or days they expect the job to take and whether paint and materials are on top. Then you can compare the total against fixed-price quotes.
What changes a painting quote
- Paint quality. Compare the specified product system, surface suitability, coverage and manufacturer's maintenance information; price per tin alone does not establish the finished result.
- Preparation. Filling cracks, sanding, scraping flaking paint and sealing stains all take time before the first coat goes on.
- Area. More wall and ceiling means more paint and more hours.
- Access. High ceilings, stairwells and second storeys need planks, ladders or scaffolding.
- Colours. Each extra colour means more cutting in and another tin.
- What's included. Ceilings, doors, trims and skirting boards may or may not be in the price.
Tip: Ask each painter to quote the same scope: the same rooms, ceilings in or out, the same number of coats. Two quotes that look far apart can be close once they cover the same work.
Cost of roof painting
Roof painting is usually priced on the whole roof area. Its condition also moves the price. Cracked tiles, rust or failed ridge capping need repair before any coating goes on, and that work is often quoted separately. See our roof painting cost guide for what drives the price.
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Do you need a licensed painter?
It depends on your state and the value of the job. In New South Wales, check the painting contractor licensing requirements and any exemptions for your contract with the regulator (NSW Government). In Queensland, painting work over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence (QBCC).
Other states set their own rules, so check with your state's building or fair trading regulator for a larger job.
Ask questions before you hire a painter
Before you hire a painter, make sure the quote covers every cost. Once you have chosen one, have them inspect the house before any work starts, so the price is set on what they have seen.
- Is the quote a fixed price for the job, or an hourly or daily rate?
- Does it include ceilings, doors, trims and skirting boards?
- What prep is included, and what happens if they find damage under the old paint?
- Which paint brand and range will they use, and how many coats?
- Do they hold a licence, where your state requires one, and are they insured for damage to your home?
- Is the quote in writing, with a start date and how long the job will take?
Prices change over time, so get current quotes from local painters before you set a budget.