House painting cost calculator
Estimate a professional paint job. Pick interior or exterior and your home size for a realistic price range.
What painting a house costs in Australia
Painters usually price a whole job rather than per hour, working off the size of the home, how much prep is needed, and the number of coats. Interior work covers walls, ceilings, doors and trims. Exterior work depends a lot on the surface, the height, and how much scraping and sanding the old paint needs.
Condition is the swing factor. A home in good order needs a wash and a couple of coats. Flaky render, water damage or bare timber needs scraping, filling and priming first, which adds hours and lifts the price.
| Home size | Interior | Exterior |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bed or unit | $1,500 to $3,000 | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| 2 bed | $2,800 to $5,000 | $4,000 to $7,000 |
| 3 bed | $4,000 to $7,000 | $6,000 to $11,000 |
| 4 bed or large | $6,000 to $11,000 | $9,000 to $18,000 |
Painting it yourself? Work out how much paint to buy with the paint quantity calculator.
Handy gear for this job
Tackling a room yourself? Decent gear makes a tidier finish.
- Roller and tray kitView on Amazon AU →
- Painters masking tapeView on Amazon AU →
- Drop sheetsView on Amazon AU →
These are Amazon Australia links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the prices we publish.
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint a 3 bedroom house?
Interior usually runs $4,000 to $7,000 and a full exterior repaint $6,000 to $11,000, depending on prep and finish. Heavy prep on old or damaged surfaces pushes it higher.
Is it cheaper to paint yourself?
You save on labour, which is most of the cost, but you take on the prep, the gear and the time. For a single room DIY makes sense. For a whole house the time and finish often make a professional worth it.
How many coats do I need?
Two coats over an existing similar colour is standard. A big colour change, bare surfaces or dark to light can need a primer plus two coats, which adds to the price.
These figures are estimates to help you plan and sense check quotes. They are not a quote. Site access, materials, finish and your location all move the final price. Always get two or three written quotes.
Know a fair price before you call
Browse the rest of the free calculators and hiring guides, or read the cost guides on the blog.