How Much to Paint a House – An Australia Price Guide


by Andrew Ahearne - November 29, 2021

Transforming your interior or exterior with a splash of paint can be a great way of giving your space new life. But many often wonder if professional house painting is really a cost-effective approach to freshening things up.

Whether you’re selling your home or uplifting a tired living space into something more modern, you should know the average cost of a paint job. And while it’s true that hiring professionals can be an expensive option, it may be the best solution to efficiently spruce up your home.

This guide is here to help you paint an accurate picture (no pun intended!) of the expected costs involved when hiring a pro and DIY, so you can decide on whether house painting is for you.

The Cost of Exterior House Painting

Prices for house exterior painting work can vary significantly, ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. A professional painting service will generally charge by square metre, though it’s worth checking for an hourly rate if applicable.

Here are some ballpark prices you can expect from a professional painter:

Brick Homes – $15 to $45 per square metre

Timer Homes – $12 to $60 per square metre

On average, a single-story house will cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, with brick veneer costing on the lower side and weatherboard homes on the higher end. In addition to the painting itself, the price includes prep work, application, cleanup and the cost of materials.

For a two-story weatherboard house, prices range from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on its size and condition.

Factors that Affect Your Exterior Painting Cost

On top of your home’s size there are several factors that can impact price, such as:

Property condition – If your home is exposed to harsh weather conditions, the paint is likely to fade faster. This may require more coats of paint, resulting in more expense.

How complex the house is – Exterior features such as gables and decorative/functional elements like verandahs and existing siding make the process more complicated.

Your home’s material – Differing textures and materials will affect the cost, i.e. brick vs wood vs concrete block.

Surface area – The larger the area, the more time and people it will take to paint.

LocationProfessional painting services in Sydney, Melbourne or other urban areas will typically cost more.

Looking to spruce up your brick exterior? Check out our lime washing, whitewashing, and german smear guides.

Is it Worth the Investment to Paint Your Exterior?

While the figures above might seem a little extreme, it may be just what you need to get your home in tip-top shape.

Why?

Compared to building a new addition or remodelling a kitchen, home painting is one of the cheapest ways to boost property value. Furthermore, a newly painted home isn’t just pretty to look at; it also helps insulate and protect your home from the outside elements.

Remember to paint your exterior every 5-7 years to ensure it remains well protected and in top condition. If you lack the experience to tackle the task of painting your exterior, the experts at Newline Painting can take care of it for you.

The Costs for Interior House Painting

House painting costs associated with painting an interior space are slightly less than those of the exterior. Homeowners can expect to pay $20-$30 per square metre, based on one undercoat and two finishing coats.

Cheaper paint projects will usually include one colour with basic prep and trim work, whereas higher end painting jobs will involve gloss architraves and a varied colour scheme.

Painting your kitchen area and two bedrooms will cost between $800 to $1,500, whereas a three-bedroom house will range between $4,500 to $6,000. A five-bedroom house will cost $9,000 for all rooms, and so on.

A paint job price, however, isn’t exclusive to painting your walls, as it will also include:

  • Prepping the walls (washing, sanding, etc.)
  • Priming the surface of the wall
  • Painting your windows and doors
  • Decorating borders and panels
  • Touch Ups around the room, such as skirting boards and door jambs

Factors that Affect the Cost of Interior Painting

Like exterior painting, a lot of factors go into determining the rate you’ll be quoted:

Ceiling height – High ceilings are harder to reach and take longer to paint

Condition of existing paint – If there is peeling or cracks in your walls, they will need to be repaired before painting can begin.

State of woodwork – If you have wooden panelling, moulding or doors that need refitting, this will affect the cost.

The number of coats – Extra paint coats will incur more fees.

Quality of paint – Higher quality paints cost more on the painter’s end

Decorative features – If you want decorative glazes or special paint effects, expect to pay a higher price.

Again, you should always check for an hourly rate since the time taken will impact the final price.

Here are 20 Things You Should Know About Interior Painting

Roof Painting Prices

You might be surprised to learn that roof painting won’t cost you an arm and a leg, as roof painters are usually quicker than you realise. Generally, homeowners will pay $2,800 to $4,500 for a roof paint, and in some cases, even less, depending on its condition and how efficient your painter is on the job.

What Do Professional Painters Charge Per Hour?

Painters’ rates vary from company to company, and it is often calculated by the hour. It’s advantageous to know Australian hourly costs beforehand, so you can plan your project accordingly with your budget.

Australian painters charge, on average, $35 to $45 an hour for a regular home, not counting materials and the cost of paint. In most scenarios, an hourly rate is used for exterior painting jobs since the time spent doing the job is more substantial.

Hourly rates may vary depending on the painter’s expertise, level of work, equipment, type of exterior, and the job’s complexity. If your painting project is relatively straightforward, it may be worthwhile to pay by the hour as it won’t take long to finish.

DIY Painting vs Hiring a Professional

If you’ve painted your home in the past, and you have a steady hand, it *may* be worthwhile to paint it yourself. Taking the DIY route can save on a substantial amount of money, as you’ll only be paying for materials.

For those not so confident with a paint brush, however, it may be a better idea to hire a professional. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to spiral out of control and end up spending more money than if they had just hiring someone. Unsatisfactory results plague DIY projects, which usually require a professional to fix the damage.

A professional will always be able to do the job right, and in most cases, they’ll complete it much faster than if you did the job yourself. Experience in painting is key in tackling any job properly, so consider hiring a pro for your painting project.

The House Painting Cost of DIY Painting

Unlike a professional painting service where you’re paying for their labour, expertise and time, DIY painting will only require the cost of materials.

Materials You’ll Need to have On-Hand Include:

  • Paint Roller
  • Brushes
  • Drop Cloths or Tarps
  • Paint Trays and Stir Sticks
  • Step Ladders or Scaffolding (if too high to reach)
  • Primers
  • Paint

The average DIY house painter spends $284 on a paint purchase. However, larger jobs usually require several cans of paint. A 5×4 meter room, for example, will typically need five litres to paint its entire interior, including walls, windows, doors and trim.

Aside from materials, the most expensive part of painting your house may be your time. On average, a professional painter will spend between two to four days per room. This includes time spent on prepping the walls, priming the surface of the wall and painting. Meanwhile, a DIY painter could take a great deal longer, and at worst, not finish at all.

Is Home Painting a Good Investment?

Whatever painting project in mind, it really comes down to its ROI – are you going to be able to recoup your investment?

If transforming your outdated exterior can increase the resale price of your home by 5-10%, it’s worth the effort and time. An exterior painting job can also improve curb appeal, making the difference between an unsold home stagnant in the market to a home sold in a few weeks.

The same goes for your house interior. Ultimately, prospective buyers need to envision themselves living in your home. The process starts with an exterior paint job but can be enhanced by adding lighting and fresh interior paint to get buyers excited about buying your home.

Buying The Right Materials when DIY Painting

When choosing the paint for your home, you’ll need to consider its colour, paint type and price.

Choosing the right type of paint for your needs in relation to cost, surface area, and location can make all the difference. For example, if you live in a colder climate, darker colours – such as darker green or blue-based reds – would be a better choice due to them absorbing more heat.

Conclusion

So there you have it! If you’ve ever wanted to know how much to paint a house, we hope this guide has given you a better idea of what to expect when receiving a quote. Do your research before going ahead painting your home, whether you plan on hiring a professional or doing the job yourself!

Why Go for NewlinePainting?

When you hire Newline Painting, you’re getting the experience, professionalism and competitive pricing from a Melbourne house painting company that has your best interests at heart. Our comprehensive service covers everything from preparation work to after-painting cleaning. Our area of coverage includes most of Melbourne, including Brighton, Elwood, Hawthorn, Port Melbourne, and St Kilda. Meanwhile, the some services we offer include Bedroom Painting, Living Room Painting, Apartment Painting, and Kitchen Painting.

To guarantee the best possible results, Newline Painting offers a colour consultation to ensure that the colours we offer makes your home look at its best. If you’re unsure which paint colours are suited for your home, we’re here to help.

Our painting company also offers the following:

  • 7-year work warranty
  • A free deep clean of your Interior after the work is done
  • 1% of all profits we make is donated to charity!

So what are you waiting for! Give Newline Painting a call today on 1300 044 206 or get an instant quote on our website.



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