How much to paint a house in Sydney usually comes to $4,500 to $9,500 for a three-bedroom interior and $8,000 to $20,000 for a single-storey exterior (indicative — get itemised quotes). Floor area, wall condition, paint grade, height and the amount of prep decide where your quote lands.
Below you’ll find a price table, city comparisons, paint costs per litre, what pushes a quote up, DIY versus a pro, and a checklist for a fair quote.
Key points
- Expect roughly $4,500 to $9,500 inside and $8,000 to $20,000 outside for a standard three-bedroom house in Sydney (indicative — get itemised quotes).
- Prep, repairs and access usually drive the price more than the paint itself, especially on two-storey and weathered homes.
- The cheapest sound option is a repaint in the same colour with minimal repairs, using a mid-grade paint that suits the surface.
- DIY suits interior rooms at ground level; high exterior work and older homes with possible lead paint belong with licensed painters.
How much to paint a house: price table
These ranges cover common Sydney jobs, and every figure is a guide only.
| Job | Materials | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| One interior room, walls and ceiling | $80 to $250 (indicative) | $500 to $1,200 (indicative) | $600 to $1,500 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Three-bedroom house interior, walls and ceilings | $600 to $1,500 (indicative) | $3,800 to $8,000 (indicative) | $4,500 to $9,500 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Three-bedroom house interior, including trims and doors | $800 to $1,800 (indicative) | $5,000 to $10,000 (indicative) | $6,000 to $12,000 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Single-storey exterior, walls, eaves and trims | $1,000 to $2,500 (indicative) | $6,500 to $17,000 (indicative) | $8,000 to $20,000 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Two-storey exterior with scaffold | $1,500 to $3,500 (indicative) | $10,000 to $24,000 (indicative) | $12,000 to $28,000 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Whole house, inside and out, single storey | $2,000 to $4,000 (indicative) | $11,000 to $24,000 (indicative) | $13,000 to $28,000 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
How much to paint a house by city
Sydney is among the dearer cities, mainly because of labour rates and tight access on many blocks.
| City | Compared with Sydney | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Baseline (indicative — get itemised quotes) | Terraces, steep blocks and strata rules add time and cost |
| Melbourne | Broadly similar (indicative — get itemised quotes) | Older housing stock often needs more prep and repairs |
| Brisbane | Slightly lower to similar (indicative — get itemised quotes) | Humidity and mould treatment affect the prep step |
| Perth | Slightly lower to similar (indicative — get itemised quotes) | Strong sun means exterior paint grade matters |
| Adelaide | Slightly lower (indicative — get itemised quotes) | Smaller market, so quotes vary more between painters |
Cost of interior paint, exterior paint and paint per litre
Paint is the smaller part of the bill, but grade affects coverage and how long the job lasts before repainting.
| Item | What drives it | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of interior paint per litre | Sheen, brand and washability | $12 to $35 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Cost of exterior paint per litre | UV and weather resistance | $15 to $45 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Haymes exterior paint prices | Range, tin size and retailer | Mid to upper per litre (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Luxury paints price list | Specialty finishes and premium brands | Upper per litre (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Primer and sealer | Surface type and stain blocking | Mid per litre (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
| Paint spray gun price | Airless unit or hobby sprayer | $150 to $1,200 (indicative — get itemised quotes) |
Our best exterior paint in Australia guide compares exterior ranges in more detail.
What affects the cost of painting a house
Two houses of the same size can quote very differently, so check which of these applies to yours.
- House size and layout: more floor area and more rooms mean more labour, while high ceilings and stairwells need extra equipment.
- Surface condition: flaking, cracked or chalky walls need scraping, filling and sanding, and heavy prep can add thousands (indicative — get itemised quotes).
- Height and access: two-storey exteriors need scaffold or a lifting platform, which adds a significant line to the quote (indicative — get itemised quotes).
- Paint grade and coats: a premium paint can cover better, and two coats are standard over a colour change.
- Colour changes: moving from dark to light can need a primer coat, which adds materials and labour.
- Older homes: paint in older homes may contain lead, so painters test and use safe prep methods; see Dulux 1 Step prep primer for primer options.
- Ceilings, trims and doors: each added surface takes time; read our ceiling paint guide for ceilings.
- Windows and special finishes: aluminium frames and specialty paints need specific prep; see how to paint aluminium windows and Plasti Dip and specialty paints.
DIY vs hiring a pro: painting house cost compared
DIY saves on labour, but prep, safety and finish quality are where homeowners most often struggle.
| Factor | DIY | Licensed painter |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lower, but you buy tools, paint and prep supplies | Higher, with labour included |
| Time | Often several weekends for a full interior | Crew finishes in days with a set programme |
| Height and safety | Ground-level rooms only | Equipped for scaffold, ladders and edge protection |
| Prep and repairs | Easy to under-prepare, causing peeling | Proper scraping, filling, priming and sealing |
| Lead and hazardous paint | You must test and handle it safely yourself | Follows safe work practice and disposal rules |
| Warranty | None on your own workmanship | Workmanship cover and product warranty |
How to save on house painting without cutting corners
- Get three itemised quotes with the same prep, paint brand and coats listed, so you compare like with like.
- Stick with a similar colour to avoid extra primer and coats on the walls.
- Do the safe prep yourself, such as clearing rooms, removing furniture and covering floors, if the painter agrees.
- Choose a mid-grade paint with good reviews, not the cheapest tin, because poor coverage wastes labour.
- Bundle jobs, such as the interior and exterior or the roof, to save on setup and access.
- Book in the shoulder season, when painters have more availability and dry weather suits exterior work.
Roof painting Sydney cost
A roof repaint is a separate specialist job that depends on roof type, condition and pitch, so it is priced apart from the walls.
- Metal roof repaint: typically priced per square metre with pressure washing, rust treatment and two coats included (indicative — get itemised quotes).
- Tile roof repaint: requires cleaning, repointing and a sealer and coating system, so it costs more than a metal roof (indicative — get itemised quotes).
- Roof access: steep pitch and tall homes need edge protection and extra labour, and this should be a separate line.
- Roof repairs first: cracked tiles and leaking flashings should be fixed before painting, or the coating hides a problem.
- Safety: roof work should be done by licensed, insured tradespeople working at height with proper fall protection.
- Timing: roof painting needs dry days with mild temperatures, so Sydney spring and autumn suit best.
What a fair house painting quote should include
- Itemised scope: each room or elevation listed, with ceilings, trims, doors and gutters stated rather than assumed.
- Prep detail: washing, scraping, filling, sanding and priming described, with an allowance for hidden repairs.
- Paint brand and coats: the product, the colour and the number of coats written on the quote.
- Access and scaffold: shown as a line, not buried in the total.
- Warranty and cure: workmanship cover in writing and the product’s recoat and cure times.
- Licence and insurance: the painter’s NSW licence number and a current certificate of insurance.
House painting cost FAQs
How much to paint a house exterior?
For a single-storey Sydney home, an exterior repaint commonly costs about $8,000 to $20,000 (indicative — get itemised quotes). Two-storey homes, heavy prep and premium paint raise the total, while a simple repaint of sound walls sits at the lower end.
How much to paint a 3 bedroom house interior?
A three-bedroom interior usually costs about $4,500 to $9,500 for walls and ceilings (indicative — get itemised quotes). Trims, doors, wallpaper removal and colour changes add to that, so ask the painter to list every surface in the quote.
How much does it cost to paint a house yourself?
DIY removes the labour cost but not the materials, tools and time. Budget for paint, primer, brushes, rollers, drop sheets and filler. If you hire a ladder or scaffold, add that too, and avoid high exterior work if you are not confident.
Is it worth paying for premium paint?
Often yes on exteriors, where UV and rain wear paint quickly. Better paint can cover in fewer coats and last longer before repainting. Check the label for coverage and recoat times, and match the product to the surface.
Do painters charge by the hour or per square metre?
Quotes vary. Many residential painters give a fixed price for the scope, while some use a square metre rate or an hourly rate for extras. Whatever the method, get the scope and prep written down.
Getting your house painted in Sydney
We recommend booking an on-site inspection so the quote covers prep, repairs and access, not just the paint. TQN Construct’s licensed painters repaint homes across Sydney with itemised quotes and workmanship cover. Book a free painting quote.
