- Cost of house painting varies on wall size
- Four bedroom homes can see costs of around $20,000
- Paint type, whether a professional is on the job, and other factors can affect cost
According to a new report by hipages, more than three in four Australian homeowners are looking to make small improvements around the home, instead of extensive renovations.
Just over three in five (63%) are looking at interior home improvements, with just over half (53%) considering an exterior home improvement.
The top five home improvements desired by Australians this year include odd jobs, landscaping, and more, but the number one change homeowners wanted was painting. Almost three in five (58%) are looking at painting their homes, so naturally, the question must be asked: how much does painting a house in Australia cost?
House painting costs can vary substantially, with a simple DIY job amounting to mere hundreds, while large-scale professional jobs can see prices in the tens of thousands.
The cost for house painting does not just vary by wall size, but you will also need to take into account several other factors such as quality of the job, and the type of paint required – different rooms may need different types of paint.
In this guide, we delve into what it takes to paint a house, answer questions like how much does it cost to paint a house, and break down the costs room by room.
How much does paint cost?
There are a variety of paints available in Australia across several brands. More popular and well-known names include Dulux, Taubmans, Wattyl, and British Paints.
Paint prices can also vary depending on the sheen or gloss. Most rooms and common areas within the house can be painted with a low sheen or matte finish paint, whereas areas such as bathrooms and toilets will typically have a high sheen or high gloss paint applied.
Most paints can be found in cans, tins or buckets of up to 15 litres in size, depending on brand and application. Below are some estimates on the cost of paint, by brand:
Paint cost estimates by brand and size
| Brand | Size (L) | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Dulux | 1 | $38 – $45 |
| 4 | $105 – $130 | |
| 10 | $205 – $230 | |
| 15 | $290 – $310 | |
| Taubmans | 1 | $28 – $36 |
| 4 | $80 – $120 | |
| 10 | $200 – $230 | |
| 15 | $300 – $330 | |
| Wattyl | 1 | $33 – $40 |
| 4 | $100 – $130 | |
| 10 | $230 – $270 | |
| 15 | $300 – $330 | |
| Haymes | 1 | $35 – $40 |
| 4 | $105 – $125 | |
| 10 | $230 – $270 | |
| 15 | $330 – $360 | |
| British Paints | 1 | $25 – $35 |
| 4 | $80 – $100 | |
| 10 | $190 – $220 | |
| 15 | $280 – $300 | |
| Resene | 1 | $35 – $40 |
| 4 | $100 – $120 | |
| 10 | $230 – $270 | |
| 15 | $330 – $360 | |
| Behr | 3.79 | $30 – $35 |
| 18.9 | $130 – $160 | |
| 15 | $100 – $120 |
How much does it cost to paint a house?
Bringing together information from a wide variety of sources, the average cost of painting a house can vary between $400 to $6,500 for an apartment, and upwards of $10,000 for a four-bedroom house.
Wall sizes vary significantly from home to home, whether it is a 3 bedroom, apartment, terrace house, or something a little more roomy but still with 3 bedrooms.
Below is a very rough guide to what house painting costs might look like.
House painting cost estimates by type of property
| Type of Property | Wall size total, small (sqm) | Wall size total, large (sqm) | Average Size (sqm) | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 20 | 40 | 30 | $400 – $1,500 |
| One Bedroom Apartment | 40 | 70 | 55 | $700 – $2,500 |
| Two Bedroom Apartment | 70 | 100 | 85 | $1,200 – $4,000 |
| Three Bedroom Apartment | 100 | 150 | 125 | $2,000 – $6,500 |
| Two Bedroom House | 80 | 120 | 100 | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Three Bedroom House | 120 | 200 | 160 | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Four Bedroom House | 180 | 250 | 215 | $3,500 – $11,500 |
What affects the cost of painting a house?
Aside from the more obvious factors that impact the price of house painting costs, there are several other factors that push the cost higher.
If your walls are in need of a little TLC, wall preparation can bring costs up. Whether it needs a few holes filled or large amounts of plaster, this is one factor to consider.
As previously mentioned, which room you are painting can also change the price, owing to the different types of paints that are suited to different conditions.
The quality of the finish can depend on various factors, all of which can also change costs. These may include whether you have an undercoat or primer, the number of coats of paint, and who is completing the work – is it a DIY project or the work of an award-winning painter?
How complex is the job? Adding a little flair or creating your own artistic masterpiece can change the cost of house painting.
When hiring a professional, experience, reputation, and perhaps insurance or licensing (where relevant) can also impact the cost, and indeed the current jobs shortage will have its role to play too.
How do I prepare for painting a house?
When painting a house, you will likely want to keep paint on the walls only, and not on your sofa, bed, or other items.
Preparing for house painting may include tasks such as:
- Removing anything attached to the wall such as decorations, hooks, and more. It is also a chance to prep the wall by cleaning it with either sugar soap or mild detergent, or, to plaster up holes you don’t want;
- Moving furniture away from the walls;
- Using tape to ensure paint goes on the wall and not the skirting boards or cornice (provided that is your desired outcome),
- Ensuring the room is well-ventilated, and
- Covering the floor with a protective sheet.
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Disclaimer: This article contains general information and should at no time be considered advice to the reader. The reader should always verify their situation with the relevant certified professionals before taking any further steps. See our Terms of Use.
