It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is that it depends. A single bedroom and a full two-storey exterior are different jobs by an order of magnitude. What follows is a straight explanation of what moves the price, and some indicative ranges to help you budget before you get a proper quote.
What actually drives the cost
Two quotes for the same house can look very different, and usually the difference is in what each painter has allowed for. The things that matter most are:
- Preparation. This is the biggest variable. A sound interior that needs a light sand and two coats is cheap. Flaking exterior weatherboards, water damage, old oil-based enamel or bare timber all add real hours before any colour goes on.
- Size and number of coats. Area is the obvious one, but a strong colour change, a dark feature wall or covering a patch repair can mean an extra coat across a whole room.
- Interior versus exterior. Exterior work involves more preparation, weather-rated products, and often access equipment, so it generally costs more per square metre than a straightforward interior.
- Access and height. Double-storey facades, stairwells and high ceilings need scaffolding or trestles and slow the work down safely.
- Surface and detail. Plain plasterboard walls paint up fast. Ornate cornices, ceiling roses, lacework and heritage timber windows are hand work and take time.
- Paint quality. Premium washable interior systems and genuine exterior membranes cost more per litre, but they cover better and last years longer, which is where the real value sits.
Indicative Melbourne price ranges
These are broad, indicative ranges for professional work in Melbourne, not a quote. Every home is different, and the only accurate figure comes from someone standing in the room. They are here to give you a sense of scale.
| Job | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom, walls, repaint | $400 – $800 |
| Living area, walls and ceiling | $800 – $1,800 |
| Full interior, typical three-bedroom home | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Exterior, single-storey weatherboard home | $8,000 – $18,000 |
| Exterior, double-storey home | $15,000 – $30,000+ |
Ranges widen quickly with the condition of the surfaces, the amount of timber repair needed, and the finish you choose. Heritage homes and specialty finishes sit above these figures because they are more labour, not more markup.
Why the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest job
A low number almost always means less preparation. Paint laid over a poorly prepared surface can look fine for a season and then flash, peel or show every flaw underneath, and then you are paying twice. When you compare quotes, read what each one says about washing, sanding, patching, filling and priming. That is where the difference between a three-year job and a ten-year job lives. We explain our full approach on our interior and exterior painting page and our how we work page.
Getting an accurate figure
The best thing you can do is get a painter to see the job in person, walk through the scope, and give you a written quote that spells out the preparation, the products and the number of coats. If you are weighing up a renovation, our renovation painting page covers how painting fits around a build. When you are ready, you can request a consultation and we will come and give you a clear, honest price.