What does carpentry cost in Australia?
Carpentry work typically costs between $15 and $20,000 in Australia in 2026, across 13 common kinds of job. Below: the price of each, how it changes by state, and the licence, wage and compliance rules that set the floor.
Reviewed September 2026 by the Blue Collar News Services editorial team. 7 sources are linked on this page, all government, standards or industry bodies. Indicative prices, not quotes, and not legal advice. How we research prices
Carpentry prices by job
Typical GST-inclusive ranges for a standard residential job. Each link opens the full guide for that job.
| Job | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Built-In Wardrobes & Joinery | $800–$6,000 | per job |
| Deck Repair & Restoration | $300–$3,000 | per job |
| Decking Construction | $200–$450 | per m² |
| Door Installation & Repair | $120–$800 | per job |
| Floor Sanding & Polishing | $30–$70 | per m² |
| Framing & Structural Carpentry | $1,000–$20,000 | per job |
| General Carpentry Repairs | $80–$120 | per hour |
| Pergola & Patio Construction | $2,000–$12,000 | per job |
| Skirting & Architrave Fitting | $15–$45 | per m² |
| Staircase Construction & Repair | $1,500–$12,000 | per job |
| Subfloor & Stump Repair | $1,500–$15,000 | per job |
| Timber & Composite Cladding | $80–$200 | per m² |
| Timber & Laminate Flooring | $35–$120 | per m² |
What sets carpentry prices in Australia
The rules and figures behind the numbers, each with its source. Checked September 2026; rules and award rates change, so confirm with the authority before relying on one.
In NSW you must hold a contractor licence to carry out or quote for residential building work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST, and carpentry is a listed licence class.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In Victoria a builder must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission to carry out work worth more than $10,000, and all work over $10,000 including renovations and repairs needs a major domestic building contract.
Source: consumer.vic.gov.au
In Queensland all contractors doing building work valued at more than $3,300 must hold a QBCC licence, so a carpentry job above that figure should come with a licence number you can check.
Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au
Under the Fair Work pay guide for the Building and Construction General On-site Award, effective 1 July 2026, a Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) carpenter or joiner on daily hire residential work has a minimum rate of $32.96 an hour including allowances, and a Level 1 new entrant starts at $28.98.
Source: calculate.fairwork.gov.au
In NSW, work over $5,000 needs a written contract, work over $20,000 needs a large-job contract with Home Building Compensation cover and a five clear business day cooling-off period, and the deposit is capped at 10 per cent.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In Queensland the maximum deposit is 20 per cent for work of $3,300 or less, 10 per cent for Level 1 contracts up to $19,999 and 5 per cent for Level 2 contracts of $20,000 or more.
Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au
The ABS Producer Price Index for inputs to house construction rose 2.1 per cent in the June 2026 quarter and 3.8 per cent over the year (released 31 July 2026). The output price of house construction rose 5.9 per cent over the same year.
Source: abs.gov.au
Carpentry cost by state
The trade’s cheapest and dearest job, adjusted for each capital city. Regional prices can sit outside these.
| State | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $15–$23,000 |
| Victoria | $15–$22,400 |
| Queensland | $15–$21,000 |
| Western Australia | $15–$22,000 |
| South Australia | $15–$19,600 |
| Tasmania | $15–$20,400 |
| Northern Territory | $15–$22,400 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $15–$21,600 |
How we work these prices out
The ranges are indicative, not quotes. They reflect the spread of prices Australian businesses typically quote for each job in capital cities, reviewed September 2026, GST-inclusive, for a standard residential job with reasonable access. The state table applies a cost index for each capital to the national range. Where a rule or rate is stated above, it comes from the source shown; we do not copy figures from other quote websites.
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FAQs
Why do carpentry prices vary so much between jobs?
The range on this page covers 13 different kinds of carpentry work, from small repairs to large installations, so the spread is wide. Within one job the price moves with size, access, materials and urgency. A tradie who has seen the job can quote it; a page cannot.
Do these prices include GST?
Yes. Every figure here is GST-inclusive and assumes a standard residential job with reasonable access. A written quote from a licensed business must also show whether GST is included.
Why is carpentry dearer in some states?
Labour rates, licence requirements, insurance thresholds and the cost of getting materials to site all differ by state, and metro rates run above regional ones. The state table applies a cost index for each capital city to the national range; regional prices can sit outside it.
How do I get an exact price?
Get two or three written quotes from licensed local businesses and compare them like for like. You can do that here for free: tell us the job and independent carpentry businesses covering your area come back to you with quotes.
Sources
Every rule and rate on this page comes from one of these. Checked September 2026. We link the page we read, not a homepage, so you can see the figure yourself.
- nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/categories-of-work
- consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/building-and-renovating/plan-and-manage-your-building-project/about-builders-tradespeople-and-other-building-practitioners
- qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/start-your-career/when-you-need-licence
- calculate.fairwork.gov.au/Download/AwardSummary?awardCode=ma000020&fileType=pdf
- nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/preparing/contracts
- qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/build-renovate/contracts-payments/deposits-progress-payments
- abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/producer-price-indexes-australia/latest-release