What does painting cost in Australia?
Painting work typically costs between $40 and $50,000 in Australia in 2026, across 9 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. 6 sources are linked on this page, all government, standards or industry bodies. Indicative prices, not quotes, and not legal advice. How we research prices
Painting 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling Repair & Painting | $300–$2,000 | per job |
| Commercial Painting | $2,000–$50,000 | per job |
| Deck Staining & Oiling | $300–$1,800 | per job |
| Exterior House Painting | $3,000–$15,000 | per job |
| Feature Wall & Decorative Painting | $200–$1,200 | per job |
| Fence Painting & Staining | $300–$2,000 | per job |
| Interior House Painting | $1,500–$8,000 | per job |
| Protective & Epoxy Coatings | $40–$120 | per m² |
| Wallpaper Installation & Removal | $300–$2,500 | per job |
What sets painting 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 a contractor licence is needed for residential painting work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST. Since 2015 a stand-alone contract for internal paintwork does not need a licence unless it is part of other home building work.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In Queensland QBCC issues a Painting and decorating licence class covering paint, texture coatings, wallpaper, surface preparation and cement render up to 8 mm thick. Work outside a licence class is capped at $3,300, the same figure as the state's general licence threshold.
Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au
In Victoria a job that involves only painting does not need a major domestic building contract, which is otherwise compulsory for home building work worth more than $10,000. Consumer Affairs Victoria still recommends a written contract for all building work.
Source: consumer.vic.gov.au
In Queensland painting on or in a home counts as residential building work, so a job worth more than $3,300 (materials, labour and GST) must be covered by the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme before the contractor takes payment.
Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au
Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020) a Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) painter on daily hire residential work must be paid at least $32.11 an hour from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, including industry allowance, follow-the-job loading and tool allowance.
Source: calculate.fairwork.gov.au
The ABS Producer Price Indexes for the June quarter 2026 (released 31 July 2026) show input prices to house construction rose 2.1 per cent in the quarter and 3.8 per cent over the year, with the 'other materials' group up 2.5 per cent in the quarter.
Source: abs.gov.au
Painting 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 | $45–$57,500 |
| Victoria | $45–$56,000 |
| Queensland | $40–$52,500 |
| Western Australia | $45–$55,000 |
| South Australia | $40–$49,000 |
| Tasmania | $40–$51,000 |
| Northern Territory | $45–$56,000 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $45–$54,000 |
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 painting prices vary so much between jobs?
The range on this page covers 9 different kinds of painting 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 painting 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 painting 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/painting-work
- qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/painting-decorating
- consumer.vic.gov.au/licensing-and-registration/builders-and-tradespeople/running-your-business/domestic-building-contracts/what-work-requires-a-building-contract
- qbcc.qld.gov.au/running-your-business/home-warranty-insurance-obligations/what-work-requires-insurance
- calculate.fairwork.gov.au/Download/AwardSummary?awardCode=ma000020&fileType=pdf
- abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/producer-price-indexes-australia/latest-release