Painting costs
How much does house painting cost in Melbourne?
Every house is different, so there's no single price for painting one. This guide explains what changes the cost of interior and exterior house painting in Melbourne, what a good quote should include and how long the work usually takes. I'm Martin del Rio, owner of Unlimited Painting & Coating in Fraser Rise, and my quotes are free with no obligation.
How a quote works with me
- Call or text me on 0424 338 506, or use the form below. Texting a few photos of the job with your suburb is a quick way to start.
- We talk through what you need and I give you a personalised quote. There's no obligation to go ahead.
- Victorian Seniors Card holders get 10% off. Just mention your card.
How much does it cost to paint a house in Melbourne?
Marketplace guides give a rough range: hipages (January 2026) puts a typical family home's exterior at about $8,000 to $15,000, and Airtasker (September 2026) puts a whole-house interior at about $3,000 to $11,000 or more. These are Australia-wide figures, not Melbourne quotes and not my prices. Your price depends mainly on the size of the house, its condition, how much preparation it needs, and whether it's inside, outside or both. Text photos to 0424 338 506 to start a free quote for your home.
What affects the cost of painting the inside of a house?
The biggest factors are how many rooms are being painted and what's included in each one. Ceilings, doors and frames, skirtings and window frames all add time, and so do high ceilings, cornices, stairwells and furnished rooms. Walls with cracks, holes or stains need more preparation, and old enamel has to be tested and sanded before water-based paint goes on. Larger plaster repairs are a separate trade.
What affects the cost of painting the outside of a house?
The biggest factors are the size and height of the house, the type of surface and its condition. A double-storey home takes more time and access equipment, and WorkSafe Victoria says ladders should only be used for simple, short-duration tasks. Timber and weatherboards usually need more preparation than brick or concrete, and peeling paint, cracks and mould all add work. Eaves, fascias, gutters, doors, window frames and the number of colours also count, and wet or windy weather can stretch the job.
Do painters charge by the hour, by the square metre or by the job?
Most painters work the price out by the square metre and then quote the whole job as one price. In its January 2026 exterior painting guide, hipages says most charge by the square metre, about $15 to $60 nationally, and generally quote a lump sum. Airtasker's June 2025 guide put Melbourne house painters at about $79 to $87 an hour. These are market figures, not my rates. Per-square-metre figures can be based on floor area or wall area, so compare written quotes for the same scope rather than rates.
Why do painting quotes for the same house vary so much?
Quotes for the same house usually vary because they don't cover the same work. One may include ceilings, doors, skirtings, window frames or eaves and another may not; preparation can range from a quick wash to scraping, filling, sanding and priming; and the number of coats and the paint range can differ. Compare quotes line by line, not just the totals.
What should a painting quote include?
A good painting quote is a clear, written scope of exactly what you're paying for. The Painters Institute says it should list the areas to be painted, the preparation to be done, the paint type and brand, the number of coats, the total cost, any deposit and progress payments, and the date the quote expires. Record any changes during the job in writing, even by text or email. Consumer Affairs Victoria also recommends a written contract for building work worth $10,000 or less, not just bigger jobs.
Does a big colour change cost more?
Often, yes, because covering a very different colour can take an extra coat or a tinted undercoat. Airtasker's interior painting guide says going from a dark paint to a shade of white means higher material costs and more coats, and Haymes' exterior paint data sheet specifies a tinted undercoat for bright and deep colours. Repainting in the same or a similar colour is usually the simplest job.
How long does it take to paint a house?
As a rough guide, Airtasker's June 2025 cost guide says a one or two-storey house with four or fewer bedrooms takes about three to four days on average, and a large house up to two weeks. Its September 2026 interior guide puts one room at about 4 to 10 hours. Preparation, coats and drying time change that: Haymes' data sheets allow a recoat after 2 hours at 25°C and 50% humidity, longer in cool or humid weather, and no exterior painting if rain or dew is expected within 24 hours. These are general figures, not a timeframe for your job.
More help:
Where these figures come from
- hipages: how much it costs to paint a house (Jan 2026)
- Airtasker: interior painting cost (Sep 2026)
- Airtasker: house painter cost (Jun 2025)
- Painters Institute: choosing a painter
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: what work requires a building contract
- WorkSafe Victoria: using portable ladders
- Haymes: FAQs
- Haymes: exterior paint data sheet
- Haymes: kitchen and bathroom paint data sheet
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