Painting Prices Melbourne
Use this practical house painting cost guide to compare indicative Melbourne price ranges for interior painting, exterior painting and full house repaints by bedroom count.
What does house painting actually cost in Melbourne?
Melbourne painting prices vary more than most homeowners expect. A freshly built home with clean plasterboard walls costs significantly less to paint than a 1980s brick home with flaking exterior render and water-damaged ceilings. Both are "3-bedroom homes" — but the preparation, access and coating system are completely different.
This guide gives you real price ranges for 2026 based on bedroom count, per-square-metre rates for cross-checking quotes, and a breakdown of the extras that catch people off guard. It's written by a working Melbourne painting business, not a content aggregator, so the figures reflect what jobs actually cost to do properly.
Perfection Coating is a Dulux Accredited painting business based in Templestowe Lower, servicing homes and businesses across Melbourne's eastern, inner and northern suburbs. We quote fixed price after a site inspection so you know exactly what you're getting before work starts.
Quick price check
Use the estimator on this page to get a ballpark range, then contact us for an exact quote based on your specific home.
Try the Estimator
Why a site-specific painting quote matters
Two Melbourne homes with the same bedroom count can cost very different amounts to paint. Surface preparation, ceiling height, trims, number of colours and access can all change the final price.
Melbourne painting prices per square metre
Square metre rates give you a quick way to cross-check quotes and understand what drives the cost difference between interior and exterior work. These are 2026 indicative rates for Melbourne residential painting.
| Surface type | Rate per m² | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Interior wallsStandard plasterboard, good condition | $18 – $35 | Two coats, standard preparation, one colour |
| Interior wallsFair to poor condition | $30 – $55 | Patching, sanding, priming, two coats |
| Exterior render or masonrySingle storey | $25 – $50 | Pressure clean, fill cracks, primer, two coats |
| Exterior render or masonryTwo storey with scaffold | $40 – $75 | Scaffold hire, full prep, premium coating |
| Weatherboard exteriorScrape, sand and repaint | $35 – $70 | Surface preparation is the dominant cost driver |
| CeilingPer m² including prep | $12 – $22 | One to two coats, standard height |
Note: Square metre rates are useful as a cross-check, but they don't account for room count, door and window cut-ins, trim work, scaffolding or access. A site-specific quote gives you a more accurate total.
Indicative house painting prices in Melbourne
Use these ranges as a starting point for planning your budget. No square metre pricing is used here because most homeowners compare painting costs by bedroom count and scope. For detailed scope, see our interior painting and exterior painting pages.
| Home size | Interior only | Exterior only | Full house |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom home / unitSmall unit or apartment | $2,200 – $4,500 | $3,500 – $7,000 | $5,200 – $10,500 |
| 2-bedroom homeUnit, townhouse or small home | $3,500 – $7,500 | $5,500 – $11,000 | $8,500 – $16,500 |
| 3-bedroom homeTypical Melbourne family home | $5,000 – $12,000 | $8,000 – $17,000 | $12,500 – $26,000 |
| 4-bedroom homeLarger home or two-storey property | $7,500 – $16,500 | $11,000 – $24,000 | $17,500 – $37,000 |
| 5-bedroom+ homeLarge or complex repaint | $11,000 – $24,000+ | $16,000 – $35,000+ | $25,500 – $56,000+ |
Disclaimer: Prices are indicative estimates. Final quotes depend on site conditions, paint selection, access, preparation and scope of work.
Extra painting costs to allow for
Some items are quoted separately because they can vary heavily depending on condition, profile detail and access.
Feature wall
$250 – $650Per wall depending on size, colour depth and cutting-in.Ceiling
$350 – $900Per room depending on height, staining and preparation.Trim, skirtings & doors
$900 – $3,500+Depends on door count, trim condition and enamel finish. See our residential painting page for full scope details.Fence / garage door
$800 – $4,500+Depends on length, surface type, primer and coating system.What affects your painting quote?
Two homes with the same number of bedrooms can have very different painting prices. These are the main items that change the final quote.
Surface condition
Cracks, peeling paint, stains, water damage and old coatings increase preparation time.
Paint brand and quality
Premium paint systems may cost more upfront but usually improve durability and finish.
Number of coats
Colour changes, dark colours and stained areas may require additional coats or primer.
Prep work required
Patching, sanding, gap sealing, masking, caulking and priming can change the labour cost.
Access and height
Two-storey homes, stairwells, high ceilings and scaffold access can increase pricing.
Number of colours
More colours, feature walls and detailed trim work require extra setup and cutting-in.
Fixed price vs hourly rate — what's the difference?
Most Melbourne homeowners ask whether painters charge by the hour or by the job. The short answer: Perfection Coating quotes fixed price for almost every project, and here's why that matters to you.
An hourly rate can seem cheaper upfront, but the final cost is unknown until the job is done. Slow days, weather delays or unexpected surface issues all add to your bill. A fixed-price quote locks in the total cost after we assess the site — so the price you're given is the price you pay, regardless of how long the job takes.
Hourly rates make sense for very small touch-up work where the scope genuinely can't be determined in advance. For anything involving a full room, full house or exterior, a fixed scope with a fixed price is the cleaner arrangement for everyone.
Fixed price
Total agreed upfront. No surprises after the job. Scope is documented before work begins.
Hourly rate
Final cost unknown. Weather, surface issues or delays increase your bill without warning.
What's documented
Preparation, number of coats, paint brand, areas included — all written into the quote.
What's at risk
With hourly billing, additional prep, a second coat or difficult access gets added without a cap.
How to get more value from your painting budget
The lowest quote is rarely the best outcome. Here's how Melbourne homeowners can get better results for their money without cutting corners on the things that matter.
Plan ahead, not in a rush
Last-minute painting jobs often carry a premium. Booking 2–4 weeks ahead gives the painter time to quote properly and schedule efficiently — which keeps costs reasonable for both sides.
Don't skip surface preparation
Preparation is where the durability of a paint job is won or lost. A cheaper quote that cuts preparation corners will cost more in 3 years when the job needs redoing. Ask specifically what's included.
Match the paint grade to the surface
Premium exterior coatings on a south-facing rendered wall are worth every dollar. The same premium in a storage room isn't necessary. A good painter helps you allocate budget where it's earned.
Group interior and exterior together
Combining your interior and exterior painting into one visit typically costs less than booking them separately. Mobilisation, masking and setup costs are shared across the whole job.
Limit colour changes where possible
Every additional colour adds setup time: cleaning brushes and rollers, new masking lines and additional cut-in passes. Keeping trim and walls in the same colour family reduces labour without compromising the look.
Compare the scope, not just the price
Two quotes for the same job can look very different. Check what preparation is included, how many coats are specified, and whether clean-up and protection are in the price before making a decision on price alone.
Estimate your painting price range
Choose your bedroom count, scope and surface condition to get a realistic indicative range. This is not a final quote, but it helps you understand the likely budget before booking an inspection.
Commercial painting costs in Melbourne
Commercial painting is priced differently to residential work. Larger surface areas, access requirements, after-hours scheduling and specialist coatings all influence the final cost. The table below covers the most common property types we paint in Melbourne.
| Property type | Typical rate per m² | Key cost factors |
|---|---|---|
| Office interiorStandard fit-out, walls and ceilings | $20 – $45 | Wall condition, number of colours, after-hours access |
| Retail shop or showroomIncluding feature areas | $25 – $50 | Brand colour matching, feature finishes, tight deadlines |
| Strata or apartment complexExternal common areas and façade | $35 – $65 | Scaffold or EWP access, multi-storey, coating durability |
| Warehouse or industrial spaceLarge open areas | $15 – $35 | High ceilings, protective coatings, line marking if required |
| Aged care or healthcareLow-VOC, high-washability requirements | $25 – $55 | Product compliance, staged works to keep facility operational |
| School or education facilityTypically during term breaks | $20 – $40 | Low-odour products, high-traffic durability, scheduling |
After-hours commercial painting
Many Melbourne businesses need painting completed outside trading hours to avoid disruption to staff and customers. After-hours work attracts penalty rates, but it avoids downtime costs during busy periods. We factor this into the quote at the outset so there are no surprises.
Compliance and safety on commercial sites
Commercial painting in occupied buildings requires proper risk assessment, appropriate product selection (particularly low-VOC coatings in enclosed spaces), and compliance with OH&S requirements for working at height. Perfection Coating is $20M public liability insured for all commercial work.
For a tailored commercial painting quote, see our commercial painting page or contact us directly.
Is house painting tax deductible in Australia?
If you own a rental property in Melbourne, the cost of painting may be tax deductible — but the treatment depends on whether the work is classified as a repair or a capital improvement.
Repairs and maintenance
Painting that restores a surface to its original condition — refreshing faded interior walls, touching up flaking exterior render, repainting a fence damaged by weather — is generally treated as a repair under Australian tax law. Repairs are typically deductible in the same financial year the expense is incurred.
Capital improvements
Painting that forms part of a larger renovation or that materially improves the property beyond its previous condition is usually classified as a capital improvement. Capital expenses are depreciated over time rather than claimed in full immediately.
Newly purchased investment properties
Painting done immediately after purchase — even if it's simply refreshing the existing colour — is often treated as an initial repair cost rather than a deductible maintenance expense, particularly if the property was not previously income-producing in your hands. This is an area where the ATO's position is nuanced.
Note: Tax treatment depends on your specific circumstances, property ownership structure and the nature of the work. Always confirm deductibility with your accountant or registered tax agent before filing. Perfection Coating provides detailed tax invoices to support your records.
What to keep for your records
We provide GST-registered tax invoices for all completed work.
A Melbourne painter focused on proper preparation and lasting results
Perfection Coating is a Dulux Accredited painting business servicing all of Melbourne from Templestowe Lower.
Dulux Accredited
Professional standards, trusted products and preparation-first painting systems.
$20M public liability
Insured for residential, commercial, interior and exterior painting projects.
Melbourne knowledge
Local experience with apartments, townhouses, homes, offices and aged care spaces. Browse our gallery to see completed projects.
Quality guarantee
Eligible work is backed by a 5-year workmanship warranty for added peace of mind.
Questions about painting costs in Melbourne?
How much does it cost to paint a 3-bedroom house in Melbourne?
As an indicative guide, a 3-bedroom Melbourne home may cost around $5,000 to $12,000 for interior painting, $8,000 to $17,000 for exterior painting, or $12,500 to $26,000 for a full repaint. Final pricing depends on preparation, access, paint system and scope.
Do you charge by the hour or fixed price?
Most residential painting projects are quoted as a fixed price after the scope is assessed. This gives you a clearer total cost than an hourly rate.
What's included in the quote?
A painting quote usually includes surface preparation, standard patching, sanding, masking, protection, paint, labour, clean-up and the agreed number of coats.
How long does interior painting take?
A smaller unit may take a few days, while a larger family home can take one to two weeks depending on the number of rooms, preparation, drying time and colours.
Is a Dulux Accredited painter more expensive?
A Dulux Accredited painter may not always be the cheapest option, but pricing usually reflects better preparation, quality coatings, insurance and workmanship standards.
Do I need to move my furniture?
It helps to move smaller items and valuables before painting. Larger furniture can often be moved to the centre of the room and protected.
What areas of Melbourne do you service?
We service Melbourne, including eastern, northern, western and inner suburbs. Perfection Coating is based in Templestowe Lower. View our full service areas page for the complete list.
How do I get a quote?
You can call Perfection Coating on (03) 9111 2412 or use the contact page to request a free quote. Photos, plans or a short project description can help us understand your scope.
Is painting tax deductible for my rental property?
Painting that restores a rental property to its previous condition — such as repainting faded walls or repairing weather-damaged exterior surfaces — is generally treated as a deductible repair expense in the same financial year. Painting that forms part of a larger renovation or improvement is usually capitalised and depreciated. The distinction depends on the specific nature of the work and your circumstances — your accountant can confirm the correct treatment for your situation.
What's the difference between a per-m² rate and a fixed quote?
A per-square-metre rate gives you a useful ballpark figure for budgeting, but it doesn't account for room count, door and window cut-ins, ceiling height, number of colours or access requirements. A fixed quote is based on a site inspection and covers the full scope including preparation, number of coats and clean-up. The fixed-price approach means the total is agreed upfront — no hourly surprises once work begins.
Do painting prices increase in summer?
Demand for painting in Melbourne does increase through spring and into summer, particularly for exterior painting. This can mean longer wait times for preferred booking dates and, for some contractors, slightly higher prices during peak periods. Booking ahead — typically 3–4 weeks — gives you more flexibility on scheduling and helps avoid the peak-period rush. Interior painting is less seasonal and can be booked year-round.
What's included in surface preparation?
Surface preparation typically includes filling cracks and holes, sanding back rough or peeling areas, applying primer where needed, masking surfaces that won't be painted, and protecting floors and furniture. The extent of preparation is one of the main things that separates a durable paint job from one that fails early. On exterior surfaces it often also includes pressure cleaning, mould treatment and checking for moisture before paint is applied.
How much does it cost to paint a single room in Melbourne?
A standard bedroom or living room in good condition typically costs $600 to $1,500 to paint, depending on ceiling height, the number of colours, trim complexity and whether the ceiling is included. Larger rooms, rooms with vaulted ceilings or rooms with significant prep work will be at the higher end of that range. The estimator on this page can give you a whole-home range; for individual rooms, a site inspection gives the most accurate figure.
Can I supply my own paint?
Yes — some homeowners prefer to supply their own paint, particularly if they've already purchased it or want a specific product not available through our usual suppliers. In that case, we quote for labour and preparation only. Keep in mind that as a Dulux Accredited painter, our workmanship warranty applies to work completed using Dulux product systems. If you supply a different brand, we're still happy to do the work but the warranty terms may differ — we'll confirm this in writing before starting.
Ready for a Free Quote?
Call Perfection Coating on (03) 9111 2412 or send your project details for a clear Melbourne painting quote.