Painting looks straightforward. Someone rolls paint onto your walls, you pay them, done. But painting quotes are among the most variable in the trades — a three-bedroom house interior can range from $3,000 to $8,000+ depending on what's actually included. The difference isn't just profit margin. It's prep, paint quality, and scope — and understanding these variables is the key to getting real value.
What a standard interior quote covers
A typical painting quote for a 3-bedroom house interior (walls and ceilings, approximately 120m² of paintable surface) should include the following at minimum:
- Light preparation — filling small nail holes, sanding rough spots, spot-priming repairs
- Two coats of paint on all walls
- One coat on ceilings (or two if marked/stained)
- Protection of floors and furniture with drop sheets
- Masking of skirting boards, window frames, and door frames
- Clean-up and removal of all paint waste
If a quote doesn't specify at least these items, ask. An unusually cheap quote often omits prep work, includes only one coat, or uses builder-grade paint.
The prep spectrum: where costs really diverge
Preparation is the single biggest variable in painting cost, and it's also the thing most homeowners underestimate. Here's the spectrum:
Minimal prep means the walls are already in good condition — just a light dust and go. New builds or recently painted homes fall here.
Light prep covers filling pinholes, sanding minor blemishes, and spot-priming. This is the standard for a well-maintained home being repainted.
Medium prep involves filling larger cracks, sanding rough patches, scraping flaking areas, and priming multiple spots. Typical for a house that hasn't been painted in 8–15 years.
Heavy prep means significant work before paint goes on: stripping wallpaper, repairing water-damaged plaster, sanding back extensive peeling, filling cracks throughout, and priming entire walls. Common in older homes or properties with deferred maintenance.
Restoration prep is for heritage homes or severely damaged surfaces — lead paint encapsulation, full plaster repair, timber rot treatment, and specialist primers.
Paint quality: the difference $20/litre makes
The gap between budget and premium paint is $30–$60 per litre. For a full house interior, that's $500–$1,500 in materials alone. But the real difference plays out over years, not days.
| Quality tier | Cost/litre | Coverage | Lifespan | Washability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (Taubmans Endure, Dulux Wash & Wear Low Sheen) | $55–$75 | 12–14 m²/L | 3–5 years | Fair |
| Mid-range (Dulux Wash & Wear, Haymes Expressions) | $75–$95 | 14–16 m²/L | 7–10 years | Good |
| Premium (Dulux Professional, Haymes Ultra Premium) | $90–$120 | 16–18 m²/L | 10–15 years | Excellent |
Premium paints cover better per coat (meaning fewer coats needed), resist scuffs and fingermarks far better, are genuinely washable (you can wipe marks off without damaging the finish), and hold their colour without yellowing or chalking. In high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms, the difference between budget and premium becomes obvious within 18 months.
Got a painting quote? Compare it to going rates in your city.
Check Painter Rates in Your City →Coats: the two-coat myth
Two coats is the standard specification for a colour-on-colour repaint (white over white, same-tone over same-tone). But not every situation is two-coat:
Two coats is fine when
- Repainting the same or similar colour
- Using premium paint with high opacity
- Walls are in good condition and primed
- Going from light to light
Three coats likely needed when
- Dark to light colour change
- Painting over patchy repairs
- Using budget paint with poor coverage
- Bold/saturated colours (deep reds, navys)
Some painters quote two coats knowing three will be needed, then charge extra when the first two don't cover. Clarify upfront: does the quote guarantee full opacity, regardless of how many coats it takes?
What's typically extra
| Item | Usually included? | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walls and ceilings | Yes | — |
| Drop sheets and masking | Yes | — |
| Skirting boards (same colour) | Sometimes | $300–$800 |
| Door frames and architraves | Sometimes | $400–$1,000 |
| Doors (both sides) | Rarely | $80–$150 per door |
| Feature wall in bold colour | Rarely | $200–$500 |
| Moving heavy furniture | Rarely | You're expected to clear rooms |
| Exterior painting | Never (separate quote) | $5,000–$15,000+ |
Getting the best value: what to ask
- What level of preparation is included? Get specifics, not just "standard prep"
- What brand and specific product line of paint will be used?
- How many coats? And does the quote guarantee full coverage?
- Which surfaces are included — walls, ceilings, trim, doors?
- What finish for each surface (flat ceiling, low sheen walls, semi-gloss trim)?
- Are rooms quoted individually or as a whole-house rate?
- What's the timeline and can they guarantee the finish date?
- Do they carry public liability and workers compensation insurance?
For painting rates in your city, see our Painter Cost Guide.