How much does a painter cost in Melbourne?
Melbourne painting costs are slightly below Sydney but above most other Australian capitals. In 2026, expect to pay $45–$70 per hour or $20–$40 per square metre for interior work. A full interior repaint for a 3-bedroom home runs $4,000–$8,000, while exterior painting ranges from $4,500–$12,000+ depending on the property type and condition.
Melbourne's climate creates specific challenges for painters. The city's famous weather variability — four seasons in one day — means exterior paint systems need to handle UV, rain, heat, and cold within a single week. Interior moisture management is also critical, as Melbourne's cooler, more humid winters promote mould growth in poorly ventilated homes.
| Service | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter (hourly rate) | $53 | $105 | $74 /hr |
| Single room (walls + ceiling) | $315 | $840 | $525 per room |
| Whole interior (3-bed house) | $3,150 | $8,400 | $5,250 total |
| Whole interior (4-bed house) | $4,725 | $12,600 | $7,350 total |
| Exterior (single-storey) | $4,200 | $10,500 | $6,825 total |
| Exterior (two-storey) | $6,300 | $18,900 | $11,550 total |
| Feature wall | $158 | $525 | $315 per wall |
| Ceiling only (per room) | $210 | $525 | $336 per room |
| Door (both sides) | $84 | $210 | $137 per door |
| Fence painting/staining | $525 | $2,625 | $1,260 total |
| Deck staining | $525 | $2,100 | $1,155 total |
| Wallpaper removal + repaint | $525 | $1,575 | $945 per room |
Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Feb 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Interior Painting
Two coats standard. Walls and ceilings in a standard room cost $350–$800 depending on size and condition. Melbourne's older homes often have plaster walls that need extensive crack repair — expect prep to account for 40–50% of total painting time in pre-1970s homes. Quality paint matters more in Melbourne's variable climate — Dulux Wash & Wear and Haymes Ultra Premium are popular for their durability.
Exterior Painting
Melbourne's housing stock includes a huge variety of exteriors: weatherboard (inner suburbs), brick veneer (middle suburbs), render, and cladding. Weatherboard homes are the most expensive to paint — scraping, sanding, priming, and two topcoats on a 3-bedroom weatherboard home costs $6,000–$12,000. Brick painting (increasingly popular to modernise dated red/brown brick) runs $4,000–$8,000 for a standard home using masonry paint.
Whole House Interior — 3 bed
Melbourne pricing for a full interior repaint. Includes walls, ceilings, and woodwork (doors, architraves, skirting boards). Victorian-era homes with ornate cornices, ceiling roses, and detailed timber trim cost 20–30% more than a modern home due to the additional cutting-in and detail work. The painter typically needs 3–5 days for a standard 3-bedroom home.
Whole House Exterior — 3 bed
Scaffolding for two-storey homes adds $1,200–$3,500. Lead paint (common on pre-1970 Melbourne homes) requires testing and either encapsulation or licensed removal. Melbourne's brick veneer homes are generally cheaper to paint externally than weatherboard because less preparation is needed — a coat of masonry sealer and two topcoats is usually sufficient.
Single bedroom
Standard room with 2.7m ceilings. Melbourne's popularity of feature walls (a dark or textured accent wall) adds $100–$200 per room. For Victorian-era homes with picture rails or detailed cornices, expect the higher end of the range due to careful masking and cutting-in.
Full weatherboard exterior repaint
Melbourne's inner suburbs (Northcote, Yarraville, Williamstown, Footscray) have thousands of weatherboard homes. A proper repaint involves scraping loose paint, sanding, spot-priming bare timber, caulking gaps, and applying two topcoats of quality acrylic. Allow 5–8 days for a standard single-fronted worker's cottage. If the existing paint is in very poor condition, a full strip-back adds $2,000–$4,000.
Brick painting (exterior)
An increasingly popular Melbourne renovation move — painting dated 1970s–80s brown or cream brick to modernise the look. Requires thorough cleaning (high-pressure wash), masonry primer, and two coats of quality masonry paint (Dulux AcraTex, Haymes SolaGuard). Once painted, brick requires repainting every 10–15 years, so it's a long-term commitment.
Surface preparation
Peeling paint, cracks, holes, and water damage all need fixing before painting. Prep can account for 50–70% of the total job time.
Paint quality
Budget paint ($30–$50/can) vs. premium paint ($70–$120/can) affects both cost and longevity. Premium paints last 10+ years vs. 4–6 for budget.
Number of coats
Changing from a dark colour to light (or vice versa) may need 3 coats instead of 2, adding 30–50% more paint and time.
Height and access
Two-storey exteriors require scaffolding ($1,000–$3,000), which significantly increases the cost compared to single-storey.
Surface type
Smooth plasterboard is quick. Textured walls, weatherboard, and brick take longer and use more paint.
Room size and detail
Rooms with lots of windows, doors, and trim require more cutting-in time than simple open walls.
Autumn (March–May) is Melbourne's best painting season. Stable temperatures, low humidity, and minimal rain. Paint cures optimally in these conditions, producing a harder, more durable finish.
Summer (December–February) works for exterior painting but extremely hot days (35°C+) can cause paint to dry too quickly, leaving brush marks and poor adhesion. Painters typically start at 6–7am and stop by early afternoon on hot days.
Winter (June–August) is suitable for interior work only. Melbourne's cool, damp winters create conditions where exterior paint won't cure properly. Morning dew on surfaces can cause blistering and peeling if painted over.
Melbourne-specific tip: If you're painting a weatherboard home, time the project for March–April. The timber has had all summer to dry out (minimising moisture content), and the mild weather gives the paint optimal curing conditions before winter.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, tradie marketplaces (ServiceSeeking, hipages, Airtasker, Service.com.au), industry body data (HIA, Master Builders), and individual tradesperson websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences based on advertised rates, salary data, and cost-of-living indicators. Our guides are independently produced — we don't employ tradespeople and have no financial incentive to inflate or deflate prices. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get at least 3 quotes. Last reviewed February 2026. Read our full methodology →