How much does a painter cost in Melbourne?
Painting in Melbourne costs $52–$105 per hour for a licensed painter, or $315–$840 for a single room (walls and ceiling). A whole-house interior repaint for a 3-bedroom costs $3,150–$8,400, while exterior repainting runs $4,200–$10,500.
We've compiled pricing from painters across Melbourne, plus hipages, ServiceSeeking, and Airtasker listings as of July 2026. All prices include GST.
Detailed Pricing — Melbourne 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter (hourly rate) | $52/hr | $74 | $105 |
| Single room (walls + ceiling) | $315per room | $525 | $840 |
| Whole interior (3-bed house) | $3,150total | $5,250 | $8,400 |
| Whole interior (4-bed house) | $4,725total | $7,350 | $12,600 |
| Exterior (single-storey) | $4,200total | $6,800 | $10,500 |
| Exterior (two-storey) | $6,300total | $11,550 | $18,900 |
| Feature wall | $160per wall | $315 | $525 |
| Ceiling only (per room) | $210per room | $335 | $525 |
| Door (both sides) | $84per door | $135 | $210 |
| Fence painting/staining | $525total | $1,250 | $2,625 |
| Deck staining | $525total | $1,150 | $2,100 |
| Wallpaper removal + repaint | $525per room | $945 | $1,575 |
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Get Melbourne quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Mar 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Interior vs Exterior — Melbourne Pricing
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.
Cost by Room — Melbourne 2026
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.
What Affects Painter Costs in Melbourne
Interior vs exterior
Interior painting in Melbourne ($3,150–$8,400 for a 3-bed) is generally cheaper than exterior ($4,200–$10,500) due to weather exposure, scaffolding needs, and prep work on external surfaces.
Surface condition
Freshly plastered walls are easy. Older Melbourne homes with peeling paint, cracks, or wallpaper removal need extensive prep, adding 30–50% to labour costs.
Number of coats
Two coats over a primer is standard. Dark-to-light colour changes may need 3+ coats. Extra coats add 25–40% to paint costs and labour time.
Ceiling height & access
Standard 2.4m ceilings are straightforward. Higher ceilings in older Melbourne homes need scaffolding or platform ladders, increasing cost and time.
Paint quality
Budget paint ($30–$50/tin) vs premium (Dulux Wash & Wear, $70–$100/tin) affects both finish quality and longevity. Most Melbourne painters recommend mid-range to premium for interiors.
Trim & detail work
Painting doors, window frames, skirting boards, and architraves is labour-intensive. A feature wall ($210–$525 in Melbourne) with a different colour or texture adds cost.
How to Save Money on Painter in Melbourne
Finding house painters in Melbourne
Once you know the likely cost, the next step is choosing the right painter — and whether you need interior or exterior painters, a residential repaint or commercial work, the same rule applies. Melbourne’s housing runs from heritage Victorian and Edwardian terraces with intricate trim to weatherboard and brick-veneer homes, and the city’s changeable weather means timing an exterior job around dry spells matters, so it pays to compare local, professional painters and painting services that understand those conditions rather than picking on price alone.
When you compare house painters in Melbourne, ask to see evidence of their qualifications such as a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, confirm they carry public liability insurance, and check recent local references. Get the scope in writing — the number of coats, the surface prep, and the products they’ll use — so quotes line up on the same basis.
The fastest way to find the fair price is to get a few quotes side by side and compare them on the same scope, not just the bottom-line number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Painter costs by Melbourne suburb
Select your suburb for a tailored price guide with local pricing notes and nearby comparisons.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, leading tradie marketplaces, peak industry body data, 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 price guides are produced independently. Pricing is compiled from public quotes, industry rate guides, and marketplace data, and no tradesperson can influence a published figure. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get multiple quotes. Last reviewed July 2026. Read our full methodology →