Carpenter Costs: Compare & Save

Please note that price information in this article was based on data from 2011, and may now be outdated. 

Rather than donning the overalls and picking up a hammer and nails yourself, get a professional carpentry job done by a qualified carpenter. With prices starting from only $35 an hour, it’s a good investment in your home.

Carpenter hourly rates
The most commonly requested carpentry tasks inside and outside the home include building decks, pergolas, cabinetry, frames and built-in wardrobes.

Nationally, prices start at $35 an hour (including labour and use of equipment), moving up to $40 an hour for a budget job requiring low-skill carpentry – perhaps fashioning shelves or simple skirting boards.

Need more wardrobe space or a cabinet crafted to show off your prized possessions? On average, you can expect to hand over $45 an hour for commonly requested carpentry tasks such as building built-in wardrobes and cabinetry.

If you’re looking for more space in which to enjoy the great outdoors, more strenuous tasks such as building outdoor structures such as decks and pergolas mean you’ll part with $55 an hour for a premium job. The maximum price is $65 per hour.

What are you paying for?
Some carpenters include the cost of standard materials such as pine, nails or screws in their price, while others quote the cost of labour only. So, it’s essential you read the fine print, and know exactly what you’re paying for. A budget price will generally not include materials while the premium rate will cover the full work and all important final touches such as paints and oils.

• Timber deck
  If you want a deck built, a budget job costs $4000 (for a 20 sqm deck). The average price is $5500 but if you’d like a premium job, expect to pay $15,000.
• Pergola
  And if you want a pergola constructed, you’re looking at $4000 for the budget end of the scale, on average $6000 or a premium job will set you back $9555. That’s money well spent as it adds to your entertainment space.
• Built-in wardrobe
  Are you a fashionista who needs a built-in wardrobe? Expect to pay at least $2500 for a budget job, $5500 on average and $9800 for a premium job – that’s a lot of shoe money!

Carpenter rates by state
The national average for carpentry work is $45 per hour (Victorians and Queenslanders are in line with this figure). But if you live in New South Wales, the bad news is you’ll pay more for a carpenter than residents in any other state – forking out more than 10 per cent more – at $50 per hour. But that’s a whole lot cheaper than hitting your thumb with a hammer and ending up at the doctors!

What to look for
Be sure to check your carpenter has a valid license, public liability insurance, references and positive customer testimonials, as well as a valid ABN, and that he or she provides a written quotation detailing all inclusions.