Painting costs: Your go-to guide

Please note that the price information in this article was based on data from 2016 and may now be outdated. 

Painting, like most renovation tasks, involves various decisions that will affect the overall quality and cost of your job. Colour, type of paint and quality of paint are just some of the choices to consider before your painter (or you) even pick up a brush. While each job will vary considerably, this go-to guide provides expert advice and up-to date pricing data to help you along the way.

Why is Painting important?

Painting is one of the most noticeable features of any home. Many leading interior designers have said that choosing the right paint is the key factor in achieving the mood a room or home provides. The type of paint you choose is also extremely important in achieving certain tasks. For example, some specific paints are known for providing feelings of warmth, while others can increase the perceived size of the room.

Expect to pay around $40/hr

According to our data, the average hourly rate of hiring a painting professional across Australia is approximately $40. That said, the price of hiring a painting professional will vary depending on:

• Quality of the professional hired – experienced, high-quality painters are likely to charge more due to their established reputations. Smaller businesses are likely to charge less in order to increase their customer base.
• Type and Quality of Paints – Different types of paints are naturally more expensive than others. Some paints are also more suited to interior jobs while others are more long-lasting on exterior walls where they are exposed to natural elements.
• Extra Costs – the costs of your painting project may increase if professionals need to strip existing paint or the paint job is in a hard-to-reach area.

A bright blue feature wall gives this white kitchen a splash of colour

What can I use Painting for?

Painting can be used in countless ways around the house. On ServiceSeeking.com.au some of the most popular are:

• Bedrooms and Living Rooms
• Kitchens
• Exterior walls
• Fences and Wooden Balustrades
• Feature walls

What types of paints are available to me? How much do they cost?

At the most basic level, there are two main types of paint available for home painting jobs: Water-based and oil-based paints. There are some key differences between the two that make each one specifically suited to certain types of jobs.

1. Water-Based Paints

Water-based paints are extremely popular with professional painters due to their easy clean-up with regular soap and water. However, water-based paints also have many other professional performance advantages.

• Excellent durability in the form of colour retention
• Hold original colour for many years
• Excellent resistance to cracking, blistering, flaking and peeling
• Fast drying (typically one to six hours)

In addition, water-based paints are proven to work especially well on certain surfaces such as:

• Wood
• Newly plastered surfaces such as walls
• Weathered aluminium

2. Oil-based Paints

The best quality oil-based paints display excellent adhesion which means that the paint is able to form a tight grip on the surface. This allows for a particularly durable paint job. However, tight grip can become brittle over time which may ultimately lead to cracking on exterior paint jobs, and chipping problems on interior paint jobs. This due to a process called oxidisation.

Oil-based paints are the best choice in the following circumstances:

• Repainting exterior surfaces that have become powdery (you will notice this if you touch the old paint and a chalk-looking powder shows on your hand)
• Repainting exterior or interior surfaces that have more than 3 layers of old oil-based paint.

What about paint sheens?

Paint Sheens are the final coat applied to any paint job. Paint sheens have the capacity to change the entire look of any paint job. So, it is important to explore the many options available and find the look that suits you.

A matte finish create a clean and modern look

Flat or Matte – $20/ Litre

• A non-reflective paint that hides imperfections in walls (e.g cracks) better than other paint sheens.
• Typically used in interior paint jobs on walls and ceilings

Eggshell: $90 / Litre

• More durable than flat and carries a slight-sheen.
• Typically used to apply a glossy look to wooden floors.

Exterior Satin: $70 / Litre

• An easy-to-clean option that offers excellent stain resistance
• Typically used in bathrooms and kitchens

Gloss – $70 / Litre

• Extremely durable and slightly less shiny than satin.
• Used for interior and exterior paint jobs and typically applied to metal and wooden surfaces.

Should I source my own paint or let the professional find them?

It’s important to consider that there are many positives to both options. It may often be cheaper to source your own paints, and perhaps there is a greater available choice. However, sourcing your own paints can require hours of researching and shopping around. Alternatively, the benefits of using a professional’s paints are convenience and guaranteed quality.

What are Service Seeking’s tips?

1. Get a number of quotes before making any decision
2. Find out more about the materials you are interested in
3. Ask questions!