Quick answer: professional interior painting in Australia costs about $20–$35 per m² of floor area for walls only, or $30–$50 per m² for walls, ceilings and trim. For a typical 150 m² three-bedroom house, that’s roughly $4,500–$7,500 for a full interior repaint in good condition. Heavy prep, high ceilings and difficult access can add 20–60%.
This guide brings together our interior painting price, rates and city guides into one place. For your home’s floor area and condition, use our free painting cost calculator. Choosing colours? See our interior painting ideas and colours guide.
Interior painting cost by home size
Painters quote in different ways, but floor area is the easiest way to compare. These figures include paint, basic prep and labour for two coats over existing painted surfaces in good condition.
| Home | Walls only | Walls, ceilings & trim |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom unit (≈60 m²) | $1,200–$2,100 | $1,800–$3,000 |
| 2-bedroom unit (≈90 m²) | $1,800–$3,200 | $2,700–$4,500 |
| 3-bedroom house (≈150 m²) | $3,000–$5,300 | $4,500–$7,500 |
| 4-bedroom house (≈220 m²) | $4,400–$7,700 | $6,600–$11,000 |
Cost per room
Walls, ceilings and trim, good condition. Small jobs often attract a minimum charge, so a single room can cost more per m² than a whole house.
| Room | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Bedroom (≈12 m² floor) | $350–$600 |
| Living room (≈25 m²) | $750–$1,250 |
| Open-plan kitchen/living (≈40 m²) | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Hallway and entry (≈10 m²) | $300–$500 |
How prep and access change the price
Prep is mostly labour, so it moves the price more than paint does. Figures for a 150 m² home, walls, ceilings and trim:
| Surface condition and access | 3-bedroom house | vs good condition |
|---|---|---|
| Good condition / light prep | $4,500–$7,500 | — |
| Moderate patching and sanding | $5,400–$9,000 | +20% |
| Heavy prep or high ceilings | $6,300–$10,500 | +40% |
| Heavy prep + difficult access | $7,200–$12,000 | +60% |
How painters price a job
- Fixed quote — the most common for whole rooms or houses; make sure prep, paint brand, number of coats and clean-up are itemised.
- Per square metre — some painters quote per m² of wall area rather than floor area, which gives a smaller-looking number for the same job. Ask which one a quote uses.
- Per room — handy for one or two rooms; check whether ceilings, doors and skirting are included.
- Hourly or day rate — used for small jobs and repairs. Solo painters and two-person teams charge different day rates, and paint is often extra.
Interior painting cost by city
Painter rates are higher in the major capitals. Walls, ceilings and trim, good condition:
| City | Per m² of floor | 3-bedroom house | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $33–$55 | $5,000–$8,300 | +10% |
| Darwin | $33–$55 | $5,000–$8,300 | +10% |
| Melbourne | $32–$53 | $4,700–$7,900 | +5% |
| Canberra | $32–$53 | $4,700–$7,900 | +5% |
| Brisbane | $30–$50 | $4,500–$7,500 | national average |
| Perth | $30–$50 | $4,500–$7,500 | national average |
| Gold Coast | $30–$50 | $4,500–$7,500 | national average |
| Adelaide | $29–$48 | $4,300–$7,100 | −5% |
| Hobart | $29–$48 | $4,300–$7,100 | −5% |
What’s different in each city
Sydney. Summer humidity near the harbour and beaches slows drying, so good ventilation matters. Pre-1930 terraces often have lime plaster walls that need breathable, lime-compatible paint. Strata buildings usually restrict work hours.
Brisbane. Queenslanders with VJ timber walls and high ceilings take much longer to paint than plasterboard, and painters price that in. Mould-resistant paint is worth it in bathrooms, laundries and humid rooms; the drier months from April to October are easiest for painting.
Perth. Summer heat can make paint dry too fast and leave lap marks, so autumn and spring are the best times. Many 1960s–1990s homes have smooth, paint-friendly walls.
Adelaide. Character homes in suburbs like Prospect, Goodwood and Walkerville often need extra prep for cracked plaster, and pre-1970 homes may have lead paint that needs safe handling. Painters book out quickly in spring.
Melbourne and Canberra. Rates sit about 5% above the national average. Cold, damp winters slow drying, so allow extra time between coats.
What adds to the cost
- Colour changes — dark to light often needs a third coat.
- New plasterboard — needs a sealer or undercoat before top coats.
- Repairs — patching cracks, water damage or skim-coating textured walls.
- High ceilings and stairwells — need scaffolding or platforms and slow the job.
- Doors, skirting and architraves — fiddly enamel work charged separately in some quotes.
- Lead paint — homes painted before 1970 may have lead paint; it must be tested and handled safely, never dry-sanded.
DIY vs hiring a painter
Labour is most of the cost, so painting yourself can save a lot on straightforward walls. Professionals are worth it for ceilings, stairwells, high walls, enamel trim and anything with lead paint or heavy repairs, where the prep and finish make the biggest difference to how long the paint lasts.
How to save on interior painting
- Do the prep yourself. Moving furniture, removing fittings and filling small holes reduces labour hours.
- Stick to similar colours. Repainting the same or a lighter shade avoids extra coats.
- Paint the whole house at once. One larger job usually costs less per room than several small ones.
- Book outside peak season. Spring is busiest; winter bookings can be easier to negotiate.
- Get three itemised quotes. Compare paint brand, coats, prep and clean-up, not just the total.
FAQ
How much does it cost to paint a 3-bedroom house inside?
Roughly $4,500–$7,500 for walls, ceilings and trim in a typical 150 m² home in good condition; $3,000–$5,300 for walls only.
How much does it cost to paint one room?
A typical bedroom costs around $350–$600 for walls, ceiling and trim, though minimum charges can apply to single-room jobs.
How many coats are included?
Quotes usually allow two coats over a prepared surface, plus primer or sealer on bare or patched areas.
How often should you repaint inside?
Interiors typically last 7–10 years, sooner in high-traffic areas, kitchens and bathrooms.
Estimate your own home
Our free painting cost calculator gives an instant range for your floor area, job type, surface condition and city, using the same figures as this guide.