What's Included
A standard cornice installation covers:
- Supply of cornice in the specified profile (plaster, polystyrene, or polyurethane)
- Cutting mitres at internal and external corners
- Fixing to the wall-ceiling junction with cornice cement and mechanical fasteners (nails or screws)
- Filling, sanding, and finishing all joins and mitres to a paint-ready surface compliant with AS/NZS 2589:2017 Gypsum Linings (minimum Level 4 finish for standard painting, Level 5 for square-set junctions)
For a standard 3x4m room (roughly 14 linear metres of wall-ceiling junction), material costs sit at $45–$85 for cove cornice, plus $15–$25 in cornice cement. Labour is the majority of the cost, with installation rates of $5–$10 per linear metre for basic cove and $15–$25+ per metre for ornate profiles. Ceiling roses are a separate scope item, typically $250–$470 per piece for decorative plaster roses, plus $80–$150 for installation.
Painting is not included. Cornice must be painted after installation because the filling and sanding of joints damages any pre-applied finish. If old cornice needs removing first, budget extra. Pulling off old cornice often damages the wall-ceiling junction, which needs repairing before new cornice goes on.
Cornice Profiles Compared
The profile you choose has the biggest impact on both material and labour costs. Here is what the main types cost, supply-only, at standard residential lengths.
| Profile Type | Supply Cost (per metre) | Installation Rate (per metre) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cove 55mm (CSR Gyprock) | $3–$4/m | $5–$8/m | Standard rooms, budget renovations, rentals |
| Cove 75mm or 90mm (Gyprock, Knauf) | $5–$6/m | $6–$10/m | Higher ceilings (2.7m+), living areas, proportional scale |
| Decorative stepped (Gyprock Symphony, Canto, Concerto; Knauf Sydney, New York) | $8–$10/m | $10–$15/m | Contemporary feature, living and dining rooms |
| Ornate Victorian/Art Deco (specialist plaster) | $15–$40/m | $15–$25+/m | Period homes, heritage matching, Federation and Edwardian restoration |
| Custom heritage (mould-run from existing sample) | $40–$80+/m | $25–$50+/m | Heritage-listed homes, discontinued profiles, exact matching |
| Polystyrene/polyurethane lightweight | $4–$12/m | $5–$8/m | DIY-friendly, moisture-prone areas, lightweight ceilings |
CSR Gyprock dominates the Australian market. Their standard cove cornice in 55mm starts at around $9 per 3m length (~$3/m), with 75mm and 90mm options at $17–$27 per 4.8m length ($4–$6/m). Their decorative range (Symphony at ~$38 per 4.8m, Canto at ~$42 per 4.8m) offers stepped and curved profiles that sit between basic cove and full ornate. Knauf is the main alternative, with profiles including Sydney, New York, and Linear in similar size ranges.
For adhesive, Gyprock Cornice Cement is the trade standard: a 20kg bag (~$55) covers roughly 60–80 linear metres depending on profile size and application thickness.
Square-Set and Shadowline: The Modern Alternatives
Two modern ceiling finishes eliminate cornice entirely, each with different cost and maintenance profiles.
Square-set creates a crisp right angle where the wall meets the ceiling. It looks simple but is more labour-intensive than installing cove cornice. The junction must be finished to Level 5 under AS/NZS 2589 (the highest standard, requiring a skim coat for uniform texture and porosity). Expect $12–$20 per linear metre for square-set, compared to $8–$15 for standard cove cornice installed. Square-set is best done during construction or a major renovation, because the wall and ceiling framing must align precisely. Converting from cornice to square-set after the build means removing the existing cornice, repairing the junction, and then applying the Level 5 finish.
Shadowline creates a recessed 10mm negative detail (a thin shadow gap) between the wall and ceiling. A metal angle is installed along the wall, and the ceiling plasterboard is butted against it with a precise gap. The cost is similar to square-set, and it requires the same precision in framing alignment. Shadowline collects dust in the recess and needs careful repainting, but offers a distinctive floating-ceiling effect popular in contemporary homes. Some builders integrate LED strip lighting into the shadowline channel.
Both square-set and shadowline are unforgiving of movement. If the house settles or the framing shifts, cracks appear at the junction and are more noticeable than on a cove cornice (which hides minor imperfections by design). In older homes with timber framing, cove cornice is often the more practical long-term choice.
What Affects the Cost
- Profile type. Simple cove cornice is the cheapest to supply and install. Ornate and decorative profiles (Victorian, Art Deco, large chunky profiles) cost two to three times more per metre. Custom-run profiles for heritage matching sit at the premium end, with mould creation adding $200–$500 on top of the per-metre cost.
- Number of rooms. More rooms means more linear metres and better per-metre pricing. A single room carries a minimum-charge premium (most plasterers charge $250–$400 minimum call-out).
- Ceiling height. Standard 2.4m ceilings are easy to work at from a step ladder. Heights above 2.7m need taller access, and very high or raked ceilings require scaffolding at $100–$300 per day.
- Removing old cornice. Taking off existing cornice and repairing the wall-ceiling join adds $3–$6 per linear metre. The join underneath is rarely clean, so preparation work is needed before new cornice goes on.
- Square-set or shadowline conversion. Converting from cornice to square-set or shadowline costs more than replacing with new cornice. The Level 5 finishing at the junction is where the labour cost concentrates.
- Heritage matching. If you need to match an existing profile in one room to cornice in adjacent rooms, and the profile is no longer manufactured, it must be custom-run from a mould. Specialist firms like Allplasta and Bailey Interiors create moulds from existing samples and run new lengths to match.
Standard cove cornice installed in a single room with no removal of old cornice sits toward $150. Ornate decorative cornice across multiple rooms, with old cornice removed, heritage profile matching, ceiling roses, and high ceilings pushes toward $1,500.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Prices vary across Australia based on labour rates and the prevalence of heritage properties requiring specialist cornice work.
At the city level, Sydney is the baseline at $150–$1,500 per job. Melbourne tracks close to Sydney, with strong demand driven by period home renovations in inner suburbs where Victorian and Edwardian terraces have some of the most elaborate residential cornice profiles in Australia. Brisbane sits slightly lower, with simpler profiles being the norm in Queensland's housing stock. Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% above eastern capitals due to smaller trade pools.
Within any city, the split is between modern homes (where standard cove cornice, square-set, or shadowline is the norm) and period homes (where ornate profiles, heritage matching, and ceiling roses drive costs up). Inner-city suburbs with Victorian, Edwardian, and Federation housing stock consistently sit at the higher end. Newer suburbs with plasterboard construction and standard profiles are more predictable and cost-effective. The AWCI (Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries) is the peak industry body for plastering contractors and can help connect homeowners with qualified installers.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for plasterers, adjusted for each state and typical project scope. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential cornice installation including supply, fitting, and finishing to a paint-ready surface. Heritage restoration with custom-moulded profiles may exceed these ranges.