Exterior Paint: What to Specify
The paint your painter uses determines how long the job lasts. Cheap paint on an exterior is false economy.
All premium exterior paints cover approximately 16 m2/L on smooth surfaces. A typical single-storey home (150 m2 paintable area) needs ~20L of topcoat (2 coats) plus ~10L of primer for bare patches. Total paint cost: ~$500–$800 for materials alone.
What Affects the Cost
House size and height. For single-storey homes or homes with storeys not stated, reported prices range from about $3,000 for a small weatherboard to $40,000 for a four-bedroom weatherboard, with most at $8,000–$18,000. A two-storey home has reported prices of $12,000–$43,000. Scaffolding for a two-storey home adds $1,500–$3,500 (hire + erect/dismantle), or $4,000–$8,000 for a full house wrap.
Surface material. Weatherboard is the most prep-intensive (~$25–$60/m2 installed, up to $100/m2 for heavy prep). Each board needs individual attention for rot, splitting, and paint adhesion.
Rendered walls (~$25–$60/m2) need crack filling. Brick (previously painted) is the most straightforward (~$15–$45/m2).
Paint condition. Faded but sound paint needs a wash and light sand. Peeling, flaking, or cracked paint requires extensive scraping, sanding, and priming, which can double the prep time.
Number of colours. Multi-colour heritage schemes (3–4 colours for walls, trim, and details) take significantly longer than single-colour approaches.
Lead paint (pre-1970 homes). An estimated 3.7 million Australian homes were built before 1970, and most contain lead paint (up to 50% lead by weight pre-1965). Proper management per
AS/NZS 4361.2:2017 adds $2,000–$8,000. Lead paint must never be dry-sanded or high-pressure washed.
Scaffolding. Work at 2m+ height requires fall prevention under Safe Work Australia regulations. Scaffolding above 4m must be erected by a holder of a Basic Scaffolding (SB) high risk work licence.
Per-element costs. Eaves and soffits: ~$20–$35/m2. Fascia boards: ~$12–$20/lm. Gutters and downpipes: ~$8–$15/lm. Window frames: ~$15–$25 per window. Exterior doors: ~$80–$200 each.
A single-storey brick veneer home with good paint condition and standard access sits toward $3,000. A two-storey weatherboard home with peeling paint, lead management, scaffolding, multi-colour scheme, and timber rot repair pushes toward $32,600.
Weather affects scheduling more than pricing, but extended delays due to rain or extreme heat (35°C+) can add calendar time. Paint needs dry conditions and temperatures between 10°C and 35°C. Autumn (March–May) and spring (September–November) are the ideal seasons across most of Australia.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Prices vary across Australia due to differences in labour rates, dominant housing types, and climate impacts on paint systems.
At the city level, Sydney serves as the baseline at $3,000–$32,600 per job. Melbourne is closely matched, though its large weatherboard housing stock means prep-heavy jobs are more common. Brisbane tends to sit slightly below, but UV intensity means exterior paint breaks down faster, leading to more frequent repainting. Smaller trade pools and business operating costs influence quotes in Perth and Adelaide; see the Pricing by City table for local ranges.
Within any city, property age and surface material create the biggest variance. Inner-city weatherboard homes in suburbs like Balmain (Sydney), Northcote (Melbourne), or Paddington (Brisbane) consistently quote at the upper end due to timber prep. Newer rendered or fibre cement homes in outer suburbs tend toward the lower end. Coastal properties in any city face salt air degradation that shortens paint life and may require marine-grade coatings.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed painters, adjusted for each state and typical housing stock. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential exterior painting. If you are planning roof painting at the same time, allow $3,600–$15,200 per job for a roof restoration including washing, repairs and coating; bundling both jobs with the same contractor often reduces scaffolding and mobilisation costs. Commercial buildings, strata complexes, and heritage restoration are not included.