How to Price Painting Jobs in Australia in 2026 (And Stop Underquoting)
Underquoting is the fastest way to kill a painting business. If you want to price painting jobs in Australia correctly in 2026, the formula is straightforward: calculate your actual costs (labour, materials, overheads, travel), add your profit margin, and quote with confidence. Most painters who underquote are not doing the maths — they are guessing, and guessing low to win work.
This guide walks through the complete pricing process so you stop leaving money on every job.
Why Painters Underquote
Before the numbers, it helps to understand why it happens:
- Fear of losing the job: Cutting price to beat competition, without knowing what the competitor actually quoted
- Forgetting overheads: Quoting only for labour and materials, ignoring insurance, vehicle costs, tools, marketing
- Underestimating prep time: Prep (sanding, patching, masking) often takes as long as painting itself
- Not accounting for waste: Paint wastage, roller covers, drop sheets — these add up across dozens of jobs
The result is you win plenty of work but wonder why there is never any money left at the end of the month.
Australian Painter Day Rates in 2026
Labour is your biggest variable. Here are realistic 2026 rates for Australian painters:
| Painter type | Hourly rate | Day rate (8 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (1st/2nd year) | $22–$28 | $176–$224 |
| Apprentice (3rd/4th year) | $28–$35 | $224–$280 |
| Qualified tradesperson | $45–$65 | $360–$520 |
| Leading hand / working supervisor | $65–$85 | $520–$680 |
| Subcontractor (supply and apply) | $55–$80/hr | $440–$640 |
Add 25–35% on top of employee wages for on-costs: superannuation, workers compensation, payroll tax (if applicable), public holidays, and sick leave entitlements.
So if you pay a qualified painter $55/hr, your actual labour cost to the business is closer to $70–$75/hr.
How to Calculate Material Costs
A basic rule of thumb: materials typically run 20–35% of the total job value for residential work.
Paint coverage and pricing guide (2026 estimates):
| Paint type | Coverage per litre | Price per litre (trade) |
|---|---|---|
| Interior flat/low sheen | 12–16 m² | $8–$18 |
| Interior semi-gloss | 10–14 m² | $10–$20 |
| Exterior acrylic | 10–12 m² | $12–$22 |
| Enamel (doors/trims) | 8–12 m² | $15–$25 |
| Primer/undercoat | 10–14 m² | $7–$15 |
To calculate paint needed: measure total surface area, divide by coverage per litre, multiply by number of coats, then add 10–15% for wastage.
Don't forget consumables per job: - Roller covers, brushes: $15–$40 - Drop sheets: $5–$20 - Masking tape: $10–$30 - Sandpaper, sugar soap, filler: $20–$60 - Plastic sheeting, mixing sticks: $10–$20
Overhead Costs Every Painter Must Include
This is where most painters bleed money — they quote labour and materials but forget the costs of running the business:
| Overhead | Monthly estimate | Per job (20 jobs/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle (repayments, fuel, rego, maintenance) | $800–$1,800 | $40–$90 |
| Public liability + tools insurance | $150–$350 | $8–$18 |
| Workers compensation | Varies by wage bill | Build into labour rate |
| Phone, software, admin | $100–$300 | $5–$15 |
| Marketing (Google Ads, website, leads) | $200–$800 | $10–$40 |
| Equipment and tool replacement | $100–$300 | $5–$15 |
| Accountant / bookkeeper | $100–$200 | $5–$10 |
Total overhead per job: $73–$188 at minimum. Most painters charging rock-bottom rates never account for any of this.
The Pricing Formula
Here is the complete formula to price any painting job:
Total Job Cost = Labour + Materials + Overheads + Travel + Profit Margin
Step by step:
- Estimate hours: Calculate total hours including prep, painting, and clean-up
- Calculate labour cost: Hours × your all-up labour rate (including on-costs)
- Calculate materials: Measure area, calculate paint needed, add consumables, mark up 15–25%
- Add overheads: Use your per-job overhead figure
- Add travel: Time and fuel to and from site
- Add profit margin: 20–30% for a healthy painting business
Example — interior repaint of a 3-bedroom house:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Labour: 3 days × $75/hr × 8 hrs | $1,800 |
| Paint (20 litres @ $16): $320 + consumables $80 | $400 |
| Overheads | $120 |
| Travel (2 days × 30 min @ $75/hr) | $75 |
| Subtotal | $2,395 |
| 25% profit margin | $599 |
| Total quote | $2,994 |
That job should be quoted at approximately $3,000–$3,200 including GST. If you are currently quoting 3-bedroom repaints at $1,800–$2,200, you are funding someone else's business with your labour.
How to Price by Square Metre
Many experienced painters use a per-square-metre rate as a quick sanity check:
| Job type | Per m² rate (walls) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interior repaint (standard) | $18–$30/m² | Includes prep, 2 coats |
| Interior repaint (high ceilings/detailed) | $25–$40/m² | Extra difficulty factor |
| Exterior repaint (weatherboard) | $20–$35/m² | More prep required |
| Exterior render/masonry | $15–$28/m² | Faster coverage |
| New build (prime + 2 coats) | $12–$22/m² | Less prep, volume work |
Use square metre rates as a cross-check against your detailed calculation, not as a substitute for it. They are a quick way to catch if your quote is wildly out.
How to Handle the "You're Too Expensive" Objection
When a customer pushes back on price, the worst thing you can do is immediately discount. That signals you did not mean your original number.
Instead, explain what is included:
- How many coats
- What prep work is covered
- Your warranty on the job
- Your insurance and licence
Then ask: "Did you get other quotes? What were they offering?" Often cheaper quotes are missing prep time, using one coat, or not including GST.
If the customer insists on a lower price, offer a reduced scope — not a discounted rate. Take something off the job rather than cutting your margin.
Setting Your Minimum Job Size
Every painter should have a minimum job charge. Charging $150 for a single wall repaint — after driving 40 minutes, setting up, doing the work, cleaning up, and driving back — is a money-losing exercise even if the hourly rate looks fine on paper.
A sensible minimum for most metropolitan areas in 2026:
- Metropolitan areas: $350–$600 minimum call-out
- Regional areas: $250–$450 minimum call-out
Include this on your quotes and in your email signature. Customers who know upfront rarely push back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to paint a house interior in Australia in 2026? A standard 3–4 bedroom house interior typically costs $3,500–$7,000 depending on the size, condition, number of colours, and location. Sydney and Melbourne tend to run 15–25% higher than other capitals. This includes prep, two coats on walls, and one coat on ceilings and trims.
Should I include GST in my painting quotes? Yes. If you are registered for GST (required if your turnover exceeds $75,000/year), you must charge GST and include it on your tax invoice. Be clear in your quote whether the price shown is GST-inclusive or exclusive — most customers assume prices include GST.
How much should I mark up paint and materials? A 15–25% markup on materials is standard practice in the painting industry. You are not just supplying the product — you are sourcing it, transporting it, storing it, and managing wastage. A markup is legitimate and expected.
How do I price a painting job that has a lot of prep work? Price prep as a separate line item on the quote. Itemise: sanding, filling, sugar soaping, spot priming, masking. This makes the value transparent to the customer and protects your margin when prep runs over time. Some painters offer a fixed-price quote or a day-rate quote depending on the condition of the surfaces.
What profit margin should a painting business aim for? A healthy painting business should aim for a net profit margin of 15–25% after all costs, including your own wages as the working director. If you are netting less than 15%, something is wrong — either your rates are too low, your overheads are too high, or both.
Pricing jobs right is only half the battle — you also need a system to send quotes fast, follow up automatically, and convert more of the jobs you price. Kabooyaa gives Australian painting businesses a CRM built for tradies, with automated follow-up, quote tracking, and Google review collection built in. See how it works.