House painting
Paint quotes are area, preparation and the number of coats. A price that skips preparation will look cheaper and wear faster. This page does not publish a rate per square metre or per room.
Use the paint calculator to estimate litres for a job you are painting yourself. Hiring a painter is a different question, and it needs a site visit.
This guide does not publish a dollar figure. We only print a price when a government agency, industry body or manufacturer has published a rate we can link to. Use the factors and the questions when you compare quotes.
What changes the price
- Inside or outside. Exterior work depends on weather, height and the state of the substrate. Interior work depends on colour changes and how much furniture moves.
- Preparation. Washing, filling, sanding and priming should be listed. New plaster and bare timber need a specified undercoat.
- Coats and product. Ask for the product line and how many finish coats. A change from a dark colour needs more paint than a refresh of the same colour.
- Access. Stairs, high gables and occupied rooms add time. Scaffold is either included or it is not.
- Repairs that are not paint. Rotten timber, failed render and leaking sills are not fixed by paint. Ask the painter to point them out rather than coat over them.
Questions to ask
- Which surfaces are included, and which are excluded?
- How many coats, and what product?
- Is preparation and primer included?
- Who moves furniture, and who protects floors?
- Is scaffold included for the high work?
- What is not covered if the surface is damp or peeling?
Common questions
Can the calculator price the painter?
No. It estimates litres from area, coats and the coverage on the tin. It does not know preparation, access or labour.
How do I compare two painters?
Give them the same list of surfaces, the same colour change and the same number of coats. Then compare preparation, not just the total.