How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House in Sydney?
House painting costs vary considerably depending on the size of your home, the condition of the surfaces, and whether you are painting interior, exterior, or both. This guide gives you a realistic picture of what to expect.
The short answer
For a standard three-bedroom home in Sydney, you should budget roughly $4,000 to $8,000 for a full interior repaint, and $5,000 to $12,000 for a full exterior repaint. These ranges are wide because so many factors affect the final cost — which we will cover below.
A full house repaint — interior and exterior — for a three-to-four bedroom home on the Northern Beaches typically falls somewhere between $12,000 and $22,000 for a quality job. The wide range reflects differences in home size, number of storeys, surface condition, and the extent of preparation required.
What affects the price
Interior vs exterior: different cost drivers
Interior painting
Interior costs are driven by the number of rooms, ceiling heights, the number of doors and trims, and the condition of the walls and ceilings. Rooms that require significant filling and patching take longer to prepare. Feature walls or ceiling colours add complexity.
Exterior painting
Exterior costs are driven by surface area, the number of storeys, the type of surface (render, brick, weatherboard, fibro), and the condition of the existing paint. Homes near the coast — including most of the Northern Beaches — may need more preparation and coastal-grade products.
Why quotes vary so much
It is common for homeowners to receive quotes that differ by several thousand dollars for the same job. This usually comes down to one thing: the scope of preparation included.
A painter who includes thorough surface preparation — filling, sanding, priming, treating mould where needed — will quote more than one who plans to paint over the existing surface with minimal prep. The lower quote looks appealing. The result rarely is.
When comparing quotes, ask each painter to explain what preparation is included. That is where the real difference lies.
Our approach to quoting
At Working Colours, we visit every property before quoting. We assess the surfaces, identify what preparation is needed, and provide a detailed, itemised quote. We do not quote sight unseen and we do not present surprises mid-job. Get in touch to arrange a quote.
Get an accurate quote for your home
We visit in person, assess the job properly, and give you a detailed, itemised price. No estimates, no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cheapest quote is rarely the most economical option. A painter who skips preparation, uses cheap products, or rushes the job will leave you with a finish that fails in two to three years. A quality job done properly will last seven to twelve years. Over time, the difference in cost is significant.
Most professional painters supply the paint as part of the quote. This is generally the better option — your painter knows the products, can get trade pricing, and takes responsibility for the result. If you want to supply paint yourself, discuss this upfront.
A detailed quote should itemise labour, materials (paint, primer, fillers), any surface preparation, masking, and the number of coats. Be wary of any quote that doesn't specify what preparation is included.
Surface repairs beyond filling minor holes — such as significant crack repair, rotted timber replacement, or high-pressure washing — may be quoted separately. A reputable painter will identify these at the quote stage.