Australia calculator
Interior Painting Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost to paint the interior of your home in Australia. Adjust the paintable wall area (m²), number of coats, surface prep level, and paint grade — and toggle ceilings and trim — to see an itemised low–high range in Australian dollars (GST inclusive) for your project.
How this calculator is built
Unit costs with sources
This model cites 2 sources for its line-item cost and regional labour inputs.
Regional labour adjustment
The state table applies local labour indexes only to labour-heavy line items.
Published methodology
The methodology page lists the formula, size drivers, labour model, and source links.
How this estimate is calculated
The model prices 6 project line items from published cost inputs. Quantities are driven by your paintable wall area, number of coats, prep level, and paint grade. The selected scope and finish adjust those inputs, then the regional index changes only each line's labour share; material prices remain national.
The itemised midpoint is shown as a ±18% planning range. It is not a contractor quote: access, design choices, permits, availability, and site conditions can move the final price.
Read the full calculation notesEstimate your project
Change the default inputs to match your scope. The breakdown updates by line item.
Interior Painting Cost by state: typical ranges
Each range applies that state's labour index to the labour-share line items of the default project; materials stay at national prices. Select a state for its full local breakdown and calculator.
| State | Typical range | Labour index | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | $6,624–$9,532 | 101% | Usually none |
| New South Wales | $6,663–$9,588 | 102% | Usually none |
| Northern Territory | $6,305–$9,073 | 95% | Usually none |
| Queensland | $6,383–$9,185 | 96% | Usually none |
| South Australia | $6,325–$9,101 | 95% | Usually none |
| Tasmania | $5,832–$8,392 | 85% | Usually none |
| Victoria | $6,489–$9,338 | 98% | Usually none |
| Western Australia | $7,020–$10,103 | 109% | Usually none |
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house in Australia?
hipages' 2026 guide puts a full interior repaint at roughly $60–$100 per square metre of floor area, so a small single-storey home (about 100 m² of floor) lands near $6,000–$10,000 GST inclusive, with larger homes running well above. Use the calculator above for a range matched to your paintable wall area, coats, prep level, and paint grade.
Does the estimate include ceilings and trim?
Yes — toggle 'Include ceilings' and 'Include trim & doors' to add or remove those surfaces. Ceilings are estimated at roughly 35% of your paintable wall area, and trim, doors and window frames at 15%. Prices shown are GST inclusive.
How does paint grade affect the cost?
Budget paint lowers the estimate by about 15%; premium paint raises it by about 35%. Mid-grade water-based paint ($30–$45 per litre in Australia) is the baseline. Higher-grade paints often cover better and wear longer, stretching the time between repaints.