The formula
For each line item we multiply a quantity by a national unit cost, then apply a quality-grade factor. A regional labour multiplier is applied to the labour portion only; materials are priced nationally. We show the itemised result as a ±18% range.
National unit costs
| Line item | National unit cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Surface prep & masking | $3.40 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Surface prep & masking) |
| Primer coat | $2.40 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Primer coat) |
| Wall paint | $1.25 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Wall paint) |
| Wall painting labour | $4.40 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Wall painting labour) |
| Ceilings | $7.30 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Ceilings) |
| Trim, doors & windows | $34.00 / m² | hipages.com.au (source for Trim, doors & windows) |
Regional labour multipliers
Each state's labour multiplier is its private-sector all-industry full-time adult ordinary-time weekly earnings relative to the national private-sector mean, from ABS Average Weekly Earnings (November 2025, Table 14, by state) — used as a proxy for painting labour because Australia publishes no painter-by-state (ANZSCO 332211) earnings series in public form, and the private-sector cut strips out the public-service distortion that inflates all-industry figures in the ACT. Multipliers are bounded to a sane range and applied to the labour share of each line item, so materials stay nationally priced while labour tracks local wages.
Data vintage and limitations
Compiled June 2026 from public cost aggregators and government wage data. These are derived estimates, not live contractor quotes. Local prices vary with project complexity, access, and material availability; always confirm with a licensed contractor before budgeting.