These owner-confirmed examples help you plan an enquiry; the written scope determines the quote for your home.
Indicative small-job painting prices in 2026
Kian has supplied the following approximate starting ranges for planning. They are examples of smaller painting scopes, not an average price for a complete Melbourne house. The GST-inclusive totals are shown first; every figure is indicative and is not a fixed quote.
| Example scope | Including GST | Before GST |
|---|---|---|
| One room | A$660–$1,320 | A$600–$1,200 |
| One-bedroom apartment | A$2,420–$3,850 | A$2,200–$3,500 |
| One door | A$220–$440 | A$200–$400 |
| One window | A$275–$550 | A$250–$500 |
The apartment example includes walls, ceilings, doors and skirting boards. For the other examples, confirm the exact included surfaces and preparation before comparing a quote. Condition, repairs, colour changes and access can change the final scope and price. Multiplying a room example by your bedroom count will not produce a reliable whole-house quote.
For a suitable small job, clear photographs, your suburb and timing can help Kian provide an initial estimate. Photos are only a starting point: Kian confirms the final written quote after the scope and any condition or access questions are resolved; some work needs an on-site inspection.
Planning the work in stages
If you are deciding what to do first, ask for separate interior and exterior scopes and clearly identified optional items. Address active water entry or damaged material before coating affected surfaces. Our interior or exterior painting first guide explains how condition, weather and access affect the sequence. Staging can help organise a budget, but each stage still needs the full preparation for its surfaces.
See Consumer Affairs Victoria's giving quotes: tradespeople and small works guidance when comparing quotes.
Surface count matters more than the floor plan label
Two homes with the same bedroom count can have very different painting scopes. A quote may include or exclude ceilings, doors, frames, skirting, wardrobes, feature walls, exterior surfaces and utility rooms. Ask for those items to be listed rather than relying on “whole house” as a description.
Preparation changes the labour
Clean, stable surfaces require a different process from peeling coatings, cracking, dents, water staining or bare substrate. Filling, sanding, spot priming and the treatment of unstable material should be visible in the scope. Active leaks, rotten timber or building defects may need another trade before painting.
Occupied and vacant houses are planned differently
Furniture, floor protection, daily pack-up, room access and the need to keep parts of the home usable can affect sequencing. A vacant property may allow a different work plan, but its surfaces still need the same condition assessment.
Access and exterior exposure
Height, sloping ground, restricted side access, nearby landscaping and the number of exterior elevations influence the work method. Sun, rain and moisture exposure can also mean different preparation on different sides of one house.
How to request a comparable quote
- List the rooms and each surface to be painted.
- State whether the property is occupied, vacant, tenanted or being prepared for sale.
- Describe visible peeling, stains, cracks or damaged timber.
- Include clear photos and note access or parking constraints.
- Ask for preparation, coats, exclusions and optional items to be identified.
Related cost guides
For narrower scopes, see the interior painting cost guide, exterior painting cost guide and three-bedroom house scope guide. Once you have the quotes themselves in front of you, the 2026 Melbourne painting quote guide covers what each one has to state before they can be compared, and what Victorian rules do and do not require for painting-only work.