PAINTING ADVICE
Exterior House Painting Cost in Sydney (2026 Price Guide)
Most Sydney homes cost $6,000 to $13,000 to repaint outside in 2026. A small brick cottage can come in under $5,000. A two-storey or period home can pass $20,000. Where your house lands in that range depends less on its size than on three things: the condition of the existing paint, what the walls are made of, and how hard the work is to reach.
Below are the ranges we use as a starting point, what moves a quote up or down, and how to tell whether two quotes are actually pricing the same job.
Exterior painting prices by home type
| Sydney home type | Typical cost (labour and paint) |
|---|---|
| Small house or cottage | $3,500 – $7,500 |
| Brick veneer cottage | $4,500 – $7,500 |
| 3-bedroom single-storey home | $6,000 – $9,500 |
| Small weatherboard house | $7,500 – $13,000 |
| Two-storey family home | $11,000 – $18,000 |
| 4–5 bedroom house | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Victorian or period home | $14,000 – $22,000+ |
These assume walls, eaves, fascia and window frames, with two topcoats and normal preparation. Heavy repairs, a roof or a colour change from dark to light all sit on top.
Cost per square metre
| Surface | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Render and painted brick | $20 – $50 per m² |
| Timber weatherboard | $25 – $70 per m² |
| Eaves and soffits | Often priced by the metre run, or as a lump sum |
Per-square-metre rates are useful for a sanity check, but most painters quote a fixed price for the whole house after seeing it. Trims, eaves and fascia take far longer per metre than open walls, so wall area alone undersells the job.
What pushes the price up
The condition of the old paint
This is the biggest single factor. A house that was last painted fifteen years ago and is now peeling and chalky needs scraping, sanding, washing, filling and priming before any colour goes on. On a neglected house, that preparation can be 30 to 50 percent of the bill. It is also the part that decides whether the new paint lasts ten years or two.
What the house is made of
Render and brick are the quickest. Weatherboard costs more because every board has an edge, a join and nail heads, and bare timber needs priming. Fibro is cleaned by hand rather than pressure washed, because sheeting on homes built before about 1990 may contain asbestos, and that adds time.
Height and access
The moment scaffolding or a boom lift is needed, the price jumps, typically by $1,500 to $3,000 for a two-storey home. Steep blocks, narrow side passages and tight boundaries on terraces add to this.
Colour changes
Going from a dark colour to a light one usually needs an extra coat. So does painting bare, previously unpainted surfaces.
Trim, gutters and fascia
Some quotes cover walls only. Window frames, doors, fascia, gutters, eaves and downpipes can add $800 to $2,000 if they’re not already included. Check before comparing.
Older homes and lead paint
Homes built before 1970 may have lead in their original paint layers. If it’s present, lead-safe preparation (containment, wet sanding, careful clean-up) takes longer and costs more. It is not optional, especially with children in the house.
A worked example
For a single-storey, three-bedroom brick veneer home in reasonable condition, with walls, eaves, fascia, gutters and window frames, two coats, and no colour change, you would typically expect quotes around $7,000 to $9,000. Make the same house weatherboard with peeling paint and a dark-to-light colour change, and $11,000 to $13,000 is more realistic.
How long it takes
| Home | Typical time with a two-person crew |
|---|---|
| 3-bedroom single-storey brick | 3 – 5 days |
| 3-bedroom weatherboard | 5 – 7 days |
| Large two-storey or period home | 1 – 2 weeks |
Allow extra days for rain. Paint shouldn’t go on a wet surface or just before a storm, and most exterior acrylics shouldn’t be applied below about 10°C.
How Sydney suburbs change the price
- Inner West and inner city (Newtown, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe): lots of Victorian and Federation homes with decorative timber, high eaves and narrow side access. These take longer and cost more.
- North Shore (Chatswood, Hornsby, Pymble, St Leonards): a mix of brick veneer and older weatherboard. Mostly straightforward, but steep blocks can mean scaffolding.
- Eastern Suburbs and Northern Beaches (Bondi, Randwick, Coogee, Manly, Dee Why): salt air breaks paint down faster, so use a quality exterior product and expect to repaint sooner.
- Western Sydney (Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Liverpool): newer, brick-heavy housing that usually sits at the lower end of the range.
What a proper exterior quote should include
- Pressure washing, or hand washing where that’s safer
- Scraping, sanding and filling of cracks and holes
- Priming of bare timber, repairs and chalky surfaces
- Two topcoats, with the brand and product range named
- Which surfaces are included: walls, eaves, fascia, gutters, window frames, doors
- Protection of gardens, paving and windows, and daily clean-up
Usually extra: replacing rotten boards, render repairs beyond small cracks, roof painting, garage doors and fences.
If a painter can’t break the price down, or gives you a firm figure over the phone without seeing the house, they’re guessing.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Repaint before the paint fails. Recoating sound, slightly faded paint is far cheaper than stripping back peeling paint.
- Keep a similar colour. It avoids the extra coat a big colour change needs.
- Do the whole house at once. Splitting the job across years means paying for setup and scaffolding twice.
- Clear the work area yourself. Moving pot plants, outdoor furniture and anything along the walls before the crew arrives saves labour time.
- Be flexible on timing. Spring and autumn are the busiest seasons. Dry winter weeks can be easier to book.
Getting a quote for your home
Our exterior painting page explains how we prepare each type of surface and which paints suit Sydney’s conditions. If your roof is due as well, see roof painting, since doing both together saves on access. When you request a quote, include your suburb, whether the house is single or double storey, what it’s made of, and a few photos of any problem areas.
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house in Sydney?
Most Sydney homes cost between $6,000 and $13,000 for a full exterior repaint in 2026. A small brick cottage can come in under $5,000, while a large two-storey or Victorian home can pass $20,000.
How much does exterior painting cost per square metre in Sydney?
Roughly $20 to $50 per m² for render and painted brick, and $25 to $70 per m² for timber weatherboard. The spread comes from preparation: a sound surface sits at the bottom of the range, while peeling paint and repairs push it to the top.
Is it cheaper to paint brick or weatherboard?
Brick and render are cheaper per square metre. Weatherboard has more edges, joins and nail holes, usually needs more scraping and priming, and takes longer to cut in.
How often should a house exterior be repainted in Sydney?
Every eight to twelve years for render and brick, and every six to ten years for weatherboard. Homes near the coast, and walls facing north or west, sit at the shorter end.
Is scaffolding included in an exterior painting quote?
Not always. Two-storey work often needs scaffolding or a lift, which can add $1,500 to $3,000. Ask for it as a separate line, so you can compare quotes properly.