Cost to Paint an Apartment in Sydney (2026 Price Guide)

Most Sydney apartments cost $1,800 to $5,000 to repaint inside in 2026. A studio can come in around $1,200. A 2 bedroom unit, the most common job we quote, usually lands between $2,800 and $3,800. The size of the apartment sets the starting point, but wall condition, ceiling height and what’s included move the final number more than most people expect.

These are guide prices in Australian dollars, not a quote. Use them to check whether the quotes you receive are in the right range.

Apartment painting prices by size

Apartment	Typical floor area	Walls and ceilings
Studio	30 – 40 m²	$1,200 – $2,300
1 bedroom	40 – 60 m²	$1,800 – $2,800
2 bedroom	60 – 80 m²	$2,800 – $3,800
3 bedroom	80 – 100 m²	$3,800 – $5,000

These assume a standard repaint: walls and ceilings, two coats of a quality low-sheen acrylic, walls in reasonable condition, a similar colour and normal lift access. Doors, skirting, window frames and architraves are usually extra, typically adding $600 to $1,500 for a whole apartment.

Room-by-room prices

If you only need part of the apartment done, for example before re-leasing, these are typical ranges for walls and ceiling:

Room	Typical cost
Single bedroom	$450 – $800
Master bedroom	$650 – $1,050
Living and dining room	$800 – $1,400
Kitchen	$550 – $1,000
Bathroom	$450 – $850

A whole-apartment quote is almost always cheaper than adding these together, because setup, travel and protection are only paid for once.

What pushes the price up or down

Wall condition

This is the biggest variable. Nail holes from picture hooks, cracks at cornices, water stains and patched plaster all need filling, sanding and spot priming before paint goes on. Expect $300 to $800 more for an apartment that needs real repair work. A painter who skips this step leaves you with patches that show through the new paint.

Colour changes

Repainting in the same or a similar colour is the cheapest option. Covering a dark feature wall, going from a strong colour back to white, or adding a second colour for trims all mean extra coats or extra cutting in.

Ceiling height and features

Standard 2.4 m ceilings are quick. Ceilings over 2.7 m, ornate cornices, picture rails and dado rails, which are common in older Inner West and Eastern Suburbs units, add time.

Building access and strata rules

A ground-floor unit with parking out the front is straightforward. A high-rise unit where gear has to go up a shared lift, with a booking window and lift padding, takes longer. Some strata schemes limit working hours or require painters to hold specific insurance, so check your building’s by-laws before booking.

Furniture

An empty apartment is the fastest job. If you’re living there, the crew has to move and cover furniture room by room, which adds time to the quote.

How long does it take to paint an apartment?

Apartment	Typical time with a two-person crew
Studio or 1 bedroom	1 day
2 bedroom	1.5 – 2 days
3 bedroom	2 – 3 days

Add half a day for significant patching, and another day if doors and trims are included. Water-based paints are dry to touch within an hour or two, so you can usually move back into finished rooms the same evening.

Does the suburb change the price?

Not the suburb itself, but the type of building does.

• Inner city and Inner West (Surry Hills, Newtown, Redfern, Darlinghurst): older walk-ups with high ceilings, cornices and more patching. These take longer.
• North Shore (Chatswood, St Leonards, Hornsby): mostly newer apartment stock. Quick to prepare, but high-rise lift access can add time.
• Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Randwick, Coogee): a mix of older art deco blocks and modern units, often with tight parking and stairs.
• Western Sydney and the Hills (Parramatta, Blacktown, Castle Hill): newer buildings with easier access, usually at the lower end of the range.

What a proper apartment painting quote should include

• Moving and covering furniture, floors and fittings
• Filling holes and cracks, sanding and spot priming
• Two coats on walls and ceilings, with the paint brand and range named
• Cutting in around cornices, windows and power points
• Which surfaces are included: walls, ceilings, doors, skirting, window frames
• Daily clean-up and removal of rubbish

Usually extra: doors and trims, built-in wardrobes, major water damage repairs and bold feature colours. If a painter gives you a firm price over the phone without seeing the apartment or photos, ask what it actually covers.

Ways to keep the cost down

• Paint it empty. Between tenants or before moving in is the cheapest time.
• Keep one neutral colour. One colour on walls and one on ceilings is the fastest combination.
• Remove hooks and wall fixings yourself so the painter only has to fill the holes.
• Do the whole apartment at once rather than one room at a time.
• Book midweek and outside peak season. Late spring and the weeks before Christmas fill up first.

Landlords and end-of-lease repaints

For rental properties, a repaint between tenants is quickest when the apartment is empty and the colour stays the same. A durable, washable low-sheen finish holds up better to the next tenancy than a flat matt. If you’re selling, see our guide to repainting your apartment before listing.

Getting a quote for your apartment

Our interior painting page explains how we prepare walls and which finishes suit each room. If doors are part of the job, our guide to the cost to paint a door breaks those prices down. When you request a quote, include your suburb, the number of bedrooms, whether the apartment is empty, and a few photos of any damaged walls.