How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house in Sydney?

A full three-bedroom house interior usually costs $5,000 to $9,000 in 2026, including walls, ceilings, doors and trim. A two-bedroom apartment is typically $2,800 to $5,000.

How much does it cost to paint one room in Sydney?

A standard bedroom is roughly $450 to $800 for walls and ceiling, and a living room $800 to $1,400. Many painters have a minimum charge of a few hundred dollars, so several rooms done together cost less per room.

How much do painters charge per hour in Sydney?

Most Sydney painters charge around $55 to $90 an hour, with $70 a common figure. Hourly rates are mostly used for small jobs and touch-ups. Larger jobs are normally quoted at a fixed price after an inspection.

Does the price include paint?

Most room and whole-house prices include labour and a mid-to-premium paint. If you want a specific premium product, or you supply your own paint, say so up front, because it changes the quote.

Is it cheaper to paint walls only?

Yes. Walls are the quickest surface per square metre. Ceilings, doors, skirting and window frames each add time, so leaving trims for later lowers the price now. It does mean paying for setup again later, though.

Interior Painting Cost in Sydney (2026 Room-by-Room Prices)

Painting the inside of a three-bedroom Sydney house costs about $5,000 to $9,000 in 2026. A two-bedroom apartment is usually $2,800 to $5,000, and a single bedroom $450 to $800. Those figures include labour and paint for walls, ceilings and the usual trims. The two things that move a quote most are how much repair work the walls need and how much trim there is.

Interior painting prices per room

Room or job	Typical cost (labour and paint)
Single bedroom	$450 – $800
Master bedroom	$650 – $1,050
Living room	$800 – $1,400
Kitchen	$550 – $1,000
Bathroom	$450 – $850
Hallway and stairwell	$500 – $1,200
Full 2-bedroom apartment	$2,800 – $5,000
Full 3-bedroom house	$5,000 – $9,000

Room prices assume walls and ceiling with two coats on standard 2.4 m ceilings. Doors, skirting and window frames are often priced on top for single rooms, but included in whole-house quotes.

What pushes the price up

Wall condition

Nail holes and a few hairline cracks are routine. Water stains, cracked cornices, flaking paint over old gloss, or patched plaster that needs feathering all take time, and on an older home that preparation can add hundreds of dollars per room. It’s also what decides whether the finish looks crisp or shows every flaw.

Ceiling height

Standard ceilings are about 2.4 m. Terraces and Federation homes often have ceilings of 3 m or more, which needs planks or a mobile scaffold and slows the work. Expect 10 to 20 percent more for high ceilings and ornate cornices.

Trim, doors and skirting

Cutting in a door, its frame and the skirting takes longer than rolling a whole wall. A house full of panelled doors, picture rails and architraves costs noticeably more than a modern home with flush doors and minimal trim. If the trims are oil-based and you want water-based enamel, they need sanding and an oil-to-water primer first.

Colour changes

Going from a dark colour to a light one usually means an extra coat, and a strong red or deep feature colour may need a tinted undercoat to cover evenly.

Paint quality

Paint is a smaller share of the bill than most people expect. Labour is the majority. The difference between a budget paint and a premium one across a whole house is usually a few hundred dollars, but premium paint covers better, washes better and holds its colour longer. Ask which brand and product range is included.

Furniture and access

An empty apartment between tenants is faster to paint than a furnished family home. If furniture has to be moved and covered room by room, that time is in the price.

Older homes and lead paint

Homes built before 1970 may have lead in their older paint layers. If it’s found, lead-safe preparation adds time and cost, but it is not something to skip.

Hourly rate vs fixed price

Most Sydney painters charge about $55 to $90 an hour, with around $70 typical. Hourly pricing suits small jobs like touch-ups or one feature wall. Many painters also set a minimum charge, which is why a single small room can seem expensive per square metre.

For anything bigger than a room or two, ask for a fixed-price quote after an inspection. You’ll know the total up front, and the painter carries the risk if the job takes longer than planned. Our guide to painter hourly rates in Sydney goes into more detail.

Two worked examples

Two-bedroom apartment, empty, in good condition, same colour: walls and ceilings throughout, plus doors and skirting. Expect around $2,800 to $3,800.
Three-bedroom Federation house, furnished, 3 m ceilings, cracked cornices, colour change: walls, ceilings, doors, picture rails and skirting. Expect $8,000 to $11,000, because the ceilings, trim and repairs add time.

For apartments specifically, see our apartment painting cost guide.

How long interior painting takes

A single room is usually one to two days, including drying time between coats. A two-bedroom apartment is typically three to five days, and a full three-bedroom house about one to two weeks. You can usually stay in the home while it’s painted room by room. Water-based paints are low in odour, and rooms can be used the same evening.

Ways to keep the cost down

Do several rooms at once. Setup, protection and minimum charges are spread across more work.
Clear the rooms. Removing pictures, small furniture and wall hangings before the painters arrive saves labour.
Keep the colour similar. It avoids an extra coat.
Leave trims for later if they’re in good shape. Walls and ceilings make the biggest visual difference for the money.
Fix leaks first. Painting over an active leak wastes the money spent on that room.

What to ask before you hire

What preparation is included, and what counts as extra?
Which paint brand and product range, and how many coats?
Are ceilings, doors, skirting and window frames included?
Who will be doing the work, and how long will it take?
How will floors and furniture be protected?

If one quote is much cheaper than the others, the difference is almost always in preparation or the number of coats.

Get a quote

Our interior painting page covers how we prepare each room, which sheen suits which space, and how we handle older homes. To get a fixed price for your home, send us the details: the number of rooms, ceiling heights, any colour changes and a few photos.