Exterior House Painting Cost Melbourne
Exterior painting from around $30/m² — typically $30–$75/m² for paintable exterior surfaces. Indicative Melbourne guide pricing only.
Trusted by Melbourne homeowners for exterior painting
In Melbourne, exterior house painting typically runs $30–$75 per square metre of paintable surface. As a whole job, small or simple exteriors start around $4,500–$9,500, most standard 3–4 bedroom homes sit around $9,500–$18,000, and large or complex exteriors run $16,000–$28,000+.
These are indicative 2026 Melbourne guide prices only. Final pricing depends on surface condition, preparation required, access, trims and detail work, repairs, coating system and site inspection. GST and your exact total are confirmed on the written quote.
Quick Exterior Painting Cost Snapshot
| Home size / type | Lighter walls-focused repaint guide | Full-scope repaint guide | What changes the quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior painting per m² | $30–$48/m² | $48–$75/m² | Rates apply to paintable exterior surfaces. The lower band is a lighter, walls-focused scope; the upper band is full scope with trims, detail work and heavy preparation |
| Small / simple exterior approx. 120–180m² paintable | $4,500–$6,500 | $6,500–$9,500 | Unit, townhouse or compact single-storey. Full scope adds trims, eaves, gutters, doors and proper preparation |
| Standard 3–4 bedroom exterior approx. 200–300m² paintable | $9,500–$13,000 | $13,000–$18,000 | Lower end usually means a walls-focused repaint over sound surfaces. Full scope includes trims, fascia, eaves, repairs and full preparation |
| Large / detailed exterior approx. 300m²+ paintable | $16,000–$21,000 | $21,000–$28,000+ | Double-storey access, more trim detail, more preparation and more repairs move the price within the bracket |
| Heritage / heavy-prep exterior | Priced after inspection | Priced after inspection | Period detail, difficult access and extensive preparation vary too much to bracket without a site review |
Indicative 2026 Melbourne guide only. Final pricing depends on surface condition, preparation required, access, trims/detail work, repairs, coating system and site inspection. GST and your exact total are confirmed on the written quote. Need a number based on your actual home, not a guide table? Get My Exterior Painting Quote.
See What Changes Your Exterior Painting Price
Three things decide where a home lands within its bracket — and Mousi can usually read them before anyone visits.
What the walls tell us
Sound existing paint means lighter preparation. Peeling paint means scraping, sanding and priming back to a sound edge. Rotten or failing timber means repair before any painting starts — paint over rot fails, so it's fixed first, not hidden.
How we reach the walls
Single-storey homes are simpler access. Double-storey means access planning — ladders, planks or scaffold depending on the elevation. Steep blocks and tight sites add time and safety setup, because upper-level work is done properly or not at all.
How much is beyond the walls
Walls only is the lowest scope. Eaves, fascia, windows, doors and trims add brush-applied labour that's slower than the walls themselves. Heritage and decorative details are slower again — fine work around glass, lacework and turned timber.
What Type of Exterior Repaint Do You Need?
Different homes come to us for different reasons — and the right scope depends on why you're painting, not just what you're painting.
Sale-ready exteriors
Some sale-preparation projects don't need a full exterior repaint. A front facade, trims, windows, eaves and weathered areas may be enough before photography and open homes. We'll tell you which scope your sale actually needs — including when the smaller one is the right answer.
Show Me the Sale-Ready ScopeDetailed & architectural exteriors
High-value homes need more than paint on walls. Before recommending a scope, Mousi checks access, landscaping protection, window protection, trim detail, colour placement, the coating system and the condition of the timber or render underneath. These homes are scoped element by element, not by the square metre.
Request a Detailed Exterior AssessmentA clear price bracket for your home
Not every home needs the same level of work. Mousi can help identify whether your home is a simple repaint, a standard repaint or a preparation-heavy repaint. Photos are optional — you can add them when you request a quote.
Get My Price BracketEvery pathway starts the same way: photos, then a scope, then a price.
Exterior house painting cost by home size
| Home size | Typical home | Indicative 2026 guide |
|---|---|---|
| Small / simple exterior repaint | Unit, townhouse or compact single-storey | $4,500–$9,500 |
| Standard 3–4 bedroom exterior repaint | Typical single-storey family home | $9,500–$18,000 |
| Large / detailed exterior repaint | Big single-storey or double-storey | $16,000–$28,000+ |
| Complex / heritage / heavy-prep exterior | Period detail, difficult access, extensive preparation | Priced after inspection |
Indicative 2026 Melbourne guide prices only. Final pricing depends on surface condition, preparation, access, trims and detail work, repairs, coating system and site inspection. GST and your exact total are confirmed on the written quote.
A small home in poor condition can cost more than a larger home in good shape, because most of the work is in the preparation, not the paint. Size sets the starting bracket — condition, access and trim scope move the price within it. Not sure which bracket your home sits in? Get a Proper Exterior Quote.
What changes the price?
| Cost driver | How it affects price |
|---|---|
| Surface type | Weatherboard, render and brick need different preparation and paint systems — weatherboard is usually the most prep-heavy |
| Condition & preparation | Washing, scraping, sanding, filling, caulking and priming can change the quote more than area does |
| Storeys, height & access | Double-storey walls, steep sites and tight boundaries add ladders, planks or scaffolding, time and safety setup |
| Number of coats | Dramatic colour changes or porous, weathered surfaces may need extra coating work |
| Trims & detail | Eaves, fascia, gutters, windows, doors and decorative timberwork are slow, brush-applied work |
| Coating system | Primer or sealer where required plus quality exterior topcoats affect material cost |
| Weather | Rain, cold mornings and very hot days interrupt or slow exterior work |
Weatherboard, render, brick — how surface type moves the price
Exterior painting can be shown as a per-m² guide, but the most accurate quotes are usually priced as a whole job. That is because the surface condition, access, preparation, eaves, fascia, windows, doors, trims and coating system can affect the cost more than wall area alone.
| Surface | Where it sits in the $30–$75/m² band | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weatherboard / timber | Upper end | Scraping, sanding, priming bare timber and caulking board joins — the most preparation-heavy surface |
| Render / bagged brick | Lower to middle | Efficient to coat when sound; crack repair and sealing add where render is porous or patched |
| Painting bare brick | Middle | Porous — needs the right sealer first, and it's very hard to reverse later, so it's a decide-once choice |
| Previously painted, sound surface | Lower end | Less preparation where the existing coating is stable and well-adhered |
| Heritage / period detail | Priced per element | Fretwork, timber windows and decorative trim price on detail, not area |
Indicative guide only, based on paintable wall area. Final pricing depends on condition, preparation, access, trim scope, repairs, coating system and site inspection.
Why exterior painting prices vary in Melbourne
- Many established suburbs have older weatherboard and period homes that need more careful preparation and timber repair.
- Homes painted before 1970 may have lead-based paint, which changes how surfaces are prepared and handled.
- Strong UV fades and chalks exterior coatings, especially on north- and west-facing walls.
- Regular rain and temperature swings put more demand on preparation, caulking and the paint system.
- Double-storey homes and tight inner-suburb blocks need more access equipment and safety setup.
- Heritage and character homes may have council controls on colours or materials — your council is the final word.
How Exterior Painting Compares with Other House Painting Costs
Exterior painting is only one part of the overall cost of painting a home. Interior painting, roof painting and specialist finishes are usually priced differently, because the surfaces, access, preparation and coating systems are different.
| Painting work | Broad guide only | Why the cost changes |
|---|---|---|
| Interior painting | Often priced by room, area or whole job | Room size, ceilings, trims, doors, furniture, plaster repairs and number of colours |
| Exterior painting | Around $30–$75/m², or whole-job ranges by home size | Surface type, preparation, access, eaves, fascia, windows, trims, repairs and coating system |
| Roof painting | Often from around $2,000 for small/simple roofs, higher for large or complex roofs | Roof type, safety access, cleaning, repairs, repointing, primer/sealer and coating system |
| Full house painting | Priced after inspection | Combines interior, exterior, trims, access, repairs, colours and timing |
These are broad guide ranges only. This page focuses on exterior painting costs. Interior painting, roof painting and decorative finishes should each have their own detailed cost guide because the pricing logic is different.
Pricing a roof as well? Read the full guide: How much does roof painting cost in Melbourne? [2026].
Planning inside work as well? Read the full guide: Interior painting cost Melbourne [2026] — $20–$45/m² guide.
See how Mousi approaches the work itself: Exterior painting Melbourne — the Mousi service.
Why some online exterior painting prices look cheaper
Cheap prices often hide the real scope. Some online exterior prices only cover labour or a quick repaint of the walls, without full preparation, trim work or repairs. A proper exterior quote prices the whole job — and the section below shows exactly what separates a cheap refresh from a repaint that lasts.
Holding two quotes that don’t seem to describe the same job? Have Mousi Check What Each One Covers
Cheap refresh vs proper exterior repaint — what are you actually paying for?
Three painters can quote the "same" house at three very different prices because they're pricing three different jobs. The cheapest quote often excludes the preparation that makes the finish last.
| Scope level | What it usually includes | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Quick refresh / cosmetic repaint | Light wash and repaint over mostly sound surfaces, minimal repairs, walls-focused | Well-maintained exteriors needing a colour freshen — not failing paintwork |
| Standard exterior repaint | Wash; scrape and sand failing areas; fill and caulk; spot-prime; full system on walls and trim | Most Melbourne homes — the level most quotes should be priced at |
| Full-preparation exterior repaint | Extensive sanding back, timber or render repairs, full priming, complete system including trims, eaves and gutters as scoped | Older, peeling or long-neglected exteriors and period homes |
A very cheap quote is usually a quick refresh being sold as a standard job. An exterior that isn't washed, sanded, repaired and primed properly may look fine at first, then start to peel early. Mousi isn't positioning this page as the cheapest possible repaint — it's meant to be transparent about what a proper job involves.
Not sure which scope level your exterior actually needs? Check My Exterior Scope →
DIY vs professional exterior painting — is it worth paying for a painter?
Exterior painting is more than applying paint. The real work is the preparation — washing, scraping, sanding, filling, priming and choosing the correct coating system — and that's what decides how the finish looks and how long it lasts. Height, ladders, weather, access and drying conditions also make exterior work more complex than painting inside.
DIY can suit small touch-ups or very simple, easy-to-reach areas. A full exterior repaint is usually better handled by professionals, mainly because preparation done poorly leads to early peeling or coating failure — and redoing a failed exterior costs more than doing it properly once.
Single-storey vs double-storey exterior painting
Double-storey homes cost more than the extra wall area alone suggests. Upper walls need ladders, planks or scaffolding, which adds equipment, time and safety setup — safe access is a real requirement of working at height, not padding on a quote. Steep sites, tight boundaries, decks and established gardens have a similar effect. Most double-storey exteriors sit in the large / complex bracket, and access is one of the first things confirmed at inspection.
Weatherboard, render and brick — what changes between them
Weatherboard / timber
Weatherboard is where preparation earns its keep. Flaking paint needs scraping and sanding back to a sound edge, bare timber needs priming, board joins need caulking, and rotten boards should be replaced before paint goes near them. Done properly, a weatherboard repaint transforms a period home; done cheaply, it peels within a couple of summers.
Render / bagged brick
Rendered walls usually need crack repair — and sometimes sealing — before topcoats, or hairline cracks telegraph straight through the new paint. Otherwise render is one of the more efficient surfaces to coat.
Brick
Painting bare brick is popular but close to a one-way decision: it's very hard to take back to bare brick later, and it needs repainting every decade or two afterwards. Brick is porous and needs the right sealer first, so it's a choice worth making once and making well. Previously painted brick in sound condition is usually straightforward.
Preparation and repairs — where most of the cost is
On almost every exterior, preparation is the real work. Paint is the easy part. Depending on the home, prep can include:
- A proper wash to remove dirt, chalk, mould and loose material, then time to dry fully.
- Scraping and sanding flaking or peeling paint back to a sound edge.
- Replacing rotten weatherboards or sills, and repairing cracked render.
- Filling, gap-sealing and caulking joins and around windows and doors.
- Spot-priming bare timber, metal and patched areas so the topcoats hold.
Older Melbourne homes can carry two hazards that change how preparation is planned: lead-based paint (common on homes painted before 1970) and asbestos sheeting on older fibro homes. Neither should be sanded, blasted or disturbed without proper identification first, and any asbestos-related work must be handled by appropriately licensed specialists.
Eaves, fascia, gutters, windows, doors and trims
Trim work is slow, brush-applied and detailed — and it's what makes an exterior look finished. It's also where many cheaper quotes quietly shrink: they price the walls and leave eaves, fascia, gutters, windows and doors vague. A Mousi quote states trim scope explicitly, so you know exactly which elements are included, which are excluded, and what each decision means for the price.
Colour changes, multiple colours and detailed trim work
Dark-to-light or light-to-dark changes may need extra coats or a tinted undercoat to reach full coverage. Multiple colours increase cutting-in and labour time. Heritage-style trims and timber windows take longer because they're fine brush work around glass and detail. All of it is quotable — it just needs to be stated, which is why gutters, fascia, eaves, doors and windows must be clearly included or excluded in the quote.
Most professional exterior repainting involves preparation, primer or sealer where required, and two finish coats. Some colour changes, porous surfaces, weathered substrates or dark-to-light transitions may need additional coating work — your quote states the system and coats for your home rather than promising a fixed number for every job.
How long does exterior painting take?
A straightforward exterior repaint may take several days, while larger, detailed or preparation-heavy homes can take one to two weeks or more. Weather, drying times, access, repairs and the number of painters on site all affect timing — scheduling follows the forecast, and spring and autumn are usually the most reliable seasons for exterior work in Melbourne.
What's included in a Mousi exterior painting quote
- Exterior wash / surface clean
- Scraping, sanding, filling and caulking as noted at inspection
- Minor repairs noted at inspection — confirmed in your quote
- Primer / undercoat suited to your surfaces
- Full paint system on walls and trim, with the number of coats stated
- Protection of gardens, paths, windows and fixtures, and clean-up on completion
What's usually not included
- Major structural or carpentry repairs, or recladding
- Gutter and downpipe replacement (painting existing gutters can be quoted)
- Extensive weatherboard replacement (beyond a few boards)
- Rendering over brick
- Lead paint or asbestos-related work, which requires appropriately licensed specialists
A proper exterior quote should clearly state: what is included, what is excluded, the preparation standard, the number of coats, surface repairs, trim scope — eaves, fascia, gutters, windows and doors — access or scaffolding requirements, the coating system, and site protection and cleanup. A cheaper quote is difficult to compare if it does not explain these items.
How to get an accurate exterior painting quote
Guide ranges get you in the right bracket; an accurate price comes from scope. Tell each painter your surface type, home size and storeys, current condition, whether the home pre-dates 1970, what's in scope (walls only, or walls plus trims and gutters), your colours and how dramatic the change is, and your access situation — then make sure every quote prices that same scope.
What to check before choosing an exterior painter
- A written scope of works
- Insurance
- Recent exterior work you can see
- The preparation process, stated plainly
- The product system and number of coats
- Inclusions and exclusions in writing
- Access and safety planning
- Reviews
Want a quote that answers every question on this list, in writing? Get a Proper Exterior Quote →
What photos help with an exterior painting quote? (optional)
Photos are completely optional — you can add them when you press Get My Quote, or skip them entirely. If you do include some, these help Mousi give early guidance and understand the job faster:
- The full front and back of the house, and both sides if possible.
- Close-ups of peeling paint, rotten boards, cracked render or failed caulking.
- Windows, doors, eaves, fascias and trims.
- Gutters, downpipes and any rusted metal.
- Access around the house — side paths, boundaries, decks, gardens and anything double-storey.
Photos are optional and can be added in the quote form. They speed up early guidance, but they don't replace an inspection where access, repairs or paint condition need to be checked — peeling paintwork, visible rot, double-storey access, suspected lead or asbestos, and heritage detail all need an inspection for an accurate price.
How long does exterior paint last in Melbourne?
As an indicative planning range, a well-prepared and professionally applied exterior repaint typically lasts around 7–15 years in Melbourne conditions — weatherboards toward the lower end, masonry toward the higher end, and trim enamels shorter because they work harder. Preparation quality, sun exposure (north- and west-facing walls age fastest) and simple maintenance like an occasional gentle wash and clear gutters are the swing factors. These are planning ranges, not promises — any warranty is confirmed in the written quote.
Common questions about exterior house painting cost
How much does it cost to paint a house exterior in Melbourne?
Exterior painting typically runs $30–$75 per square metre of paintable surface. As a whole job, small or simple exteriors start around $4,500–$9,500, most standard 3–4 bedroom homes sit around $9,500–$18,000, and large or complex exteriors run $16,000–$28,000+. Heritage or heavy-preparation homes are priced after inspection.
Why do exterior painting quotes for the same house vary so much?
Usually because they're pricing different levels of job. A quick cosmetic refresh, a standard repaint with proper preparation, and a full-preparation repaint are three different scopes. Ask each painter exactly what preparation, repairs, trim work and coats are included so you're comparing like with like.
Does a double-storey house cost more to paint?
Yes — and not just because of extra wall area. Upper walls need ladders, planks or scaffolding, which adds equipment, time and safety setup. Most double-storey exteriors sit in the large or complex bracket.
Is weatherboard more expensive to paint than brick or render?
Usually, yes. Weatherboard needs the most preparation — scraping, sanding, priming bare timber and caulking board joins — so it tends to sit at the upper end of the $30–$75/m² band. Sound render and previously painted surfaces in good condition sit lower.
Can I get an accurate price from photos, or do I need a site inspection?
Photos help with early guidance and speed things up, but an accurate price usually needs a site inspection where condition, access, repairs and trim scope can be checked properly.
Related guides and services
- House Painting Cost Melbourne [2026] — $55–$115/m² whole-house project guide
- How much does roof painting cost in Melbourne? [2026]
- Interior Painting Cost Melbourne [2026] — $20–$45/m² guide
- Exterior painting Melbourne — the Mousi service in detail
- Weatherboard painting Melbourne
- Heritage painters Melbourne
- Colour consultation — choosing your exterior scheme (coming soon)
Each service and guide covers its own pricing logic — surfaces, access, preparation and coating systems are different jobs. New cost guides are added here as they're published.