2 November 20267 min readBy Mike
How much does house painting cost in Adelaide? (2026 guide)
Whether it's a bluestone villa in Norwood, a 70s brick home in Modbury or a new build in Mawson Lakes, the first question is always the same: what will a repaint actually cost?
Painting prices in Adelaide have crept up over the last few years with labour and paint costs. Below are the typical ranges we see across the city, and the things that move a quote within them.
Adelaide house painting price guide (2026)
| Job | Typical range | What's usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Single room (walls and ceiling) | $400 – $900 | Patching, sanding, two coats to walls, one to two to ceiling |
| 3-bedroom home interior | $4,000 – $9,000 | Walls, ceilings, doors and trims throughout |
| Single-storey exterior | $4,000 – $9,000 | Wash down, scrape, fill, prime bare spots, two coats |
| Double-storey exterior | $9,000 – $17,000 | As above, plus scaffold or lift access |
| Painter hourly rate | $55 – $90 per hour | Labour only, used for small jobs and variations |
Where the money actually goes
- Labour (60–70%): Most of a quote is time, and most of that time is preparation: washing, scraping, filling, sanding and priming.
- Paint and materials (20–30%): Premium paint costs more per tin but lasts years longer, especially on exteriors in SA sun.
- Access and setup (5–10%): Scaffold, lifts, drop sheets, masking and protecting gardens and floors.
Cheaper quote vs proper quote
What a proper quote includes
- Written list of every preparation step
- Two full finish coats as standard
- Named paint product and sheen
- Primer on bare timber and repairs
Where cheap quotes cut corners
- One coat, or 'touch-up' on the second
- No priming, so paint peels within a few years
- Cheaper trade-grade paint
- Price that grows once the job starts
"The most expensive paint job is the one you have to redo in three years. Prep is where the money should go."
Costs people don't expect
- Rotten timber: Weatherboards, sills and fascias on coastal homes in Henley Beach, Glenelg and Brighton often need repairs before painting.
- Lead paint: Homes built before 1970 may need lead-safe preparation, which takes longer.
- Colour changes: Going from dark to light (or the other way) can need an extra coat or tinted sealer.
- Height and access: Two-storey homes and sloping blocks in the Adelaide Hills may need scaffold.
Want a real number for your home?
Mike will come out, look at the job and give you an itemised written quote. Free, no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Do painters in Adelaide charge per hour or per job?
Most house painting is quoted as a fixed price for the whole job after an on-site look. Hourly rates are usually only used for small jobs or extra work.
Is paint included in the quote?
In our quotes, yes. Paint, primer, filler and materials are all included and the paint product is named on the quote.
How can I reduce the cost?
Move furniture yourself, paint in stages (for example front of house first), and keep the same colour scheme to avoid extra coats.
Do I need a licensed painter in SA?
In South Australia, painting work over a certain value requires a builder's licence. Mike's Professional Painting holds Builder's Licence 198784.