What you pay depends mostly on the size of the house, the condition of the old paint, how much repair is needed, the height and access, and whether there is lead paint to deal with. Below are the ranges Auckland painting businesses publish, and your painter quotes the real price after seeing the house. For what the job includes, see house painting in Auckland.
Most Auckland exterior repaints cost $7,000 to $20,000, and a full interior $4,500 to $15,000 for a three-bedroom home. A single bedroom is often $800 to $2,000. Your painter quotes the real price after seeing the house.
What does it typically cost to paint a house in New Zealand?
Most New Zealand exterior repaints fall between $7,000 and $20,000, with Auckland at the upper end. One national building cost publication puts a typical exterior repaint at about $16,000 in Auckland for 2026, against $14,000 nationally. Interiors usually cost $4,500 to $15,000 for a three-bedroom home. Large, two-storey or neglected houses can cost much more.
| Job | Published price range |
|---|---|
| Exterior, single-storey weatherboard | $5,000 to $9,000 |
| Exterior, two-storey villa or bungalow | $7,000 to $14,000 |
| Exterior, 150 square metre three-bedroom home | $7,000 to $15,500 |
| Exterior, 250 square metre two-storey home | $12,000 to $25,000 |
| Interior, three-bedroom home | $4,500 to $15,000 |
| Single bedroom | $800 to $2,000 |
| Living room | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Ceilings | $500 to $1,500 per room |
All figures are ranges drawn from several businesses' published prices and one national cost publication. They don't always agree, which is why you should get more than one quote.
What do painters charge per hour in NZ?
Published rates for house painters in New Zealand range from about $30 an hour to $60 an hour, with Auckland businesses publishing about $40 to $60. Many painters quote a fixed price for the whole job rather than charging by the hour, because preparation and weather make hours hard to predict. Ask for a fixed written quote so you know the total.
How much should I pay a painter per day?
Few painters publish a day rate. At the published hourly rates of $30 to $60, an eight-hour day works out at roughly $240 to $480 of labour for one painter, before paint and materials. Crews of two or three cost more per day but finish faster. A fixed price for the whole job is easier to compare than day rates.
How much does it cost to paint a two-bedroom house?
A smaller one or two-bedroom house usually sits at the lower end of the ranges. One national cost publication puts exterior repaints of smaller, single-storey homes of around 120 square metres at $7,000 to $12,000. Auckland businesses publish $5,000 to $9,000 for a single-storey weatherboard in reasonable condition. Repairs, scaffolding and lead paint push it up.
What pushes the price up or down?
Preparation and access make the biggest difference. Sound paint on a single-storey house is the cheapest job. Flaking paint, rot, two storeys, steep sections and lead paint are the most expensive. Colour changes from dark to light, extra colours and premium paint add smaller amounts. Painting inside and out at the same time can bring the overall price down.
| Factor | Published extra cost |
|---|---|
| Scaffolding for two storeys | $800 to $5,000 |
| Rot repair | $150 to $400 per board section |
| Poorly maintained surfaces | $1,000 to $3,000 for extra preparation |
| Dark to light colour change | $500 to $1,200 |
| Lead-safe removal on pre-1980 homes | adds $1,000 to $2,000 or more |
Health New Zealand advises presuming lead paint on buildings from the 1980s or earlier. If your house is a heritage home, see lead paint removal cost.
How do you compare house painting quotes?
Compare what each quote includes, not just the total. A good quote lists the areas to be painted, the preparation, the repairs, the products and number of coats, scaffolding, protection of your garden and floors, clean-up, start and finish dates, and whether GST is included. A cheap quote that skips preparation usually costs more later, because the paint fails sooner.
Questions to ask each painter:
- Is GST included?
- What preparation is included, and what counts as an extra?
- Which products, and how many coats?
- How do you price rot you find once the job starts?
- How do you handle lead paint?
- How are payments staged?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full house repaint cost in Auckland?
Painting the inside and outside of a typical Auckland home together usually costs $15,000 to $30,000, going by published prices from local businesses. Smaller homes in good condition can cost less, and large two-storey homes or villas with a lot of repair can cost more. Doing both at once often costs less than two separate jobs.
How much does it cost to repaint a house in New Zealand?
Most exterior repaints in New Zealand cost $7,000 to $20,000, and interiors $4,500 to $15,000, according to published prices from painting businesses and a national cost publication. Auckland sits at the higher end. Your exact price depends on the size, the condition, access and the products, so get written quotes after the painter has seen the house.
What is a fair price to paint a whole interior?
For a three-bedroom Auckland home, published prices range from about $4,500 to $15,000 for walls, ceilings and trims. Per square metre of wall, published rates run from about $35 to $80. The low end suits sound walls in a simple house. The high end covers high ceilings, lots of repairs, dark-to-light changes and premium paint.
Do painters charge GST?
A painting business must register for GST once its turnover reaches $60,000 a year, and then GST is added to its prices. Some quotes show prices with GST included and some without, which can make one quote look much cheaper than another. Always check whether the total includes GST before you compare.