House painting prices in Auckland depend on the size of the house, the condition of the old paint, the repairs, the height and access, and whether lead paint needs care. Published 2026 prices put a typical exterior repaint at $12,000 to $22,000 or more and the inside of a three-bedroom home at $5,000 to $15,000 or more. The ranges below come from the prices Auckland and New Zealand painting businesses publish, and your painter quotes the real figure after seeing the house. For what a repaint includes, see house painters in Auckland.
Exterior: $12,000 to $22,000 or more for a typical family home, $7,000 to $12,000 or more for a small single-storey house, up to $45,000 or more for large or heritage homes. Interior: $5,000 to $15,000 or more for three bedrooms. Prices usually exclude GST.
What does it cost to repaint a house in Auckland?
Published Auckland prices put the outside of a typical family home at about $12,000 to $22,000 or more, and a small single-storey house at $7,000 to $12,000 or more. Two-storey villas and large homes cost more, mostly because of scaffolding and preparation. The inside of a three-bedroom home is about $5,000 to $15,000 or more. The table sets out each range.
| Job | Published price (plus GST) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior, small single-storey, about 120 square metres | $7,000 to $12,000 or more | Lowest when the paint is sound |
| Exterior, typical family home, 150 to 200 square metres | $12,000 to $22,000 or more | Auckland sits at the upper end of national prices |
| Exterior, two-storey villa or bungalow | $15,000 to $30,000 or more | Scaffolding and detailed trims |
| Exterior, large, complex or heritage home | $22,000 to $45,000 or more | Repairs and lead-safe work |
| Inside and outside together, typical home | $15,000 to $30,000 or more | Often less than two separate jobs |
| Interior, three-bedroom home | $5,000 to $15,000 or more | Walls, ceilings and trims |
| Single bedroom | $800 to $2,000 or more | Doors and windows add time |
| Living room | $1,500 to $3,500 or more | High stud and open plan cost more |
| Ceilings | $500 to $1,500 or more per room | Stains need a sealer first |
Ranges drawn from several businesses' published prices and a national building cost guide. One national guide puts a typical exterior repaint at about $16,000 in Auckland for 2026, against $14,000 nationally.
What moves a painting quote 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 make it the most expensive. Colour changes from dark to light, extra colours and premium products add smaller amounts. The diagram shows how much each one adds, going by published prices.
Published extras for Auckland repaints. Failed paint is the one that can double a price, because preparation is paid by the hour.
The published extras
| Extra | Published cost |
|---|---|
| Scaffolding for two storeys | $1,500 to $6,000 or more |
| Rot repair | $150 to $400 or more per board section |
| Failed or poorly kept paint | adds 30 to 100 percent |
| Dark to light colour change | $500 to $1,200 or more |
| Lead-safe preparation, pre-1980s homes | adds $1,000 to $2,000 or more |
Questions to ask every painter
- Is GST included in the total?
- What preparation is in the price?
- Which products, and how many coats?
- How is rot priced once the job starts?
- How is lead paint tested and handled?
- How are payments staged?
What do painters charge per hour in Auckland?
Auckland painting businesses publish hourly rates of about $40 to $60 or more, and New Zealand rates overall run from about $30 to $60 or more an hour. Most painters quote a fixed price for the whole job rather than charging by the hour, because preparation and weather make the hours hard to predict. A fixed written quote is the easiest to compare.
Do painting quotes include GST?
Not always. A business must register for GST once its turnover reaches $60,000 a year, according to Inland Revenue, and then 15 percent GST is added to its prices. Some quotes show prices with GST and some without, which can make one look far cheaper than another. Always check before you compare.
How do you compare two painting quotes?
Compare what each quote includes, not only the total. A good quote lists the areas to be painted, the preparation, the repairs, the products and number of coats, scaffolding, protection of the garden and floors, clean-up, the start and finish dates, and whether GST is included. A low quote that skips preparation usually costs more later, because the paint fails sooner.
FAQs
How much does it cost to paint a two-bedroom house?
A smaller one or two-bedroom house usually sits at the low end of the ranges. Published prices for the exterior of a single-storey home of around 120 square metres run from $7,000 to $12,000 or more. An interior of a smaller home costs less than the $5,000 to $15,000 or more published for three bedrooms. Repairs, scaffolding and lead paint push it up.
What is the price per square metre for house painting?
Published per-square-metre rates in Auckland run at about $50 to $90 or more of wall for exteriors and $50 to $80 or more for interiors. Rates per square metre are useful for a rough check, but most painters quote the whole job, because windows, trims and repairs vary from house to house.
Is it cheaper to paint a house in winter?
Some painters have more free dates in winter, and a few may price to fill them, but there is no published winter discount. Winter jobs take longer, because short days and dew leave fewer good painting hours. Ask about availability and start dates rather than expecting a lower rate.
How much deposit do painters ask for?
It varies by business, and there is no single standard. Many ask for a deposit before starting and the rest at stages or on completion. Ask how payments are staged before you accept, and avoid paying most of the price before the work has started.