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A homeowner in Berry, NSW recently called for a quote after years of watching their weatherboard home’s paint fade and crack from coastal weather exposure. They had no idea what to budget. If you’re in the same position, the direct answer is this: exterior house painting in Australia in 2026 costs between $3,500 and $12,000 for most residential homes, depending on size, surface type, storey height, and surface condition. Regional areas like Berry and the Shoalhaven tend to come in at the lower end of metro pricing, which is a genuine advantage for local homeowners.
This guide covers everything you need to make a confident, informed decision:
- Average exterior painting costs by home type in 2026
- Exterior painting cost per square metre for brick and weatherboard
- The main factors that push prices up or down
- Single-storey versus double-storey cost comparisons
- Brick versus weatherboard cost differences
- An honest look at DIY costs versus hiring a professional
Average Exterior House Painting Cost Australia 2026
The average exterior house painting cost in Australia in 2026 sits between $3,500 and $12,000 for a full residential exterior. That range reflects the genuine spread between a small, well-maintained single-storey brick home and a large double-storey weatherboard requiring scaffolding, extensive prep, and multiple paint coats.
Regional areas including the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands generally sit 10 to 20 percent below Sydney pricing for comparable work. Labour rates, travel costs, and local competition all contribute to that difference. The table below gives a working starting point across property types.
| Home Type | Sydney / Metro | Berry / Shoalhaven Region |
|---|---|---|
| Small single-storey brick (up to 150 m²) | $4,500 – $7,000 | $3,800 – $6,000 |
| Medium single-storey brick (150–250 m²) | $6,000 – $9,500 | $5,200 – $8,000 |
| Small single-storey weatherboard | $4,000 – $6,500 | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| Double-storey brick | $8,000 – $14,000 | $7,000 – $11,500 |
| Double-storey weatherboard | $7,500 – $13,500 | $6,500 – $10,500 |
These figures cover preparation, priming, and two topcoats on a surface in reasonable condition. Poor surface condition, high paint absorption, or significant crack repair will add to the final cost.
Single-Storey Brick Homes
A single-storey brick home with a wall area of around 150 to 200 square metres is one of the most requested exterior paint jobs in the Shoalhaven region. In 2026, expect to pay between $3,800 and $7,500 in the Berry and Nowra areas, depending on the number of windows, doors, eaves, and the condition of the existing paint surface.
Brick holds paint differently to timber. The surface is porous, and older brick walls often need a sealer coat before the main paint application. That adds material cost and labour time. A two-coat system using a quality low-VOC acrylic is the standard approach for brick in coastal NSW, where salt air accelerates paint breakdown.
Single-Storey Weatherboard Homes
Weatherboard homes are popular across Berry, Shoalhaven Heads, and the Southern Highlands. The cost to paint a single-storey weatherboard exterior in the Berry and Shoalhaven region ranges from $3,500 to $6,500 in 2026, with prep work often accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the total project cost.
Weatherboard surfaces demand more preparation than brick. Loose or flaking paint must be removed, gaps between boards need filling, and bare timber requires a quality primer coat before any topcoat goes on. Skip those steps and the paint will lift within 12 to 18 months. Experienced painters in the region know this, and their quotes reflect it.
Double-Storey Examples
A double-storey home requires scaffolding or elevated work platforms, which adds a meaningful cost regardless of surface type. In the Berry and Shoalhaven area, a double-storey brick home will cost between $7,000 and $11,500, while a double-storey weatherboard runs from $6,500 to $10,500.
Those figures assume the scaffold hire is included in the painter’s quote, which it should be. Always confirm this when comparing quotes. A quote that looks cheaper may exclude scaffold costs as a separate line item, which can add $800 to $2,500 depending on the home’s footprint and access needs.
Exterior Painting Cost Per Square Metre in 2026
Pricing exterior painting per square metre helps you cross-check any quote you receive. In 2026, professional exterior painting in Australia costs between $25 and $60 per square metre, with the rate reflecting surface type, paint system, and required preparation.
The per m² rate alone does not tell the full story. A painter pricing at $30 per m² might be quoting on a clean, well-maintained surface with one coat. A painter at $45 per m² might be quoting on a surface that needs sealing, priming, and two full topcoats. Comparing rates without understanding what each rate includes leads to poor decisions.
Brick Surfaces
| Surface Condition | Cost Per m² (2026) |
|---|---|
| Good condition, 2-coat system | $25 – $35 |
| Fair condition, sealer + 2 coats | $35 – $45 |
| Poor condition, full prep + sealer + 2 coats | $45 – $60 |
Brick walls in coastal NSW locations like Culburra Beach or Callala Bay often fall into the fair to poor category after years of salt air and UV exposure. Budget for the mid to upper range if your brick exterior has visible fading, efflorescence (white salt deposits), or areas of moisture damage.
Weatherboard Surfaces
| Surface Condition | Cost Per m² (2026) |
|---|---|
| Good condition, prime + 2 coats | $28 – $38 |
| Fair condition, strip + prime + 2 coats | $38 – $50 |
| Poor condition, full prep + repairs + 2 coats | $50 – $65 |
Weatherboard homes in the Shoalhaven area often carry older paint systems, and stripping deteriorated paint down to bare timber is labour-intensive work. That time cost shows up in the per m² rate. Cutting corners on prep creates paint failure, and repainting within a few years costs far more than doing it properly the first time.
Additional Prep Add-Ons
Prep work is not always included in a base per m² rate. These are the most common additional costs for exterior painting projects in 2026:
| Prep Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Pressure washing / house wash | $200 – $500 |
| Rust treatment (metal fixtures, gutters) | $150 – $400 |
| Flexible gap filling and crack repair | $200 – $600 |
| Weatherproofing / sealant application | $150 – $350 |
| Mould treatment and removal | $150 – $400 |
Ask your painter directly whether these items are included in their quoted price. A fixed-price quote that spells out exactly what preparation is covered removes all ambiguity and prevents unexpected costs from appearing mid-project.
Factors Affecting Exterior Painting Cost
No two exterior painting jobs carry the same price tag. The final cost of your exterior painting project depends on a set of factors that every experienced painter assesses before putting a number on a quote.
Storey Height Impact
Storey height is one of the largest single cost variables in exterior painting. A single-storey home allows painters to work from ladders and standard mobile scaffolding, which is included in most base quotes. A double-storey home requires full scaffold erection, which adds both hire costs and set-up time.
Homes on sloped blocks, which are common across the Southern Highlands and parts of the Berry hinterland, can effectively turn a single-storey house into a two-storey job on the downhill side. That affects both scaffold requirements and working time. Always let your painter inspect the site before finalising a quote.
Surface Condition
Surface condition affects cost more directly than any other factor. A home with sound, well-adhered existing paint needs cleaning, a light sand, and a new topcoat. A home with peeling, cracked, or moisture-damaged paint requires stripping, patching, priming, and often multiple topcoats to achieve an even finish.
After 11+ years of working on residential properties across Berry and the Shoalhaven, the pattern is consistent: homes within two to three kilometres of the coast age faster on the paint surface than those further inland. Salt air, UV intensity, and humidity accelerate paint breakdown, and properties in Shoalhaven Heads, Callala Bay, or Culburra Beach routinely need more prep than a comparable inland property.
Access and Location
Restricted access raises labour costs. Homes with narrow side passages, mature trees close to the walls, or steep block grades require more time to set up and more care during the painting process. That time adds cost.
Location within the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands region affects pricing less than it would in Sydney, but it still applies. A property in a more remote rural setting may attract a small travel allowance on top of the base quote. Painters working locally in Berry, Nowra, Bomaderry, and surrounding suburbs price without travel costs for clients within their regular service area.
Single-Storey vs Double-Storey Exterior Painting Costs
The difference between a single-storey and double-storey exterior painting job is not just a matter of extra wall area. The scaffold requirement, extra working time, and additional paint volume create a cost gap that surprises many homeowners the first time they compare quotes.
Single-Storey Pricing Breakdown
| Component | Typical Cost (Berry / Shoalhaven, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Surface preparation | $300 – $900 |
| Primer / sealer coat | $200 – $600 |
| Two topcoats (labour + materials) | $2,800 – $5,000 |
| Doors, trims, eaves | $400 – $1,200 |
| Total (single-storey) | $3,700 – $7,700 |
These figures apply to a home in reasonable condition with a wall area in the 150 to 200 square metre range. Homes with more complex rooflines, bay windows, decorative timber features, or extensive trim work sit toward the upper end.
Double-Storey Pricing Breakdown
| Component | Typical Cost (Berry / Shoalhaven, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Surface preparation | $500 – $1,500 |
| Scaffold hire and erection | $800 – $2,500 |
| Primer / sealer coat | $400 – $900 |
| Two topcoats (labour + materials) | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| Doors, trims, eaves, fascias | $600 – $1,800 |
| Total (double-storey) | $7,300 – $15,700 |
Scaffold hire is the single biggest addition in a double-storey quote. It is non-negotiable from a safety and quality standpoint. Painters who quote double-storey work without including scaffold are either pricing ladders-only work (not ideal) or leaving that cost as a surprise after the job starts.
Brick vs Weatherboard Exterior Painting Costs
Brick and weatherboard are the two dominant exterior surface types across Berry, Nowra, and the broader Shoalhaven region. Each surface behaves differently under paint, requires a different preparation approach, and carries a different cost profile.
Brick House Costs
Brick is a porous surface that absorbs paint more readily than sealed timber. Older brick walls, particularly those built before the 1990s, often have no prior sealer coat, which means the first coat soaks in and requires a second application before topcoats deliver full coverage. This drives up both material and labour costs compared to a brick home with a sound existing paint system.
| Home Size | Brick Exterior Cost (2026, Berry/Shoalhaven) |
|---|---|
| Small (under 150 m²) | $3,800 – $5,500 |
| Medium (150–250 m²) | $5,500 – $8,500 |
| Large (250 m²+) | $8,000 – $12,000+ |
Brick homes are generally faster to paint than weatherboard once prep is complete, because there is no need for gap filling between boards or fine-edge work on overlapping timber. That speed advantage partially offsets the higher material cost of sealing porous brick.
Weatherboard House Costs
Weatherboard painting is labour-intensive. The preparation alone, including stripping loose paint, filling board gaps, sanding edges, and applying primer, often takes as long as the painting itself on older homes. That labour time is reflected in the cost.
| Home Size | Weatherboard Exterior Cost (2026, Berry/Shoalhaven) |
|---|---|
| Small (under 150 m²) | $3,500 – $5,200 |
| Medium (150–250 m²) | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Large (250 m²+) | $7,500 – $11,500+ |
Weatherboard homes across the Berry region often have sections of timber that have dried, cupped, or split over years of sun and rain exposure. Quality painters address those areas during prep rather than painting over them. That attention to the timber surface is what separates a finish that holds for 8 to 12 years from one that starts failing within three.
DIY vs Professional Exterior Painting Costs
The appeal of DIY exterior painting is the perceived cost saving. The reality is that DIY costs are higher than most homeowners anticipate at the outset, and the quality and durability gap compared to professional work is real.
DIY Hidden Costs
A full DIY exterior paint job on a single-storey home in the Shoalhaven requires a budget for equipment, materials, and time. Costs accumulate faster than expected.
| DIY Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Paint (2 coats, medium home) | $600 – $1,200 |
| Primer / sealer | $150 – $350 |
| Pressure washer hire | $80 – $150 per day |
| Scaffold or ladder hire | $300 – $800 |
| Brushes, rollers, drop sheets, tape | $150 – $300 |
| Crack filler, caulk, sanding materials | $80 – $200 |
| Total DIY materials estimate | $1,360 – $3,000 |
That materials cost does not account for the time investment. A full exterior on a single-storey home takes an experienced painter two to four days. An inexperienced DIYer working weekends typically stretches the same job across four to eight weeks, during which the prepared surface is exposed to weather. Rain on fresh primer, sun on bare timber, or dew on wet paint all compromise the finish before it sets.
Professional Value Breakdown
A professional painter brings the right tools, the right products, and the experience to read surfaces accurately. The cost difference between DIY materials and a professional quote narrows considerably once equipment hire, time, and the risk of rework are factored in.
Professional painters in the Shoalhaven also carry their own scaffold and pressure washing equipment, which eliminates hire costs for the homeowner. They access trade-grade paints at better prices than retail, and they apply paint in the right conditions at the right film thickness. A professionally painted exterior in 2026 should last eight to twelve years in the Berry and Shoalhaven climate before needing repainting, compared to three to five years for a typical DIY result on the same surface.
The hidden cost of DIY is the repaint. If a poor application requires professional remediation within two to three years, the combined cost of the original DIY attempt and the fix far exceeds what a professional quote would have cost at the outset.
Why Choose Berry Brush for Your Exterior Painting Project
Berry Brush is a locally owned and operated painting company based in Berry, NSW, with 11+ years of experience across residential and commercial properties throughout the Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands, and surrounding areas.
- 11+ years of local painting experience across homes in Berry, Nowra, Bomaderry, Shoalhaven Heads, and surrounding suburbs
- Free on-site quotes so you know the full cost before any work begins
- Fixed-price quotes with no unexpected additions mid-project
- Written workmanship guarantee backing every job
- Thorough surface preparation, including filling, sanding, sealing, and priming before any topcoat goes on
- Premium low-VOC paints from trusted Australian brands
- Fully licensed and insured for residential and commercial projects
- Clean and respectful workmanship with proper site protection throughout
Local knowledge matters in the Shoalhaven. Berry Brush understands how coastal salt air, high UV, and seasonal humidity affect exterior paint performance in this region, and quotes accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to paint a house exterior in Australia in 2026?
The average exterior house painting cost in Australia in 2026 ranges from $3,500 to $12,000 for a standard residential home. Smaller single-storey homes in regional areas like Berry and the Shoalhaven sit toward the lower end, while large double-storey homes with poor surface condition or scaffold requirements reach the upper range.
How much does exterior painting cost per square metre?
Professional exterior painting costs between $25 and $65 per square metre in 2026, depending on surface type and condition. Brick in good condition starts at around $25 to $35 per m², while deteriorated weatherboard requiring full preparation, priming, and two topcoats can reach $50 to $65 per m² in regional NSW.
What factors influence the cost of exterior house painting?
The main factors affecting exterior painting cost are home size, surface type, storey height, surface condition, and site access. Scaffold requirements for double-storey homes, prep work on weathered or peeling surfaces, coastal weather exposure, and the number of windows, doors, and trim areas all affect the final price.
Is DIY exterior painting cheaper than hiring professionals?
DIY exterior painting is less expensive in materials alone, with estimates ranging from $1,360 to $3,000 for a single-storey home. When equipment hire, time, and the risk of a poor finish requiring early repainting are included, the cost gap narrows considerably. Professional results also last two to three times longer than a typical DIY application.
How much does it cost to paint a brick house versus weatherboard?
Brick homes in the Berry and Shoalhaven region cost between $3,800 and $12,000 to paint externally in 2026, depending on size and condition. Weatherboard homes run $3,500 to $11,500 for similar size ranges. Weatherboard prep work is more labour-intensive, but brick often requires a sealer coat that adds material cost, making final prices comparable across both surface types.
Get an Accurate Quote for Your Exterior
Exterior house painting costs vary too much to rely on rough estimates. The best approach is to get a detailed, fixed-price quote from a painter who has inspected your home in person.
Berry Brush offers free on-site quotes across Berry, Nowra, Bomaderry, Shoalhaven Heads, Callala Bay, Culburra Beach, the Southern Highlands, and surrounding areas. Call 0485 800 108 or email contact@BerryBrush.com.au to arrange your quote.
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