Why Are House Painting Quotes So Different?

You’ve had two or three painters through the house, the quotes have come back, and they’re thousands of dollars apart. It’s one of the most common things homeowners ask us about, and it’s a fair question. It’s the same house, so why isn’t it the same price?

The short version is that painting quotes often look like they’re pricing the same job when they aren’t. This guide covers where the differences usually come from and how to compare quotes properly.

Quick answer

Painting quotes can be thousands of dollars apart because painters may be pricing different preparation, repairs, coatings, access requirements and areas of the home. A lower quote isn’t automatically worse and a higher one isn’t automatically better. Before comparing the final price, compare exactly what each quote includes.

If you’d like a feel for typical price ranges first, our guide on how much it costs to paint a house on the Gold Coast covers that.

Why can two painting quotes be thousands apart?

1. Preparation can be completely different

Preparation is often one of the biggest variables, and it’s the part that’s easiest to leave vague in a quote. Depending on the house, it can include:

• patching holes and dents, then sanding the patches flush
• sanding back glossy or rough surfaces so the new paint bonds
• scraping and sanding peeling or flaking paint
• treating chalky exterior surfaces so the new coating doesn’t sit on loose powder
• filling and caulking gaps around trims, windows and joins
• repairing hairline cracks in render
• spot-priming bare timber, filler and stains
• a full sealer or primer coat where the surface needs it

Two painters can look at the same wall and allow very different amounts of time for this. One may have priced a light sand and patch. Another may have allowed for scraping back failing paint and sealing the whole area. Neither is necessarily wrong, but they aren’t pricing the same work.

2. One coat and two coats are not the same job

Two top coats are common for a professional repaint, but not every situation needs the same thing. A room being refreshed in a similar colour over a sound surface may achieve coverage much more easily than a dark-to-light colour change or a wall with patchy previous paint. Strong colour changes and poor-coverage colours can need a primer or an extra coat.

The important thing is that the quote makes the number of coats clear, so you know what you’re comparing. If one quote allows for two coats and another for one, the price difference makes more sense.

For a deeper look at primer, sealer, undercoat and when different coat counts may be appropriate, see our guide on how many coats of paint a house needs.

3. The areas included may not be the same

This is one of the most common reasons quotes look so different. “Paint the interior” can mean walls only, or it can mean walls, ceilings and every trim in the house. Check whether each quote includes:

• walls and ceilings
• skirtings and architraves
• doors and door frames
• window frames and reveals
• wardrobes and built-ins
• eaves, fascia and gutters
• decks, balustrades and fences
• garage doors, sheds or outbuildings

Trims and doors take much longer per square metre than walls, so leaving them out of one quote can account for a big part of the gap.

4. Paint products and systems differ

Product choice matters, but on most repaints labour and preparation make up a larger share of the price than the paint itself. What matters most is that the product suits the surface and where it is:

• Bathrooms and laundries: coatings that handle moisture and resist mould.
• Kitchens and hallways: finishes that can be wiped down.
• Exteriors: a system suited to the substrate, whether render, timber or metal.
• Coastal homes: more attention to cleaning, priming and the exterior system because of salt and UV. We cover this in the best exterior paint for the Gold Coast climate.
• Metal: rust treatment and a suitable primer where needed.
• Timber: priming bare or weathered timber before topcoats.

A good quote should identify the proposed coating system or product where it materially affects the job, so you’re not comparing a basic system against a specialised one without knowing it.

5. Access and height can change the cost dramatically

A single-storey home on a flat block is a very different job to a two-storey home on a slope with a pool along one side. Access affects both time and safety equipment. Things that change the price include:

• two-storey walls and high gables
• steep or terraced blocks
• pools, garden beds or roofs under the work area
• narrow side access between houses
• internal voids and stairwells
• scaffolding, mobile towers or an elevated work platform

Some quotes include access equipment and others price it separately or leave it out, so check how each one handles it. Our house painting cost guide explains how height and access affect typical prices.

6. Repairs may or may not be included

Minor filling is normally part of preparation. Substantial repairs are different. Cracked render, water-damaged plasterboard, cornices pulling away and rotten timber in fascias or window sills take more time and sometimes another trade.

Some quotes allow for these, some list them as exclusions, and some don’t mention them at all. Also ask how repairs found during the job are handled. Some damage can’t reasonably be seen until work starts, such as rot under old paint.

Our approach: if we uncover repairs that weren’t reasonably visible or included in the original scope, we show you what we’ve found, explain what needs to be done, price the additional work where required and get your approval before going ahead.

7. Number of colours and detail work

Every extra colour means more cutting in and more changeovers. A two-colour scheme is quicker than walls, ceilings, trims and feature walls all in different colours. Detail adds time too:

• feature walls and accent colours
• trims in a different colour to the walls
• VJ panelling
• shutters and louvres
• balustrades and detailed timberwork
• panelled doors, which take longer than flush doors

8. Licensing, insurance and business overheads

Businesses carry different costs, including licensing, insurance, vehicles, equipment and administration. In Queensland, a QBCC licence is generally required to carry out building work valued over $3,300, and you can check a licence on the QBCC website. It’s also worth confirming the painter holds public liability insurance.

For reference, Phelps Painting holds QBCC Licence 15402463 and NSW Contractor Licence 455009C, and carries $20 million public liability insurance.

If you’re deciding who to hire rather than just comparing prices, our guide on how to choose a house painter on the Gold Coast covers the practical checks to make before accepting a quote.

How to compare painting quotes properly

Put your quotes side by side and go through each line below. Where a quote doesn’t mention something, it’s worth asking rather than assuming.

What to compare	What to look for
Areas included	Exactly which rooms and surfaces: walls, ceilings, doors, trims, eaves, fascia
Surface preparation	What prep is allowed for, such as sanding, patching, scraping, washing
Repairs	Which repairs are included and which are extra
Primer / sealer	Whether priming or sealing is included where needed
Number of top coats	Stated clearly for each area
Paint system / product	Named where it materially affects the job
Number of colours	How many colours the price allows for
Access / scaffolding	Included, priced separately or excluded
Protection	How floors, furniture and gardens will be protected
Clean-up	Daily and final clean-up
Exclusions	What isn’t included, stated clearly
GST	Whether the price includes GST
Licences and insurance	Licence number and public liability cover
Timing	Expected start date and roughly how long the job will take
Variations	How extra work is priced and approved

Once the scope is lined up, the difference between the quotes usually makes a lot more sense.

Questions to ask before accepting a quote

• Exactly which surfaces and rooms are included?
• What preparation have you allowed for?
• How many coats are included, and does that change for any area?
• Is primer or sealer included where it’s needed?
• Which repairs are included, and which would be extra?
• Is scaffolding or other access equipment included?
• Which paint system or product are you proposing?
• Does the price include GST?
• What happens if more repairs are found once work starts?

Is the cheapest painting quote always a bad choice?

No. A lower quote can be completely legitimate. A painter may be very efficient, the job may suit their workflow and schedule, or they may have lower overheads. Sometimes the scope really is the same and the price is simply lower.

Likewise, the highest quote isn’t automatically the best. The point is to make sure you’re comparing like-for-like work. Once you know each quote covers the same areas, preparation, coats and access, you can compare price, and then things like timing and how comfortable you feel with each painter.

Things to check in a painting quote

A quote doesn’t need to run to pages to be legitimate, and many good painters write short, clear quotes. It’s still worth asking for more detail if you see:

• wording like “paint house” with no breakdown of areas
• no mention of preparation
• no indication of how many coats are included
• large exclusions that haven’t been explained
• no clear statement about GST
• no clear business name or contact details, or no licence details where they’re required

None of these means the painter is doing anything wrong. They’re simply the points to clarify before you commit.

FAQs

Why can painting quotes differ by thousands of dollars?

Usually because the quotes cover different work. Differences in preparation, repairs, number of coats, the areas included, access equipment and paint systems can add up to thousands of dollars on the same house.

Should a painting quote list the number of coats?

It’s helpful if it does. Knowing how many coats are included for each area makes quotes much easier to compare, especially where colour changes are involved.

Should the paint brand be listed?

Not always. It’s more useful for a quote to identify the proposed coating system or product where it materially affects the job, such as exteriors, wet areas or metal surfaces.

Is preparation normally included in a painting quote?

Some level of preparation is normally included, but the amount can vary considerably. Ask what’s allowed for, from light sanding and patching through to scraping back failed paint and sealing.

Should scaffolding be included?

It depends on the job and the painter. Some include access equipment in the price and others quote it separately. Check that each quote makes it clear either way.

Is GST normally included in a painting quote?

It should be clear either way. If a quote doesn’t say whether GST is included, ask before comparing it with another.

How do I know if two quotes are actually comparable?

Line them up against the same list: areas, preparation, repairs, primer, number of coats, paint system, colours, access, protection, clean-up, exclusions and GST. If they match on those points, you’re comparing like-for-like.

Getting a clear quote for your home

If you’d like a quote for your own place, you can send us photos and a rough scope through our quote form, or arrange for us to inspect the home. We aim to provide a clear written scope, so you know what’s included before any work starts. We work across the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast on interior, exterior and residential painting projects.