How to Quote a Painting Job in Australia (2026 Guide + Checklist)

The difference between a painter who is booked out and one who is chasing work is rarely the quality of the painting. It is usually the quote: how fast it goes out, how clearly it reads, and whether the numbers hold up. Here is a practical way to quote painting jobs so you win more of them and protect your margin.

1. Measure the job properly

Walls are priced by area. Measure each wall (width times height), add them up, and subtract large openings like windows and doors. For ceilings, use the room's floor area. Keep a note of anything that adds labour: high ceilings, heavy prep, cornices, feature walls, or dark-to-light colour changes that need an extra coat.

2. Build your quote from a rate card, not a gut feel

Guessing a round number is how painters lose money. Instead, keep a price list of your real rates and drop line items onto every quote:

• Prep - sanding, filling, masking, drop sheets (per hour or per room)
• Undercoat / primer - per square metre
• Top coats - per square metre, per coat
• Materials - paint, rollers, tape, at cost plus a margin
• Access - scaffold, ladders, or two-storey loading

When your rates live in one place, a two-bedroom repaint takes a minute to price and every quote is consistent.

3. Include the things that cause disputes

Most arguments happen over what was not said. Spell out the number of coats, the brand and sheen, whether you are moving furniture, and what happens if extra prep is found once you start. A clear scope is your best protection.

4. Send it fast, and make it easy to accept

Speed wins jobs. If a customer emails three painters, the first to send a professional quote usually gets the call. A quote the customer can open on their phone and accept online - with an optional deposit - closes far more often than a number scribbled on a notepad.

5. Follow up (without the awkward phone call)

Most quotes that go quiet just need a nudge. A short follow-up a few days later converts a surprising number of "maybes". If chasing each one manually is the problem, automate it.

A faster way to quote painting jobs

ServicePilot is built for painters. Photograph the job or describe it in a sentence, and the AI drafts an itemised, priced quote from your own rate card in seconds. Every line stays editable, the customer accepts and e-signs online, and follow-ups on quiet quotes go out automatically. When the job is done, it turns into an invoice with card payment in a tap.

Frequently asked questions

How much do painters charge per square metre in Australia?

Most painters charge roughly $12 to $60 per square metre depending on surface prep, number of coats, ceiling height and paint quality. Always price from your own rates and job conditions rather than a flat number.

How long should a painting quote take to send?

Aim to send within 24 hours while the lead is warm. Tools like ServicePilot draft an itemised, priced quote in seconds from a photo or a short description, so you can reply first.

Should a painting quote include a deposit?

For jobs over a few hundred dollars, a deposit protects your materials outlay. A 10 to 20 per cent deposit at acceptance is common.