Painting Quote Example: How to Quote a Paint Job (Australia)

Quick answer: A painting quote should describe the rooms or surfaces, the prep included, the number of coats and the paint used, then price labour and materials with a clear GST-inclusive total and terms. Spell out prep and coats — that's where painting quotes win or lose trust.

Painting is one of the most price-shopped trades, so a vague figure puts you in a race to the bottom. A clear, itemised painting quote that spells out the prep and the coats lets the customer see why your price is what it is — and why the cheap quote down the road probably skips the prep. Here's how to put one together, with an example.

What to include in a painting quote

• Your details — business name, ABN, phone and email.
• Customer and site — name, address and contact.
• Quote number and date — plus how long the price holds.
• Scope of work — which rooms or surfaces, interior or exterior, and what's included.
• Preparation — sanding, filling, gap-filling, undercoat, masking and protection.
• Coats and product — number of coats and the paint brand/finish you'll use.
• Materials — paint, fillers, sundries.
• Labour — by area or by task.
• Totals and terms — subtotal, GST, total, payment terms and exclusions.

A painting quote example

For an interior repaint of a three-bedroom home:

• Scope: Repaint walls, ceilings, doors and trims throughout (3 bed, 2 living, hall, kitchen).
• Prep: Fill and sand minor cracks and nail holes, spot-prime patched areas, mask and protect floors and fittings.
• Coats: Two coats low-sheen to walls, two coats flat to ceilings, two coats semi-gloss to doors and trims.
• Materials: Premium washable interior paint and sundries — itemised.
• Labour: Estimated days on site × day rate.
• Total: Subtotal, GST, total — clearly shown.

How to price a paint job

Most painters price by measuring the area and estimating how long the prep and coats will take, then applying a labour rate and adding materials. Exterior work, high ceilings, heavy prep and detailed cutting-in all add time — bake that into your hours rather than discovering it on site. If you're still nailing down your rate, our guide on how much to charge for a job walks through it.

Showing GST

If you're registered for GST, add 10% and make the final number obvious. Our guide to GST on quotes explains the two ways to show it.

Quote the job in seconds

Writing up prep, coats and materials for every room takes time you'd rather spend painting. EasyQuote AI turns a plain-English description of the job into a clear, itemised painting quote — prep, coats, materials, labour and a GST total — in seconds, ready to send as a branded PDF. Try it free.

Frequently asked questions

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