Bathroom painting cost: How size, prep and paint type affect your budget

A fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to keep your bathroom looking sharp and well-cared for. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to give your walls a thorough once-over. You’d be amazed how often you’ll discover hidden mould or mildew that needs sorting before you even think about picking up a brush!

Right now, bathroom painting typically costs between  $130 and $460, but that figure can swing quite a bit depending on what you’re working with. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the factors that impact your final bill and help you figure out whether this is a weekend DIY job or one for the professionals.

Bathroom painting costs in AU

Location is one of the most significant factors that can affect the cost of bathroom painting. If you live in a high-income city like Sydney, you might pay more for bathroom painting than those in smaller, rural areas in the country. The production and availability of paint supplies in your city can also affect the cost of the service. 

Here's how much bathroom painting costs in some of the biggest cities in Australia: 

Regional areas typically run 20-30% cheaper than capital cities, but you might have fewer painters to choose from. The trade-off? Often, more personalised service and flexible timing.

Before you book a professional painter, inspect your space properly first. Common issues like peeling paint, cracked tiles, loose grouting, or dodgy ventilation can turn a simple paint job into a bigger project. For this, it’s highly recommended that you get a handyman to ensure no problems can ruin your fresh coat.

A tradie painting over bathroom tiles (Source: iStock)

Factors affecting the cost of bathroom painting

Bathroom size

Like any home renovation task, painting a large bathroom can cost more, as it requires more time and labour. While the average cost of painting a small bathroom might not go beyond $460, painting wider and taller walls could go past the average nationwide cost. In most cases, the cost of bathroom painting will be based on the size of your bathroom. 

Labour

One of the biggest cost drivers in bathroom painting projects is how much prep work your space needs. For instance, extensive wall repairs, filling holes, sanding rough patches, and applying primer can easily double your labour costs. If you’re painting over textured walls or heavily stained surfaces, expect your painter to spend extra time getting that smooth, professional finish.

Don’t forget about the popular add-ons that can bump up your bill. Painting the ceiling and bathroom cabinets adds 30-50% to labour time, while tackling trim, doors, and window frames requires detail work for which painters charge premium rates. Some homeowners also use the opportunity to update fixtures, lighting, or cabinet hardware, which means coordinating with other tradies and potentially longer project timelines.

Painting materials

When you hire a professional painter, you don't need to worry about painting supplies, as your painter already provides them. But if you want to supply your own materials, you need to consider their type and quality. Paints with a glossier finish can cost more than those with a regular matte finish. You'll also pay more for paints that have a high concentration of colour pigment. The rule of thumb is that the higher the quality, the higher the cost.

Reasons to book a professional bathroom painter

When it comes to giving your bathroom a new coat of paint, you might be tempted to do the job yourself. But the question is, should you? While painting seems to be an easy home project, you might encounter some challenging tasks along the way. 

Painting on rough surfaces, peeling old paint, and getting rid of holes and stains are some of the not-so-simple tasks that require time, skills, and effort. If you're still unsure about hiring a pro painter, consider these benefits:

They have much experience 

Whether you're looking to paint or decorate your home, hiring a professional in the field guarantees quality results. Through years of experience, pro painters have acquired many skills and techniques to make your bathroom look brand-new through paint. They've also faced some of the most common and challenging issues related to painting. This gives you the assurance that professional painters can handle just about every paint job there is. 

They help you save time

As mentioned, painting isn't as easy as it seems. You need to remove wall stains, strip off any remaining paint, patch holes, and apply primer. When you hire a pro painter, you can save your precious time and use it for more important things, such as work, school, or even other household chores. 

What takes some people over a week to accomplish can also be just a day or two for pro painters. Their skills and expertise allow them to finish any paint job within the required time frame. They will also handle every stage of the painting project, from wall prep to cleanup. If you don't want the stress associated with painting, seek help from a professional.

They have the right tools

Do you know that certain types of paint require a specific kind of brush? Were you also informed that you need high-quality drop cloths to protect your bathroom floors from getting any paint? While you might have a few paint brushes and rollers in your garage or basement, those might not be enough to produce quality paintwork. 

Professional painters have almost every paint tool you possibly need for your bathroom. They're also equipped with safety gear to ensure everyone's protection during the renovation process. This means you won't need to invest in tools and equipment that you would only likely use once. 

A freshly painted modern bathroom (Source: iStock)

Give your bathroom a fresh new look

Now you’ve got the full picture on bathroom painting costs, it’s time to decide whether this is a project you can tackle yourself or not. If you’re confident with a paintbrush and have a free weekend, why not give it a crack? But if you’d rather skip the prep work and get guaranteed professional results, there are talented painters nearby who’ll sort you right out.

Whatever you choose, don’t spend another day putting up with those dull bathroom walls. Post your bathroom painting task on Airtasker today and connect with local painters who’ll transform your space without the hassle!