If you’ve ever tried to hire a painter in Australia, you know it can be a bit of a lottery. Some are solid as a rock – clean lines, on time, no muckin’ about. Others? Well… let’s just say not all of ’em leave the site better than they found it.
Whether you’re a site manager with deadlines breathing down your neck, or a homeowner looking to freshen up the pad before the in-laws visit, this guide’s for you. We’ll cover how to find reliable painters, what it’s gonna cost, and which companies are worth your time (spoiler: Yakka’s at the top).
Why Hiring a Good Painter Matters
Painting might look simple, but any tradie worth their salt knows there’s an art to it. From cutting clean lines to knowing how to prep dodgy surfaces, it’s not a gig you want to hand to just anyone with a brush.
A good painter will:
Rock up on time, ready to go
Do the right prep so the paint actually sticks
Know their finishes, coatings, and tools
Leave the site clean and proper
Stuff it up, and you’re looking at bubbling paint, patchy finishes, and re-dos that cost time and coin.
Top 5 Platforms to Hire Painters in Australia (2025 Edition)
1. Yakka Labour App – The Tradie’s Choice ✅
Best for: On-demand, skilled painters for residential and commercial gigs
Why Yakka: Built by tradies, for tradies. Rated the #1 labour hire app in Australia.
How it works: Post a job, get matched with vetted painters near you, and lock it in.
Bonus: You can see painter reviews, check licences, and sort insurance in-app.
Website: yakkalabour.com.au
2. Hipages
Best for: Homeowners and small reno jobs
Why: They’ve got a decent network of painters across Aus.
Downside: Quality can vary and you’ll cop a few salesy follow-ups.
3. ServiceSeeking
Best for: Price comparisons
Why: You can get quotes from a bunch of painters quick.
Heads up: You’ll need to sift through reviews and ask the right questions.
4. Oneflare
Best for: Small commercial and residential gigs
Why: Similar to Hipages but with more filters
Tip: Vet the reviews properly – not all jobs are equal.
5. Yellow Pages (Yep, it still exists)
Best for: Finding long-standing local painters
Why: Some old-school legends still list here.
But: No reviews or digital tools – it’s a bit of a punt.
Cost of Hiring a Painter in Australia – No Sugar-Coating It
Let’s talk turkey. How much does it cost to hire a painter in Australia?
🎯 Average Hourly Rate:
Residential: $40–$60 per hour
Commercial: $50–$80 per hour (more if it’s night work or high-risk)
🏠 By Job Type:
| Job Type | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Interior room repaint | $250 – $700 per room |
| Whole house (interior) | $2,000 – $6,500 |
| Exterior painting | $3,000 – $15,000+ |
| Feature wall (fancy stuff) | $150 – $400 |
| Ceiling repaint | $300 – $1,000 |
🧮 What Affects the Price?
Surface condition (cracks, mould = more prep)
Number of coats needed
Access (two-storey homes or scaffold jobs cost more)
Type of paint (cheap and cheerful vs premium finishes)
Time of year (busy season = higher rates)
💡 Tradie Tip:
Want to save a few bucks? Do your own prep – sanding, cleaning, and patching can shave hours off the job.
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10 FAQs About Hiring a Painter in Australia
1. How do I know if a painter is legit?
Check their licence, ABN, and public liability insurance. If you’re using Yakka, we’ve already vetted all that.
2. Do painters provide the paint or do I buy it?
Most will give you options. Some supply it and include it in the quote; others expect you to pick it up. Always check.
3. How long does it take to paint a house?
A standard 3-bedroom interior job can take 3–5 days, depending on weather, prep, and number of coats.
4. Is it cheaper to hire painters in winter?
Sometimes. Demand drops, so painters are keen for work. You might score a deal, especially if it’s indoors.
5. Do I need to be home while they paint?
Not always, but if it’s your house, it’s a good idea to check in each day. Just don’t hover – tradies hate that.
6. What questions should I ask before hiring a painter?
Are you licensed and insured?
How long will the job take?
Do you include prep and clean-up?
Can I see some of your past work?
7. What if I’m not happy with the paint job?
Reputable painters will fix defects if you flag them early. If they’re from Yakka, we’ll help mediate if needed.
8. How do I get a painter fast for a last-minute job?
Use Yakka’s on-demand booking – painters available within 24 hours in most metro areas.
9. Is it worth paying more for a better painter?
Absolutely. You’ll get better prep, neater work, and longer-lasting finishes. Cheap paint jobs peel faster than a sunburnt Aussie in summer.
10. Do painters clean up after themselves?
Good ones do. They’ll tarp your floors, clean up spills, and leave it looking schmick. If not – don’t book ‘em again.
Why More Contractors and Homeowners are Using Yakka to Hire Painters
We’re not just another tech company flogging apps. We’re tradies who got sick of the BS and built something better.
With Yakka you get:
🛠️ Verified, insured, reviewed painters
📍 Local talent, fast booking
💰 Transparent pricing – no hidden surprises
🧾 Digital timesheets, payments, and invoices sorted
👷♂️ Painters who know what the bloody hell they’re doing
Plus, we’ve got painters available 7 days a week across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide – and even the sticks.
Let’s not muck around – if you’re a contractor, project manager, or site boss trying to hire a painter in Australia, you know it can be a bloody mission. One day your regular bloke’s flat out, next day you’ve got a big job on and you’re short-handed. And if you’re a painter yourself, you’ve probably been chasing up dodgy leads, chasing invoices, or stuck waiting around for gigs that fall through. Sound familiar?
That’s where we come in.
We’re not some faceless corporate mob – we’re tradies ourselves. We built Yakka labour because we were sick of the runaround. Now, we’re Australia’s most popular labour hire app, built by tradies, for tradies. Whether you need to hire a painter who actually shows up and knows how to cut a clean line, or you’re a painter chasing reliable work – this is where the real ones meet.
hire a painter
Why Hiring a Painter Can Be a Bloody Nightmare
Hiring a painter sounds easy until you actually need one. Here’s what we hear on site all the time:
“I called three blokes – none of ‘em rocked up.”
“Had some guy off Gumtree, looked the part, but couldn’t roll a wall straight.”
“I’ve got a repaint deadline and I’m pulling my hair out.”
We get it. You need painters who are:
✅ Reliable as a Hilux
✅ Show up on time, every time
✅ Know their trade – interior, exterior, brush, roller, spray – the lot
✅ Respect the site and don’t leave it looking like a cyclone hit
We don’t send you just anyone. We match you with qualified, rated tradies who’ve been vouched for by other contractors. No more cowboys. No more chasing your tail.
Painters – Tired of Getting Stuffed Around?
If you’re a painter and sick of chasing flaky builders or working for peanuts, we’ve got your back. With Yakka labour app, you can:
🎯 Get matched with jobs near you
📅 Choose when you want to work
💰 Know what you’re getting paid before you rock up
🤝 Work with legit contractors – no dodgy operators
You get to build your rep, stack up solid reviews, and line up steady work without the BS. It’s like having a site supervisor in your pocket – minus the yelling.
What Kind of Painters Can You Hire?
Whether it’s a small reno job or a 20-storey apartment block, we’ve got painters across the board:
🎨 Residential Painters – Inside, outside, feature walls, finishes
🏗️ Commercial Painters – Offices, shops, carparks, you name it
🛠️ Maintenance Painters – Touch-ups, strata, body corp stuff
🖌️ Spray Painters – For when you need speed and precision
🧰 Specialist Painters – Epoxy floors, heritage work, textured finishes
You just jump on the app, punch in what you need, and boom – done. No ringing around. No fuss.
Why Tradies Use Yakka labour app to Hire Painters
Here’s why our platform’s taken off like a roo on Red Bull:
🛠️ Built for Tradies – No fluff, just tools that work
🔍 Verified Workers – All painters are vetted and reviewed
🧾 Paperwork Sorted – Invoices, timesheets, insurances – all covered
📍 Local Painters – Find painters near your site fast
⏱️ On-Demand – Book someone for tomorrow or next month
No more babysitting. Just book and get the job done right.
How It Works – Hire a Painter in 3 Easy Steps
Post a Job – Let us know where, when, and what sort of painting you need
Get Matched – We’ll show you top-rated painters nearby
Book & Build – Lock it in and get back to the real work
It’s that easy. No forms. No phone tag. No worries.
Real Talk from the Site
“I needed three blokes for a repaint in Parramatta. Threw it up on the app and had ‘em booked by smoko. All showed up, tools in hand, didn’t need babysitting. Cheers boys.”
— Mick, Site Supervisor
“Finally a way to line up solid work without chasing quotes. I just tick jobs I want, rock up, paint, and get paid.”
— Jess, Qualified Painter
Ready to Hire a Painter the Easy Way?
Don’t keep wasting time on time-wasters. Whether you’re running a fitout crew or you’ve got an urgent patch-up job, we’ve got painters ready to roll.
👉 Jump on YAKKA LABOUR today and hire a painter that actually shows up.
We’re tradies. We get it. Let’s get it done right.
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