Is It Cheaper to Hire a Painter or Do It Yourself in Australia?
Short answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no. Long answer: it depends on the size of the job, how picky you are, and how much your time (and sanity) is worth.
I’ve seen this question come up a lot, so here’s what people usually say after actually doing it.
“I thought DIY would be cheaper… it wasn’t”
A lot of people start painting thinking it’ll save a heap of money. Then reality hits.
Paint in Australia isn’t cheap if you want decent quality. By the time you buy paint, rollers, brushes, drop sheets, tape, filler, sandpaper, and maybe a ladder, you’ve already spent more than expected. Exterior painting is even worse because you need proper safety gear and weather-resistant paint.
Then there’s the time. What people think is a “weekend job” usually turns into multiple weekends. Prep work alone takes forever. Interior painting always takes longer than expected, and once you’re halfway through, you kind of have to finish it.
“DIY is fine… if it’s a small job”
This is where most people agree.
If you’re repainting one bedroom, a spare room, or doing a quick refresh, DIY interior painting can be worth it. Especially if you’re not too fussed about perfect lines or a showroom finish.
But once it’s a full house, high ceilings, or anything outside, a lot of people say they wish they’d hired professional house painters from the start.
“Exterior painting? Never again.”
You’ll see this comment a lot.
Exterior painting looks easy until you’re halfway up a ladder dealing with peeling paint, uneven surfaces, and Melbourne weather changing every five minutes. One mistake and the paint starts peeling within a year.
That’s why many homeowners say exterior house painters are worth every dollar. They know how to prep properly, use the right products, and get it done safely and quickly.
“Professional painters cost more, but…”
Most people who hire a professional painting company say the same thing: Yes, it costs more upfront, but the difference in finish is obvious.
Professional interior house painters can knock out a whole home in a few days, with clean edges, even coverage, and no mess left behind. There’s also less stress, no trips to Bunnings every night, and usually a warranty if something goes wrong.
For painters in Melbourne, prices vary, but many people feel the time saved alone makes it worth it.
“Commercial painting isn’t even a question”
For commercial painting, the answer is almost always hire professionals.
Shops, offices, and warehouses need to meet safety standards, work around business hours, and look professional. DIY just isn’t realistic for commercial spaces, and most business owners don’t even consider it.
So… what do most people recommend?
Based on what people usually say in forums and comments:
DIY painting is okay for small, simple interior jobs
Interior house painters are worth it for full homes
Exterior painting is better left to professionals
Commercial painting should always be done by a painting company
If you value your time and want it done once and done properly, hiring professional house painters usually ends up being the better option.
Areas We Serve (for locals asking “are you near me?”)
For anyone in Melbourne asking if this applies locally, yes — these experiences are common across the city. Professional painters often service areas like:
Glen Waverley
Dandenong
Camberwell
Doncaster
Ringwood
If you’re looking for painters Melbourne homeowners actually recommend, local experience makes a big difference.
Bottom line: DIY looks cheaper on paper, but for anything bigger than a small room, most people say they’d just hire a painter next time and save themselves the hassle.
If you want this rewritten to sound even more like Reddit, Facebook comments, or Q&A style with usernames, I can do that too.