If you’ve been getting quotes for a commercial paint job in Melbourne and they’re all over the place — one contractor says $8,000, another says $22,000 for what sounds like the same office — you’re not being scammed. You’re seeing what happens when three different scopes get quoted as if they’re one job. Before you sign anything, it’s worth understanding what actually drives commercial painting pricing in Melbourne.
What Does Commercial Painting Cost in Melbourne?
As a rough starting point, interior commercial painting in Melbourne typically runs $20–$45 per square metre, and exterior work $25–$70 per square metre. A small office or shopfront repaint (roughly 100–300m²) usually lands between $2,500 and $8,000. A mid-size retail or office fit-out (300–800m²) is more commonly $8,000–$25,000, and large industrial or multi-storey CBD buildings can exceed $70,000.
These figures are general Melbourne estimates only. The final price depends on the site condition, access, preparation, number of coats, paint system, project size, and whether the work is done during business hours or after-hours.
| Project type | Typical Melbourne cost |
|---|---|
| Small office or shopfront repaint | $2,500–$8,000 |
| Medium office or retail fit-out | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Interior commercial painting | $20–$45/m² |
| Exterior commercial painting | $25–$70/m² |
| Warehouse walls & structure | $10–$30/m² |
Those numbers only mean something once you know which scope you’re actually being quoted against — which is the next question worth asking every contractor.
Why the Quotes You’ve Received Don’t Match Each Other
Every Melbourne quote is really answering a different question. A quote around $15/m² may cover only basic painting with minimal preparation, while a higher quote around $60/m² may include repairs, primer, surface protection, access equipment, and multiple coats. Same building, three quotes, three different jobs.
What Actually Changes the Price
- Surface condition: older paint layers, flaking coatings, or surfaces that need assessment on an older Fitzroy or Brunswick shopfront add prep hours you won’t see quoted separately unless you ask. Older surfaces should always be assessed properly before work starts.
- Access: a single-storey Sunshine warehouse is straightforward; a multi-storey Melbourne CBD facade needs scaffolding or swing-stage access, which can add 15–25% on its own.
- Timing: painting a working office or cafe after-hours or on weekends to avoid downtime typically adds a loading, not just a flat rate.
- Coating system: a warehouse needing an industrial epoxy or protective coating costs more per litre and per hour than standard acrylic.
Why One Quote Costs More Than Another
Labour is usually the largest part of a commercial painting quote and may account for around 60–70%, depending on access, preparation, and project complexity. Materials (paint, primer, sundries) are usually 20–25%, and the rest covers access equipment, protection of stock or fittings, and clean-up. If a quote is missing a breakdown entirely, that’s usually the red flag worth asking about before the labour one.
Office Painting Cost in Melbourne
Office repaints are usually priced per 100m² of floor area rather than wall area alone, since it includes partitions, skirting, and trims. Expect roughly $1,500–$4,500 per 100m² for a standard fit-out repaint, more if it’s done after-hours to avoid disrupting staff. If keeping the business running matters, our guide on office painting in Melbourne covers how to minimise downtime.
Warehouse and Industrial Painting Cost
Warehouse walls and structural steel are usually the cheapest per square metre — often $10–$30/m², which sits below the general commercial range because the areas are large, open, and quick to cover, not because commercial work is normally that cheap. Once you add line-marking, epoxy floor coatings, or high-access structural steel, the total project cost climbs fast even though the per-metre rate looks low.
Retail Space Painting: A Quick Way to Estimate
For a retail shop, measure your wall area (length × height, doors and windows subtracted) and apply $25–$45/m² for a standard interior fit-out. A 150m² shop with straightforward walls usually sits in the $4,000–$7,000 range before any shopfitting-specific extras.
Hourly Rates for Commercial Painters in Victoria
Standard hourly rates for qualified commercial painters in Victoria typically sit between $40 and $70. After-hours, weekend, or specialised protective-coating work can run $80–$140 per hour. Most commercial jobs are quoted as a fixed price rather than hourly, since it gives you cost certainty before work starts.
How to Get an Accurate Commercial Painting Quote in Melbourne
Get at least two or three written quotes, and make sure each one specifies the exact surface area, prep scope, number of coats, and paint system — not just a bottom-line figure. A contractor who measures on-site before quoting is worth more than one who prices off a phone description, especially for older Melbourne commercial stock with render or masonry that hides its condition until someone’s up close. When you’re ready, you can request a free commercial painting quote and we’ll measure before we price.
Related Articles
For more on painting costs and commercial work in Melbourne, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line on Commercial Painting Costs
There’s no single number for commercial painting in Melbourne — there’s a method. Work out your surface area, factor in access and prep, and judge each quote on what it actually includes rather than the total at the bottom. A cheap quote that skips prep or scaffolding almost always becomes the expensive one later.
If you’d like a clear, itemised quote for your office, retail space or warehouse, EQ Painting Solutions measures on-site before pricing so you know exactly what you’re paying for. Free quotes across Melbourne — call 0498 200 654.
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