Painting Labour Rates in NZ

Labour-only rates cover the painter's time, skill, and basic consumables (tape, filler, sandpaper) but not paint or major materials:

• Interior walls — $18–$30/m² labour only. Easy repaints in good condition sit at the lower end. Heavy prep, dark-to-light colour changes, and difficult access push toward the higher end.
• Interior ceilings — $15–$25/m². Slower than walls due to overhead work position. Textured ceilings take longer than smooth.
• Exterior weatherboard — $25–$40/m². More prep-intensive than interior work. Includes washing, sanding, filling, and potentially dealing with rot or mould.
• Exterior plaster/stucco — $25–$45/m². Large flat areas can be faster to paint but often require crack repairs and extensive preparation.
• Trim and detail work — $8–$12 per linear metre. Slow, brush-intensive work that requires skill and patience.

For full-service rates including materials, see our cost per m² guide. For hourly rate benchmarks, see our hourly rate guide.

Labour rates vary across NZ due to cost of living (per Stats NZ regional indices), demand, and competition:

• Auckland — 10–20% above national average. Higher living costs and strong demand drive rates up. Interior labour $22–$40/m².
• Wellington — 5–15% above national average. Similar to Auckland but slightly lower volume. Interior labour $20–$38/m².
• Christchurch — Close to national average. Steady demand from earthquake rebuild and new construction. Interior labour $18–$35/m².
• Regional NZ — 5–10% below national average, but travel costs may offset savings. Interior labour $16–$30/m².

Your rates should reflect your local market, but more importantly, they should cover your actual costs including overheads and a proper profit margin.

Labour-only pricing works in specific situations:

• Client supplies materials — Some homeowners or developers buy their own paint. You quote labour only and they provide the paint.
• Subcontracting — When subcontracting for another painter or builder, you often quote labour only as the head contractor supplies materials.
• Transparencey in quoting — Breaking your quote into separate labour and materials lines gives clients clarity. Our quoting guide covers how to present this professionally.
• Insurance and warranty work — Insurance companies sometimes supply specified products, requiring labour-only quotes.

Even on labour-only jobs, remember to include overheads and profit margin in your rate — not just your hourly wage.

To set your labour-only rate per m²:

• Step 1 — Determine your hourly charge-out rate including overheads and margin. Example: $60/hr.
• Step 2 — Apply your production rate for the surface type. Example: interior walls 35m²/hr (medium conditions). See our time estimation guide for production rates.
• Step 3 — Calculate: $60/hr ÷ 35m²/hr = $1.71/m² per pass. Two coats + cutting in + prep = 4–5 passes equivalent.
• Step 4 — Total: $1.71 × 4.5 passes = $7.70/m². Add prep time (40% of paint time) = $10.78/m². Add consumables ($1–$2/m²) = $12–$13/m².

This gives you a cost-based rate you can adjust for job complexity. Compare it against market rates ($18–$40/m²) to ensure you're competitive. For a complete pricing formula, see our pricing strategy guide.

• Stats NZ — Regional economic data and labour market statistics.
• Master Painters New Zealand — Trade standards and professional guidelines.