Reading a painting quote
A good painting quote reads like a plan: each surface, the prep it needs, the paint system, the number of coats, the timing and the price. Two quotes can only be compared fairly when they cover the same work. This note shows what to look for, line by line. For published Auckland price ranges, see what house painting costs.
What should a painting quote include?
Enough detail that you could hand it to another painter and get the same job. That means every surface named, the preparation for each, the primer and paint system, how many finish coats, the paint range and sheen, how old paint and wash water are handled, the working days, the price and the GST basis. A single figure with no breakdown tells you very little.
- Surfaces. Walls, trims, sills, fascia, soffits, doors, window frames, each listed.
- Prep. Washing, scraping, sanding, filling, spot-priming, and any repairs.
- System. Primer, undercoat if needed, and the number of finish coats.
- Paint. The range and sheen for each surface.
- Older houses. How lead-based paint will be handled on a house from the 1980s or earlier.
- Site care. Drop sheets, covered drains, daily clean-up, and who removes waste.
- Time and price. Working days, how weather days are handled, the price, and whether it includes GST.
Why the cheapest quote often costs more
Labour is most of the price of a repaint, and prep is most of the labour. A quote that allows a quick wash and one coat over chalky paint can be thousands cheaper than one that scrapes, fills, primes and lays two coats. The cheaper job looks the same on the day it finishes and fails years sooner.
Resene’s 2026/2027 trade guide works out a sustainable painter’s rate of about $74 an hour before GST. If a quote looks far below what the hours should cost, ask which steps it leaves out. The cost guide linked above sets out published ranges by house size and surface.
How to compare two painting quotes
Lay them side by side and check line by line that they cover the same surfaces, the same prep, the same number of coats and similar paint. Note any gaps, then ask each painter to fill them in writing. Only once the scopes match is it fair to compare the totals.
| Check | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Every surface listed? | ||
| Prep steps for each surface? | ||
| Primer and number of finish coats? | ||
| Lead-safe methods for an older house? | ||
| Drains covered and wash water handled? | ||
| Working days and weather allowance? | ||
| Price fixed, and GST stated? |
What the Consumer Guarantees Act gives you
The Consumer Guarantees Act applies to any paint job done for you at home. The painter must work with reasonable care and skill, make the result fit for the purpose you explained, finish in a reasonable time if no date was set, and charge a reasonable price if none was agreed. Those rights apply whether or not the quote mentions them.
If something goes wrong and it can be fixed, the starting point is asking the painter to fix it within a reasonable time. If that does not happen, the Act lets you have it fixed elsewhere and recover the reasonable cost, or cancel. For claims worth up to $60,000, the Disputes Tribunal is the place to go.
Questions to ask before you accept
A short conversation clears up most of the gaps in a quote. Ask how the painter will deal with anything they find during prep, such as rot or failing boards, and how extra work gets agreed. Ask what happens on rain days, and who to contact during the job. Then get the answers added to the written quote.
- What happens if rot or damaged boards turn up during prep?
- How are extra costs agreed before the work is done?
- Which walls get the most prep, and why?
- How will lead paint be handled, if the house is from the 1980s or earlier?
- Who covers the drains and removes paint waste?
Keep the written quote once you accept it. If a question comes up later about what was agreed, it settles it.
Asked before a repaint
- What should a painting quote include?
- Each surface to be painted, the preparation for each, the primer and paint system, the number of finish coats, the paint range and sheen, how lead paint and wash water will be handled, the expected time in working days, the price, and whether GST is included. Anything not listed is likely not included.
- Why is one painting quote so much cheaper than another?
- Usually because it allows for less prep, fewer coats or cheaper paint. Labour is most of the cost of a repaint, and prep takes most of the labour, so a quote with fewer prep hours can be much lower. Compare the line items before the totals.
- What are the signs of a bad paint job?
- Paint peeling or flaking within months, especially at board ends and sills. Missed patches, runs, paint on glass and fittings, patchy sheen, or the old colour showing through. Most of these trace back to rushed prep or too few coats. Raise them early: the Consumer Guarantees Act requires reasonable care and skill.
- What are my rights if a paint job goes wrong?
- Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, a painter must use reasonable care and skill, make the work fit for the purpose you asked for, finish in a reasonable time, and charge a reasonable price if none was agreed. If a fault can be fixed, the painter should fix it. Claims of up to $60,000 can be lodged with the Disputes Tribunal.
- Should a painting quote be fixed or an estimate?
- A fixed price is easier to compare and budget for. An estimate can change as work goes on. Either way, the document should say which it is, what would change the price, such as rot found during prep, and how extra work is agreed before it is done.
Sources
Ask us for a painting quote
Tell us about the house and the job. We reply with questions, or a day to walk around it with you.