Cost to Paint a 1-Bedroom Unit in NZ

A complete 1-bedroom unit repaint covers every paintable surface inside and out. Here's what a standard quote should include:

• Interior — Bedroom walls and ceiling, living area, kitchenette, bathroom, and any hallway or entrance. Minor filling and sanding included. Two coats on walls, one on ceilings unless stained.
• Exterior — All cladding surfaces, eaves, fascia, window frames, and doors. Water-blasting, scraping, and spot-priming bare timber. For units in a block, the exterior may be handled by body corporate.
• Paint supply — Most painters include paint (Resene or Dulux mid-range). Confirm whether it's included before comparing quotes.
• Clean-up — Drop sheets removed, masking pulled, site left tidy.

A 1-bedroom unit is 35–65 m² of floor area. For per-m² rates across all surface types, see our cost-per-m² guide.

Even on a small unit, the quote range is wide. These factors determine where yours falls:

• Unit type — A modern studio apartment with clean GIB is a quick, straightforward job. An older granny flat with decades of paint buildup and weathered timber cladding needs serious prep. The type of 1-bed matters more than the bedroom count.
• Surface condition — Peeling paint, mould, timber rot, and cracked plaster all add prep hours. On neglected rental units this adds 30–40% to the labour bill.
• Standalone vs unit in a block — Standalone granny flats and flats need full exterior painting. Units in a block may only require interior work, with exterior handled under body corporate.
• Access — Ground-level units rarely need scaffolding. Two-storey flats or units tucked behind main houses with narrow access paths add time and cost.
• Location — Auckland and Wellington 1-bed repaints run 10–20% above smaller centres. See the full NZ painting cost guide for city-by-city rates.
• Rental vs owner-occupied — Landlords often choose budget paint and walls-only scopes to minimise turnover costs. Owner-occupiers want ceilings, trim, and premium paint included.

Here's how a typical standalone 1-bedroom granny flat repaint breaks down:

Interior (50 m² floor area, ~110 m² paintable wall and ceiling area)

Exterior (single-storey, ~80 m² cladding area)

Combined total: $4,600–$8,300 for a single-storey 1-bed granny flat in reasonable condition. Units requiring significant prep or with limited access will sit at the upper end.

Not all 1-bedroom units are the same. Here's how the common types compare:

• Studio apartment — The simplest job. Open-plan layout means fewer walls to cut in and fewer doors. Interior-only repaints often run $2,000–$3,500. Exterior is usually handled by the building's body corporate.
• Granny flat / sleepout — Standalone structure, single-storey with its own exterior. Full repaint runs $4,500–$8,500. Older timber granny flats with weatherboard cladding need more exterior prep.
• 1-bed flat in a block — Interior only is most common ($2,000–$4,500). Exterior handled by body corporate. Interior condition depends on tenant history — rental flats often need more prep.
• 1-bed townhouse — Two-storey layouts add stairwell painting and potentially scaffold hire ($1,200–$2,500). Full repaint runs $6,000–$12,000 depending on height and condition.

For larger homes, see our 2-bedroom house painting costs or 3-bedroom house painting costs.

• Master Painters New Zealand — Trade standards and professional guidelines.
• Resene — Paint product ranges, coverage rates, and specifications.
• Dulux — Paint product ranges and application guides.