How to Quote a Painting Job in NZ

Always visit the property before quoting. During the site visit:

• Measure all surfaces to be painted (walls, ceilings, trim, exterior).
• Note the current condition — peeling, cracking, mould, damage.
• Check access requirements — height, scaffolding, tight spaces.
• Discuss colour choices and paint preferences with the client.
• Take photos for reference when preparing the quote.

For current per-m² rates to use in your calculations, see our painting cost per m² guide.

Estimate paint and materials needed:

• Paint coverage — Budget 1L per 12–14m² per coat on smooth surfaces or 1L per 8–10m² on rough surfaces (coverage rates per Resene technical data).
• Primer — Required for bare surfaces, stained areas, or major colour changes.
• Consumables — Rollers, brushes, tape, drop cloths, filler, sandpaper.
• Add 10% waste factor — Always order slightly more than calculated.

Calculate labour based on production rates:

• Interior walls — An experienced painter covers 30–50m² per hour (rolling, two coats).
• Ceilings — 20–35m² per hour.
• Cutting in — 10–20 linear metres per hour.
• Exterior — 15–30m² per hour (varies with surface and access).
• Preparation — Budget 30–50% of painting time for prep.

Multiply total hours by your hourly rate to get the labour component. For current NZ rate benchmarks, see our full painting cost breakdown.

Don't forget to include:

• Vehicle costs — Fuel, maintenance, insurance.
• Business insurance — Public liability, work vehicle.
• ACC levies — Required for all NZ tradespeople. Master Painters NZ publishes guidelines on business compliance.
• Tools and equipment — Depreciation and replacement.
• Profit margin — Aim for 15–30% after all costs. See our profit margin guide for benchmarks.

Quote = Labour + Materials + Overheads + Profit

• Labour — Time required × your hourly rate. Include prep, painting, and clean-up.
• Materials — Paint, primer, consumables, and any equipment hire.
• Overheads — Travel, admin, insurance, ACC, and day-to-day business costs.
• Profit — Your margin on top of all costs — 20–40% depending on the job.

If you're not explicitly including all four of these, you're likely underquoting. Many painters cover labour and materials but forget to account for overheads — then wonder why the business isn't profitable. Use our painting cost calculator to make sure nothing gets missed.

It's one of the most common problems in the trade — you win the job, do good work, and still barely break even. Here's where most quotes go wrong:

• Not accounting for prep time — Sanding, filling, plastering, and repairs takes as long as the painting itself. If prep isn't in your quote, you're working for free. Our pricing strategy guide covers how to account for prep in your rates.
• Underestimating labour hours — Cutting in, second coats, ceilings, and clean-up always take longer than expected. A 3-day job often stretches to 4.
• Forgetting overhead costs — Fuel, insurance, ACC levies, phone, admin — these add up fast and eat into your margin if they're not built into the quote.
• Not including enough profit — Covering costs isn't the same as making money. If your margin is under 20%, one unexpected delay can wipe out your profit entirely.
• Pricing based on competitors — Matching another painter's price without knowing their cost structure means you might be copying their mistakes. Quote based on your actual costs, not theirs.

Most quoting mistakes come from missing hidden work, not the painting itself. If your quotes feel tight, the issue is usually in what you've left out — not what you've charged. See our real quote example to compare against your own.

Here's what a typical quote looks like for a 3-bedroom house interior repaint:

This ensures all costs are covered and the job remains profitable. If you skip the overheads or cut the margin, that $8,450 job quickly becomes a $6,500 job — and you're working for materials and wages only.

Want to build quotes like this faster? Try our quoting calculator to generate accurate estimates in minutes.