How this estimator works
Every range in this estimator comes from the same 2026 price bands we publish in our house painting cost guide — built from real quotes in the Western Cape, specifically Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Durbanville. Here's what happens behind the button:
- The job type sets the base band — a per-room labour rate for interiors, or a whole-house band for full repaints, exteriors and roofs.
- Wall condition positions you inside the band — preparation is the single biggest variable in painting. Clean walls sit in the lower part of the range; peeling or damp-marked walls sit in the upper part, because filling, sealing and damp treatment take real time.
- Paint quality adjusts the materials — a typical quote is roughly 60% labour and 40% materials, so moving from mid-range to premium paint shifts the total by about 10%.
- Access is added where it applies — double-storey exterior work carries a 15–25% premium, and scaffolding should always be a separate line on the quote.
If you only want to know how many litres to buy for a DIY job, use our paint quantity calculator instead — it does the m²-to-litres maths room by room.
What painting a room costs (2026)
Labour-only prices for walls and ceilings, two coats, standard PVA interior paint. Add R600–R1,500 per room for paint depending on the brand — the estimator does this automatically at the tier you choose:
| Room | Typical size | Labour cost (2 coats) |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 10–14 m² | R1,200 – R2,000 |
| Main bedroom | 14–20 m² | R1,800 – R2,800 |
| Living room | 20–30 m² | R2,200 – R3,500 |
| Open-plan living/dining | 30–50 m² | R3,200 – R5,500 |
| Kitchen | 10–18 m² | R1,400 – R2,600 |
| Bathroom | 4–8 m² | R800 – R1,500 |
| Passage / hallway | 6–12 m² | R700 – R1,400 |
| Garage (interior walls) | 30–50 m² | R2,000 – R3,800 |
Whole-house painting costs
Full interior repaint (labour + materials)
| House size | Total cost | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom house / flat | R9,000 – R18,000 | 2–3 days |
| 3-bedroom house | R14,000 – R26,000 | 3–5 days |
| 4-bedroom house | R20,000 – R38,000 | 4–7 days |
| Large estate home (5+ bed) | R35,000 – R65,000+ | 7–14 days |
Full exterior repaint (labour + materials)
| House size | Total cost | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Small townhouse / 2-bed | R10,000 – R18,000 | 2–3 days |
| 3-bedroom house | R16,000 – R30,000 | 3–5 days |
| 4-bedroom house | R24,000 – R45,000 | 4–7 days |
| Large double-storey (5+ bed) | R40,000 – R75,000+ | 7–12 days |
Roof painting costs
Roof painting is its own category — it needs specialist waterproofing paints (Plascon Nuroof, Prominent Roof or equivalent), different application, and carries real height risk. Never accept standard wall paint on a roof. Totals below are for an average 3-bedroom home; the estimator scales them for your house size:
| Roof type | Labour per m² | Total, average 3-bed home |
|---|---|---|
| Flat concrete / screed roof | R40 – R65 | R8,000 – R18,000 |
| Pitched IBR / corrugated iron | R45 – R70 | R10,000 – R22,000 |
| Cement roof tiles | R50 – R80 | R12,000 – R28,000 |
| Fascias and gutters (add-on) | R80 – R150 per lin. m | R3,000 – R8,000 |
What moves a painting quote up or down
- Preparation — the single biggest variable. Filling cracks, patching plaster, sealing damp stains and sanding glossy surfaces is what separates a paint job that lasts 8 years from one that peels in 18 months. Cheap quotes almost always cut here.
- Number of coats — two finish coats is standard. A big colour change (dark to light) or bare new plaster often needs three; each extra coat adds roughly 25–35% to labour.
- Paint quality — budget and premium paint differ by R150–R300 per 5-litre tin, which adds up to R2,000–R5,000 in materials on a full house.
- Access and height — double-storey walls and high gables need scaffolding (R3,000–R8,000 hire) and add 15–25% to exterior labour.
- Woodwork and trims — window frames, skirtings and fascias are priced separately because they need enamel paint and finer prep. If a quote covers "painting the house" without mentioning trims, ask.
Example estimates
Two bedrooms, average walls, mid-range paint
A main bedroom plus a single bedroom: labour R3,000–R4,800 with a 15% prep allowance for filling and sealing, plus about 20 litres of mid-range paint. The estimator lands on roughly R5,000 – R7,500 — one to two days' work.
Full interior of a 3-bedroom house, average condition
The 3-bed interior band is R14,000–R26,000. Average wall condition positions you in the middle of that band: roughly R16,500 – R22,000 over 3–5 days. Freshly plastered new builds price near the bottom; 30-year-old homes with lots of filling price near the top.
Cement-tile roof on a 3-bedroom house, average condition
The tile-roof band is R12,000–R28,000 for a 3-bed home. Some flaking and moss puts you mid-band: roughly R15,000 – R23,000 with a waterproofing primer and UV-resistant top coat. Add R3,000–R8,000 if the fascias and gutters go with it.