How to Choose a Painter in Sydney

Written by the Aussie Home Painting team, last updated June 2026

Hiring a painter feels simple, until you are holding five quotes that range from $3,000 to $8,000 for what looks like the same job. The truth is the cheapest quote and the best result are rarely the same thing, and the difference comes down to who you hire far more than what you pay.

A good painting job should last 10 years or more. A poor one can start peeling, cracking or fading within two. Here is a practical checklist for choosing a painter in Sydney you can trust, plus the warning signs worth walking away from.

1. Make sure they are licensed

In NSW, any residential painting work where labour and materials add up to more than $5,000 including GST legally requires a contractor licence from NSW Fair Trading. A licensed painter has met training and insurance requirements, and you have proper recourse if something goes wrong.

Ask for the licence number and check it on the NSW Fair Trading website. A professional will hand it over without hesitation.

2. Confirm they are fully insured

Licensing and insurance are not the same thing. Make sure your painter carries:

• Public liability insurance, which covers accidental damage to your property
• Workers compensation, which covers anyone injured while working on your job

If an uninsured painter damages your home or is hurt on site, you could be left liable. Always ask to see current certificates.

3. Look for industry membership and accreditation

Memberships are not compulsory, but they signal a painter who takes the trade seriously and is held to a standard. Worth looking for:

• HIA (Housing Industry Association) membership
• Master Painters Association (MPA) membership
• Dulux Accredited applicator status

These do not guarantee a perfect job, but they show the business is established and accountable.

4. Get a detailed written quote

A proper quote protects both of you. It should clearly set out:

• Exactly what is included (surfaces, rooms, number of coats)
• The preparation involved
• The paint brand and product
• The timeline
• The total price and payment terms

If a quote is a single figure with no detail, you have no way to compare fairly, or to hold anyone to what was agreed. Wondering what is reasonable? See our guide to house painting costs in Sydney.

5. Ask how they prepare

Most of a paint job’s lifespan is decided before the first coat goes on. Filling, sanding, patching, repairing render and priming are what make a finish last a decade instead of two years.

So ask: what prep is included? A painter who walks you through cleaning, sanding and priming is one who plans to do it. A suspiciously cheap quote almost always means prep is being skipped, and that is exactly the corner that comes back to bite you.

6. Check reviews and recent work

Look at independent reviews. Google reviews are the most telling, because they are hard to fake and reflect real customers. Look for the same things mentioned again and again: communication, tidiness, finish quality and reliability.

Ask to see photos of recent jobs, and do not be shy about asking for a reference. You can read ours on our reviews page.

7. Ask about paint quality and warranty

Cheap paint fades, marks and needs recoating sooner. Premium paints, and we mainly use Dulux, cost a little more up front but cover better and last far longer, which makes them cheaper over the life of the job.

Also ask whether the work comes with a workmanship warranty. A painter who stands behind their finish will happily put it in writing.

8. Pay attention to communication

The way a painter communicates before the job is a preview of the job itself. Do they turn up when they say they will? Do they answer questions clearly? Do they give you a realistic timeline rather than telling you what you want to hear? Clear, honest communication usually means a clean, organised job site too.

Red flags to watch for

Walk away, or at least ask hard questions, if you see:

• No licence number or no insurance certificates
• Cash only, with no written quote or invoice
• A very large deposit demanded up front
• A price dramatically lower than everyone else’s
• No fixed business address, reviews or contactable references

The quick checklist

Before you sign, make sure you can tick:

• Licensed (NSW Fair Trading) and insured
• Detailed written quote
• Clear preparation included
• Quality paint and a workmanship warranty
• Genuine reviews and recent work
• Clear, reliable communication

Frequently asked questions

Do painters in Sydney need a licence?

Yes. In NSW, residential painting work over $5,000 (labour plus materials, including GST) requires a contractor licence from NSW Fair Trading. Always ask for the licence number.

How many quotes should I get?

Two or three is plenty. Compare what is included, such as preparation, coats, paint and warranty, not just the headline price.

Is the cheapest painter usually the best value?

Rarely. In painting, most of the cost is labour and preparation, so the cheapest quote often means prep is being skipped, which costs more when the finish fails early.

What should a painting quote include?

The surfaces and rooms covered, the preparation, the paint brand and number of coats, the timeline, and the total price with payment terms, all in writing.