How much does fence painting cost in Melbourne?

By Pete Kendall, registered building practitioner CDB-U 67771 · Updated 2 November 2026

How fence painting is priced

Painters price the area they coat, not just the length of the fence. A 20 metre fence that is 1.8m high has about 36 square metres on each face, so both sides is roughly 72 square metres. That is why "one side or both" is the first question on any fence painting quote.

• Prep. The biggest driver. A new or clean fence needs little work; a weathered fence with flaking paint, mould or loose palings needs washing, scraping and sanding first.
• Coating. Paint, solid stain and oil are priced differently, and the number of coats changes the time.
• Method. Spray application is faster on rough sawn palings than a brush, but needs masking and calm weather, and plants and paving beside the fence need covering.
• Access. Garden beds, sheds and tight side paths along the fence slow everything down.
• Old coatings. Very old paint can contain lead, and old sheet fences can be fibro (asbestos cement). Both need special handling and are priced separately.

Published 2026 ranges

Market ranges from published third-party guides (The Quote Yard's figures are New South Wales based), not Expanse Fencing prices. Minimum job charges of a few hundred dollars are common.

Worked examples (market ranges)

These use the published per square metre ranges to show the order of magnitude for a 1.8m timber paling fence. Heavy prep, lead paint or difficult access are extra.

Painting a brand new timber fence: how long to wait

New treated pine palings are often still damp from treatment when they go up, and a coating applied too early can peel or blotch. We let a new paling fence weather for about 6 to 8 weeks before it is painted or stained, and the coating maker's data sheet has the final say on timing and dry weather. If you want the fence coloured from the start, ask about painting as part of the fence quote so it is booked in once the timber is ready. Our guide on how to paint a timber fence that lasts covers prep and products.

What about the neighbour's side?

The Fences Act 1968 (Vic) covers building and repairing a dividing fence, and painting your own side is your choice and your cost. Painting the neighbour's side is a conversation: ask first, agree the colour in writing, and agree who pays. Many neighbours split the cost of both sides when the fence is new. Never paint over the boundary without permission, even if the fence is shared. Our guide on who pays for a dividing fence covers the cost split for the fence itself.

Paint, stain or leave it natural?

• Natural. Treated pine weathers to a silver grey and costs nothing to maintain, which suits many gardens.
• Stain or oil. Soaks into rough sawn palings and shows the grain. Easier to recoat, because it wears rather than peels.
• Paint. A solid colour (dark charcoal and black are popular) that hides the timber. Looks sharp, but recoating means more prep when it starts to flake.

Colorbond steel fences are factory coated and only need repainting if they are scratched or very old; see our Colorbond vs timber guide.

Fence painting across south east Melbourne

We paint new timber fences we build, and existing fences through Expanse Home Maintenance, across Heatherton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Moorabbin, Highett, Dingley Village, Bentleigh East, Brighton, Sandringham, Mordialloc. Painting is quoted with the same free on-site measure as a fence.

Common questions

How much does it cost to paint a fence in Melbourne?

Published 2026 guides put fence painting at about $8 to $35 per square metre of fence face depending on prep and coating, or about $25 to $60 per metre of fence for both sides. A 20 metre, 1.8m fence painted on one side is often a few hundred dollars to around $1,200. These are market ranges, not our prices.

Is fence painting priced per metre or per square metre?

Most painters work from the area, in square metres, because height matters as much as length. Some quote per metre of fence for a standard 1.8m height. Always check whether the figure is for one side or both.

How long should a new treated pine fence weather before painting?

We let a new paling fence weather for about 6 to 8 weeks before painting or staining, so the timber can dry. The coating maker's data sheet has the final say on timing.

Can I paint my side of a shared fence?

Yes, your side is your choice. Painting the neighbour's side needs their permission, and it is worth agreeing the colour and who pays in writing first.

Is staining cheaper than painting?

Published ranges are similar, about $8 to $20 per square metre for paint and $10 to $25 for stain or oil. Stain is often cheaper over time because it wears rather than peels, so recoating needs less prep.

Do you paint fences you did not build?

Yes, through Expanse Home Maintenance, for existing timber fences in good structural condition. We do not take on repair-only work, so a fence that is leaning or rotten is better replaced first.

General information only, current at November 2026. Price ranges are from the published third-party guides named above and change over time; they are not Expanse Fencing prices. Sources: The Quote Yard (fence painting cost guide, June 2026); Airtasker (fence painting cost, checked November 2026); Fences Act 1968 (Vic).