How to Invoice as a Painter in Australia

By Dan Reeve — Working handyman and founder of SMASH Invoices. Built SMASH after losing $1,200 in uninvoiced jobs in a single year. He still takes on handyman work and uses SMASH on every job. About Dan →

To invoice as a painter in Australia, your tax invoice must include your ABN, business name, a full breakdown of labour hours and paint costs by area, all consumable materials used, and GST if registered. Painters lose more on uncharged materials than any other trade, an estimated $120–$180 per week in undercoat, rollers, tape, sandpaper, and drop sheets. That's $6,240–$9,360 per year silently absorbed into job rates.

The painter's hidden materials problem

Every painter knows the feeling. You quote a job. You price the topcoat. You start work and suddenly you need undercoat too, because the previous colour was dark. Or the customer wanted two colours, not one. Or the weatherboards were in worse shape than they looked.

But even on the straightforward jobs, the materials list is longer than most painters invoice for:

• Undercoat: $45–$70 per interior room
• Roller covers: $4–$8 each (you go through 2–3 per room)
• Roller frame: wears out, consumable cost
• Masking tape: $8–$12 per roll, 1–3 rolls per room
• Drop sheets: cleaning costs money or they get thrown
• Sugar soap: $12–$18 per litre
• Sandpaper: $15–$25 per room in pads and rolls
• Filler: $12–$20 for wall prep
• Brush cleaner/mineral turps: $8–$15 per job

That's $120–$175 in consumables for a standard interior room repaint, before the topcoat.

Most painters charge for the topcoat and labour. The rest disappears.

"I worked out that every interior job I was absorbing about $140 in prep materials — undercoat, tape, roller covers, all of it. I was pricing jobs to compete and wondering why I had no margin. Wasn't my pricing. Was my invoicing." — Brett H., Painter, Brisbane QLD [PLACEHOLDER]

What a painter's invoice must include

• Business name and ABN
• Invoice number and date
• Customer name and address
• Labour: specify the area painted (not just "labour") — room by room or per square metre
• Paint product: brand, colour, litres used, and cost
• Prep materials: undercoat, filler, sandpaper — each as a separate line
• Application consumables: roller covers, tape, drop sheets
• GST if registered
• Payment terms

The most common dispute on painter invoices is "I didn't know paint was extra." If your quote said "supply and apply" without specifying the paint product cost, customers assume paint is included in the labour rate. Always quote paint and materials separately from labour.

A correctly itemised painting invoice

Without proper materials itemisation, that job gets invoiced at $600–$700 labour and "materials included." The correctly invoiced total is $1,023. The difference is $323, gone, on one job.

How to invoice a painting job on-site

You're cleaning the brushes. Speak into your phone:

"Interior repaint lounge and dining. Eight hours labour. Two litres Dulux Wash and Wear low sheen, one litre ceiling white, one litre undercoat, four roller covers, three rolls masking tape, sandpaper pack, sugar soap, filler."

Invoice built. Every item. Your labour rate. Your material costs from the catalogue. Sent to the customer while you're rinsing out the tray.

Your hands know exactly what they're doing. Until the invoicing starts. SMASH fixes the second part.

📱 Watch: Painter invoices a job before cleaning up Brush down. Phone up. Invoice sent before the water runs clear. Watch on Instagram →

Frequently asked questions

Do painters in Australia need to charge GST? Only if annual turnover exceeds $75,000. Below this threshold, GST registration is optional. If you're registered, your invoice must clearly show GST as a separate amount and be labelled "Tax Invoice." Many residential painters are below the threshold, particularly those doing part-time or seasonal work.

How should painters quote for materials in Australia? Best practice is to quote materials separately from labour, paint by product and litres, consumables as a grouped line or individually. Separate quoting prevents "materials included" disputes and lets you recoup actual costs accurately. A 15–20% markup on materials is standard for sourcing, storage, and carrying cost.

What is the difference between a painting quote and a painting invoice? A quote is sent before work begins and states the expected cost. A customer approves the quote. An invoice is sent after work is completed and matches the approved quote. Discrepancies between quote and invoice are the most common cause of payment disputes. Getting digital approval before starting eliminates this entirely.

How do painters charge for undercoat in Australia? Undercoat should appear as a separate line item with the product name and litres used. It is a real cost specific to each job, not a standard inclusion that disappears into the labour rate. Most painters charge undercoat at supplier cost plus 15–20% markup.

What invoicing app is best for painters in Australia? The best invoicing app for painters is one that handles multi-line material invoicing on-site without requiring desk time. SMASH Invoices allows painters to describe a job by voice — including paint products, prep materials, and labour — and generates a priced, GST-compliant invoice automatically. The 2,250-item materials catalogue includes common paint brands and consumables.

Your hands know exactly what they're doing. Until the invoicing starts. Start Free →

Internal links: How much are service workers losing on materials? · What is miscellaneous costing you? · The real cost of Sunday night invoicing