How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House in Napier, NZ?
Tim repainting an early 1900’s villa exterior in Napier.
If you’re wondering how much it is to paint a house in NZ, or trying to budget for your place here in Napier — the truth is, it really depends on how much prep work your home needs.
At Bay Decorating, most of the time we spend on a job isn’t actually painting at all. Around 70% of the work is in the prep — sanding, scraping, filling, priming, and gapping. The other 30% is the fun part: putting on those fresh topcoats.
So let’s break down what really affects the price of painting a house and what you can expect to pay around Napier and Hawke’s Bay.
The Short Answer — It Depends on Prep Work
Prep work is the big one.
If your house was painted 30 years ago and is starting to flake, that’s a completely different job from a place that had a fresh coat 10 years back.
To give you a rough guide, here’s what we usually see for an average 140 m² single-storey home with easy access:
Average House-Painting Costs in Napier
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range (excl. GST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Repainting a 1990s–Present Weatherboard House | $10,000 – $14,000 | Includes sanding, priming, filling, and two topcoats on a single-storey home with easy access. |
| Repainting a 1900s–1980s Villa | $15,000 – $18,000 | Older features and sash windows mean more prep and detail work before painting. |
| Repainting a House Interior | $8,000 – $14,000 | Walls, ceilings, and trims; varies by number of rooms, height, and paint quality. |
| Roof Repaint | $4,000 – $7,000 | Depends on roof type (corrugate or coloursteel) and whether rust treatment or primer is needed. |
These are realistic Napier and Hawke’s Bay prices, but they can change if scaffolding is needed or if the paint system requires extra coats.
If you’re comparing how much to paint a house NZ-wide, Napier sits roughly in the middle — the cost of living and house sizes here are a bit lower than big-city averages, but prep still makes or breaks the quote.
What Really Affects the Price
1. The Prep Work
““Prep is where most of the cost comes in,” says Nicole from Bay Decorating. “If it’s been 30 years since the last paint job, that’s a very different story from 10.””
If your paintwork is still sound and just needs a light sand and topcoat, that’s the best-case scenario. But if the old paint is starting to fail or flake, it’s a completely different process.
If more than 40% of the old paint is flaking, we call that system compromised and it’s usually best to strip the surface right back to timber. Otherwise, even new paint will start to peel
For this, Bay Decorating use a specialist Paint Shaver Pro tool to remove old paint efficiently and safely — but the job doesn’t end there. Once stripped, the boards still need to be fully sanded, filled, and primed to smooth the surface before repainting.
That extra prep time is where the labour hours add up, but it’s also what ensures the new paint system lasts 10 years or more.
2. Lead Paint and Safety
For older homes, lead paint is another factor that can affect cost.
“You can’t sand over lead paint — it has to be removed first,” explains Nicole.
In these cases, the paint must be chemically stripped or scraped off using our paint shaver pro tool before any sanding or priming can begin. This process takes longer and requires extra care and disposal measures to keep everyone safe.
Lead paint removal can add $6,000–$7,000 to a full exterior repaint, depending on how much of the home’s surface is affected.
3. The Size and Access
The bigger the house, the longer it takes — but access is often the real variable. Homes on tight sections, steep sites, or multiple levels may need scaffolding or specialist ladders.
Coastal homes around Napier Hill or Napier South etc. also need extra attention to rust treatment, especially on roofs and fittings, because of the salt air.
4. The Paint You Choose
The brand and quality of paint do make a difference, but they’re actually a smaller part of the total cost — usually around $1,200 for an exterior or $2,000 for an interior.
Bay Decorating almost always use Resene because it’s made for NZ conditions.
““Resene is a bit pricier up front,” Nicole says, “but it lasts. They keep winning Consumer Choice awards, and there’s a reason for that.””
Cheaper paints can look fine on day one, but they usually won’t stand up as well to our climate. Paying a little more for a proven system typically means fewer repaints and better value over time.
Real Local Examples
A Standard Weatherboard Home
A tidy 1990s weatherboard house of around 135m2 came in around $12 k for an exterior repaint, including sanding, filling, priming, and two topcoats. A straightforward job done right.
A Character Villa on Kennedy Road
This one was more complex — a 1900s villa that needed chemical stripping and lead-paint removal on the weatherboards and windows.
“It took five days with three staff just to strip the windows,” Nicole says. “You can’t use our Paint Shaver Pro on them, so it all has to be done by hand.”
When full lead paint removal is needed across weatherboards and joinery, it can add around $6,000–$7,000 to the project. This is because lead paint cannot be sanded,
A Modern New Build
A full interior and exterior repaint on a new build in Havelock North cost around $25 k. Even though everything was new, filling nail holes and sanding on the cladding and interior trims takes time too.
How Much Is It to Paint a House Interior?
For interiors, most 3-bedroom homes in Napier sit between $8 k and $14 k depending on ceiling height, number of rooms, and paint type.
Ceilings and trims are usually painted crisp white to frame the space, while walls might need multiple coats if changing from a dark colour.
Paint itself costs roughly $2,000 for a full interior using our trade discounts — a big surface area compared to the exterior.
Nicole’s Advice for Homeowners
If you’re pricing up how much to paint a house — whether interior or exterior — here’s what Nicole suggests:
Be upfront about your budget. Bay Decorating can split the work into smaller stages if needed.
Do a bit of prep yourself. Taking down curtains, rails, and moving furniture into the centre of each room helps a lot.
“Packing in and out can sometimes take up to two hours a day,” Nicole says. “Doing that yourself means more painting time.”
Don’t cut corners on prep or paint. Good prep and quality paint save you thousands over time.
How Often Should You Repaint in Napier?
Most exteriors last 7–10 years, but if you’re near the coast, plan for closer to every 5 years.
The Hawke’s Bay sun is strong, and salt in the air wears paint faster. Using quality Resene products and full prep can double your repaint cycle, meaning better value long term.
Houses closer to the coast like Napier Hill and Napier South cop more salt and moisture, which means rust can appear faster on roofs and fittings. Regular washing and a proper oil-based primer help keep it at bay.
If you’re unsure when your house might be due, check out our guide on
How Often Should You Repaint the Exterior of Your Home in Hawke’s Bay?
for a full breakdown of what signs to look for and how the local climate affects paint life.
Quick FAQs
Q: How much to paint a house NZ-wide?
A: Most full exterior repaints range from $10 k to $18 k + GST, depending on prep and access.
Q: How much is it to paint a house interior?
A: Interiors for 3-bedroom homes usually cost $8 k – $14 k + GST, depending on size, colours, and number of coats.
Q: Why do you prefer Resene over other brands?
A: It’s NZ-made for NZ conditions and has a strong track record — Resene keeps winning Consumer Choice awards. In our experience, it simply lasts longer here in Hawke’s Bay.
Final Thoughts
Every home is different, but one thing’s always true — the better the prep, the better (and longer) the finish.
If you’d like a tailored quote for your place in Napier, Hastings, or Havelock North, give us a call. They’ll take the time to walk you through the options, explain the costs clearly, and make sure you end up with a paint job that lasts.