How much does plastering & gyprock cost in Australia?
Hanging and setting plasterboard, ceilings, cornice and patch repairs all price differently. Here's what plastering really costs in 2026, and why there's usually a minimum call-out.
Updated 2026-06-03
Plastering pricing confuses people because the same trade covers very different jobs: hanging and setting fresh plasterboard, finishing ceilings, fitting cornice, and patching damage. Each prices differently, and small repairs carry a minimum that catches people out. This guide gives you honest 2026 rates for each, then shows what moves the number.
All figures are estimates for Australian residential work, GST inclusive.
Plastering cost: the layers
| Work | Typical rate | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Walls (supply, hang & set) | $25-$45/m² | Board, fix, tape, set, ready to paint | | Ceilings (supply, hang & set) | +30-50% on walls | Overhead work, harder to finish | | Cornice (standard cove) | $8-$12/lm | Decorative profiles cost more | | Patch repair (small) | from ~$300 | Minimum call-out applies | | Labour-only set & finish | lower than supply rate | On existing/new board you've supplied |
These bands reflect current Australian guides putting board hang-and-set broadly in the $25-$45/m² range, ceilings higher, and cornice around $8-$12/lm (Trade Heroes, Vista Plastering, Cornice Store).
What actually drives the price
- Walls vs ceilings. Ceilings are slower and harder to finish, which is why they carry a premium. High or raked ceilings need scaffold or props, adding more again.
- Finish level. A standard paint-ready (Level 4) finish is the norm. A premium Level 5 finish, for raking light, gloss paint or large flat walls, needs extra skim coats and sanding, and costs more.
- Ceiling height and access. Tall walls, stairwells and high ceilings slow every step and may need access gear.
- Removal. Stripping old plaster, lath, or damaged board, and disposing of it, is a separate cost before any new board goes up. Old ceilings can also hide asbestos in pre-1990 homes, which must be handled by a licensed remover.
- The minimum call-out. A tiny patch still needs a tradie to travel, set up, and usually return to sand after the set has dried, so small jobs have a floor price regardless of size.
A worked example
Say you're re-sheeting a standard 12 m² bedroom (≈ 40 m² of wall plus a 12 m² ceiling) after removing old, cracked plaster, with new cove cornice.
| Line item | Estimate | | --- | --- | | Remove old plaster + dispose | $700 | | Walls, supply, hang & set (~40 m²) | $1,400 | | Ceiling, supply, hang & set (12 m²) | $650 | | Cornice (~14 lm cove) | $160 | | Total (inc GST) | ≈ $2,900 |
That's a typical room re-sheet. Skip the removal (sheeting a new extension instead) and it drops; add a high ceiling, a premium finish, or a decorative cornice and it climbs. A single small patch in that same room would be a separate ~$300 minimum call-out.
How prices vary across Australia
Plasterboard is roughly the same price nationally, so most of the regional swing is labour, dearer in Sydney and Melbourne, cheaper in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and variable in regional areas with travel. Because plastering is so labour-intensive, that swing is meaningful on a big job.
The bigger variable is the condition of what's already there. A new extension is straightforward to sheet anywhere; an old home with cracked, sagging or water-damaged plaster, possibly over lath, possibly hiding asbestos, costs more to strip and make good in any city. That's why a per-m² average is only a starting point.
How to keep plastering costs sensible
- Bundle small repairs. Three patches in one visit beat three separate call-outs, each carrying the minimum.
- Match the finish to the room. A Level 5 finish is wasted on a textured or low-light wall. Pay for it only where raking light or gloss paint will show flaws.
- Confirm what's hidden before you strip. Knowing whether old material contains asbestos changes the scope and price.
Questions worth asking before you commit
- Is it supply-and-set, or set-only on board I provide? This changes the rate significantly.
- What finish level is quoted? Level 4 (standard) vs Level 5 (premium) is a real cost difference.
- Is removal and disposal of old plaster included? Often a separate line.
- Has asbestos been checked on a pre-1990 ceiling? It must be handled by a licensed remover.
- Is there a minimum call-out for repairs? Expect one, and bundle jobs to spread it.
The cheapest patch quote that skips the proper set-and-sand cycle will telegraph through your paint. Paying for it done properly once is cheaper than redoing it.
Get a tailored number
A per-m² average can't see your ceiling height, your finish level or the old plaster that needs removing. Enter your rooms and scope into Karven's calculator and get an itemised, fixed-price quote in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does plastering cost per m² in Australia?
- For 2026, supplying, hanging and setting plasterboard on walls typically runs $25-$45/m², covering the board, fixing, taping, jointing and a finished surface ready to paint. Labour-only set-and-finish on existing board is cheaper; high walls, complex rooms and premium finishes sit at the top of the band.
- Why do ceilings cost more than walls?
- Ceilings are harder and slower to sheet and set. You're working overhead, the boards need temporary support while they're fixed, and finishing a flat overhead surface is more demanding. As a result ceilings commonly cost 30-50% more per m² than walls, more again for high or raked ceilings that need scaffold or props.
- How much does cornice cost per linear metre?
- Standard cove cornice is commonly $8-$12 per linear metre supplied and fitted. Decorative or large profile cornices, like ornate plaster, deep stepped profiles or period reproductions, cost more, sometimes $15/lm or higher, because the material is dearer and they're slower and fiddlier to fit and finish.
- How much is a small plaster patch repair?
- Because plasterers carry a minimum call-out, a small patch, like a hole, a crack, or water damage to a section of ceiling, usually starts from around $300 even if the patch itself is small. The repair is quick; the travel, set-up and the multiple visits a proper set-and-sand needs are what set the floor price.
- How much to re-sheet a whole room?
- Re-sheeting a room means stripping the old plaster, hanging new board on walls and ceiling, setting, and making good, so it stacks the wall rate, the higher ceiling rate, cornice, and a removal/disposal cost. A standard bedroom commonly runs well into four figures once all of that is included; a wet area or a damaged ceiling costs more.
- How do I get an accurate plastering quote?
- The total depends on wall and ceiling area, the finish level, ceiling height, cornice type, and whether old plaster needs removing first. Use the Karven calculator to enter the rooms and scope and get an itemised, fixed-price quote in minutes instead of guessing from a per-m² average.
Get a real number, not a range
Prices vary by state, access, and spec. Skip the guesswork. Build a tailored, itemised quote in minutes with Karven's trade calculator.
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