TRADE RATES INDEX
Trade rates in Australia and New Zealand, 2026 Last updated 30 September 2026
This index lists 90 price figures across 8 trades in Australia and New Zealand. They are compiled from 58 distinct source citations, each named beside its figure, plus 12 figures that are Insta Quotes estimates and are labelled that way. It is a guide for sanity-checking your own pricing, not a quote.
How this index is built Every row comes from the “Typical rates” table on the matching trade page. Nothing on this page is entered separately, so the index and the trade pages cannot disagree.
Each range is what the source named beside it publishes. The ranges are not drawn from the quotes of Insta Quotes users. Where the source is Insta Quotes itself, the row is marked “Insta Quotes estimate” and should be read as our own guide figure rather than as third-party data.
Rates vary with city, site access, job scope and materials, and some sources do not say whether GST is included. Where a source states that, its source text says so. Use these figures to check that your own price is in a sensible range, then price the actual job.
Compiled 2026-09-30 from the trade pages. Each figure keeps the date its source gives, where the source gives one; we aim to re-check the figures against their sources each quarter. If you spot an error or a stale figure, please tell us and we will check it against the source.
Australia (AUD) Item Range Source Electrician labour, per hour Sydney/Melbourne $110–$130 · Brisbane/Perth $95–$115 · Adelaide/Hobart $90–$110 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimatePower point or light point, installed $80–$150 per point Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateSwitchboard upgrade $800–$2,500 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateRewire, 3-bedroom house $7,000–$10,000 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateLED downlight 90mm 10W (materials, trade cost) $22 each + 0.4 hr labour Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes default rate card, Sep 2026Double GPO (materials, trade cost) $5 each + 0.5 hr labour Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes default rate card, Sep 2026
Item Range Source Plumber labour, per hour Platform average $120.64/hr (2026); some plumbers also charge a separate call-out fee ServiceSeeking plumber price guide, Feb 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Plumber labour, per hour (older cross-check) "Around $80–$100 an hour" Airtasker plumber cost guide, Mar 2024 (estimate) Kitchen mixer tap install, labour only $150–$280 plus the tap (NSW) The Quote Yard NSW tap guide (lead-generation site, estimate) Toilet suite, close-coupled, supplied and fitted $600–$1,200 (NSW) The Quote Yard NSW toilet guide (lead-generation site, estimate) Gas storage hot water system, supplied and installed $1,600–$2,800; removal of the old unit $150–$400 extra (NSW) The Quote Yard NSW hot water guide (lead-generation site, estimate) Separate call-out charge $80–$150 charged by some Sydney plumbers The Quote Yard NSW tap guide (estimate)
Item Range Source Bathroom renovation company labour, per hour Platform average $94.11/hr; minimum $25/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking bathroom renovation guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Bathroom renovation, day rate Platform average $577.80/day; minimum $150/day (2026) ServiceSeeking bathroom renovation guide 2026 (estimate) Demolition labour, per hour Platform average $99.63/hr; minimum $60/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking demolition guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate) Demolition, per m² Platform average $76.16/m² (2026) ServiceSeeking demolition guide 2026 (estimate) Builder labour, per hour "$50/hr – $100/hr" ServiceSeeking builders page (marketplace headline, estimate) Award minimum, CW3 tradesperson (an employee wage, not a charge-out rate) Residential weekly hire $31.12–$31.95/hr depending on trade (from 1 Jul 2026) Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000020
Item Range Source Carpenter labour, per hour Platform average $85.42/hr; minimum $35/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking carpenter prices 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Carpenter day rate Platform average $617.37/day; minimum $300/day (2026) ServiceSeeking carpenter prices 2026 (estimate) Deck, labour per m² by state WA $170–$180 · QLD $180–$190 · VIC $185–$200 · NSW $200–$210 Airtasker deck cost guide, Apr 2025 (estimate) Deck installed, total job Low $3,600 · median $7,550 · high $11,500; decks over 50 m² $5,900–$11,500 Airtasker deck cost guide, Apr 2025 (estimate) Deck construction, pool-surround context $160–$220 per m² Canstar Blue, Oct 2021 (estimate, older) Award minimum, CW3 carpenter (an employee wage, not a charge-out rate) Residential, weekly hire $31.95/hr; daily hire $32.96/hr (from 1 Jul 2026) Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000020
Item Range Source Concrete driveway or path, per m² Platform average $97/m²; minimum $20/m² (published Jun 2026) ServiceSeeking concrete driveway and path guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Concrete slab, per m² Platform average $103/m²; minimum $20/m² (2026) ServiceSeeking concrete slab guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate) Concreter labour, per hour Platform average $87/hr; minimum $40/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking concrete slab guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate) Concrete slab, average total job About $2,834 (2026) ServiceSeeking concrete slab guide 2026 (estimate) Driveway and path jobs, average total $8,194 (2024 data) ServiceSeeking concreting costs, Jul 2024 (estimate, older)
Item Range Source Earthworks contractor, per hour $50–$110 typical; platform average $107.46/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Earthworks contractor, per day Platform average $981.55/day (2026) ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) Earthworks priced by area Platform average $62.89/m²; minimum $25/m² (2026) ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) Trenching and linear work Platform average $70 per metre (2026) ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (estimate) Excavator hire, per hour (older) Platform average $99.87/hr; range $66–$165/hr (2024) ServiceSeeking earth moving and excavation costs, Jul 2024 (estimate, older)
Item Range Source Fibreglass in-ground pool, installed $25,000–$75,000 Airtasker pool installation guide, Nov 2023 (estimate) Fibreglass in-ground pool, installed (cross-check) Entry level $25,000–$35,000, up to $50,000+ Canstar Blue pool building costs, Oct 2021 (estimate, older) Pool fencing, per linear metre Semi-frameless glass $200–$275 · frameless glass $275–$600 Canstar Blue pool building costs, 2021 (estimate, older) Pool installer labour, per hour "From $70/hr" ServiceSeeking pool construction page (marketplace headline, estimate) Earthworks and excavation labour, for the pool dig Platform average $107.46/hr (2026) ServiceSeeking earthworks guide 2026 (marketplace average, estimate)
Item Range Source Blinds and shutters installed, per m² Platform average $114.69/m²; minimum $30/m² (published Sep 2026) ServiceSeeking blinds and shutter installer prices (marketplace average, estimate; GST not stated) Blinds job, average total About $719 per job (2026) ServiceSeeking blinds and shutter installer prices (estimate) Roller blind installation, per blind (labour) $40–$150 Airtasker curtain and blind fitting guide, Jun 2024 (estimate) Fitter hourly rate by city Sydney $50 · Melbourne $40 · Brisbane $55 · Adelaide $60 · Perth $44.50 (2024) Airtasker curtain and blind fitting guide, Jun 2024 (estimate)
New Zealand (NZD) Item Range Source Electrician labour, per hour Auckland NZ$95–$120 · Wellington NZ$90–$115 · Christchurch NZ$85–$110 · Regional NZ$80–$105 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimatePower point or light point, installed NZ$120–$200 per point Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateSwitchboard upgrade NZ$1,000–$3,000 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateRewire, 3-bedroom house NZ$10,000–$15,000 Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes 2026 guide estimateLED downlight 90mm 10W (materials, trade cost) NZ$30 each + 0.4 hr labour Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes default rate card, Sep 2026Double socket outlet (materials, trade cost) NZ$13 each + 0.5 hr labour Insta Quotes estimate. Insta Quotes default rate card, Sep 2026
Item Range Source Digger and operator, per hour (general) NZ$90–$150 Builder Connect NZ, earthworks pricing Auckland (general market estimate; GST not stated) Digger and operator, per hour (conflicting source) NZ$185–$230 for excavation and earthworks, ex GST; the machine and crew are not stated TradieTools NZ 2026 rates (directory estimate) Machine hire by size, per hour Mini digger NZ$70–$100 · standard digger NZ$100–$150 · large excavator NZ$150–$200 Builder Connect NZ, digger and operator hire rates (estimate; GST not stated) Bulk excavation with cartage, per m³ NZ$80–$130 (detailed excavation NZ$110–$180) Builder Connect NZ, earthworks pricing Auckland (estimate; GST not stated) Driveway excavation, whole job NZ$3,000–$12,000 (pool excavation NZ$5,000–$15,000) Reliable Earthworks, Auckland, Jun 2026 (one business's estimate; GST not stated)
Item Range Source Builder / LBP labour, per hour NZ$81–$114 national average (Auckland NZ$90–$130, Invercargill NZ$70–$100); labour only, ex GST TradieTools NZ 2026 rates (directory estimate) Builder labour, per hour (cross-check) NZ$65–$110 plus GST Unicorns NZ builder cost guide, 2026 (directory estimate) Builder labour by region Auckland NZ$80–$125+ · Wellington NZ$75–$115 · Christchurch NZ$70–$105 · Queenstown NZ$85–$130 Made 4 Tradies builder hourly rate 2026 (estimate; GST not stated) Non-load-bearing partition removal NZ$1,500–$4,000 Add Value Renovations, Auckland, Jun 2026 (one business's estimate; GST not stated) Load-bearing wall with timber or LVL beam, including consent NZ$8,000–$18,000 Add Value Renovations, Auckland, Jun 2026 (one business's estimate; GST not stated) Load-bearing wall with steel beam or two-storey load NZ$15,000–$30,000+ Add Value Renovations, Auckland, Jun 2026 (one business's estimate; GST not stated)
Item Range Source Plumber labour, per hour NZ$90–$127 national average (Auckland NZ$120–$160, Invercargill NZ$78–$105); labour only, ex GST TradieTools NZ 2026 rates (directory estimate) Plumber labour, per hour (cross-check) NZ$95–$150 Unicorns NZ plumber cost guide, Apr 2026 (directory estimate; GST not stated) Call-out fee, standard hours NZ$75–$120 (Hey Jodie puts it at about NZ$70–$130) Unicorns NZ, Apr 2026; Hey Jodie, Jun 2026 (estimates; GST not stated) Kitchen mixer tap replacement, labour NZ$180–$350 plus the tap Unicorns NZ plumber cost guide, Apr 2026 (estimate; GST not stated) Basic kitchen tap replacement, fully installed "On average, under $250" Archer Plumbing, Auckland (one business's figure; GST not stated) Toilet replacement, close-coupled, supplied and installed NZ$400–$1,500 (labour portion NZ$300–$500) Superior Property Services, Auckland, Aug 2026 (estimate; GST not explicit)
Item Range Source Carpenter labour, per hour NZ$77–$107 national average (Auckland NZ$95–$130); labour only, ex GST TradieTools NZ 2026 rates (directory estimate) New deck, all-in per m² Typical NZ$600/m²; mid-range NZ$500–$900/m² (Auckland NZ$690, Wellington NZ$630, Christchurch NZ$600) CheckMyBuilder deck cost, Jul 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Treated pine deck, per m² NZ$300–$500 CheckMyBuilder deck cost, Jul 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Hardwood deck (kwila, vitex), per m² NZ$800–$1,300 CheckMyBuilder deck cost, Jul 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Composite deck, per m² NZ$1,000–$1,500+ CheckMyBuilder deck cost, Jul 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Deck, labour and materials per m² (cross-check) NZ$350–$700 Unicorns NZ builder cost guide, 2026 (directory estimate; GST not stated)
Item Range Source Concreter labour, per hour NZ$65–$95, upper end in Auckland and Queenstown; labour only Made 4 Tradies concreter hourly rate, Sep 2026 (estimate; GST not stated) Plain concrete driveway, per m² NZ$120–$180 CheckMyBuilder concrete driveway cost, May 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Plain broomed driveway, per m², by city Auckland NZ$95–$120 · Wellington NZ$90–$115 · Christchurch NZ$85–$110 (supply and lay) Made 4 Tradies concreter hourly rate, Sep 2026 (estimate; GST not stated) Coloured or textured driveway, per m² NZ$150–$220 CheckMyBuilder concrete driveway cost, May 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Exposed aggregate driveway, per m² NZ$180–$280 (Made 4 Tradies puts Auckland at NZ$130–$180+) CheckMyBuilder, May 2026; Made 4 Tradies, Sep 2026 (estimates) Stencil or stamped driveway, per m² NZ$200–$300 CheckMyBuilder concrete driveway cost, May 2026 (estimate, ex GST)
Item Range Source Fibreglass pool, 8 m × 4 m standard, installed NZ$35,000–$60,000 on a straightforward site CheckMyBuilder swimming pool cost, Jun 2026 (estimate, ex GST) Fibreglass pool, 4 m × 8 m with basic fence, Auckland NZ$40,250–$69,000, including shell, excavation, filtration, fencing and basic surrounds TradieTools NZ pool installation, 2026 (estimate, incl GST; the row above plus 15% GST) Fibreglass pool, complete package, entry level NZ$75,000–$95,000 (full range NZ$75,000–$150,000+), including fencing, consent, equipment and surrounds Ultimate Pools, Auckland, Jun 2026 (an installer's own guide; GST not stated) Pool barrier fencing, add-on NZ$5,000–$25,000 (aluminium NZ$8,000–$12,000; glass NZ$15,000–$40,000) CheckMyBuilder, Jun 2026; Ultimate Pools, Jun 2026 (estimates) Council consent fees, pool NZ$1,500–$3,000 Ultimate Pools, Auckland, Jun 2026 (installer's estimate) Heat pump, add-on NZ$5,000–$12,000 Ultimate Pools, Auckland, Jun 2026 (installer's estimate)
Item Range Source Sunscreen or light-filtering roller blind, supplied and installed, per window About NZ$150–$350 Kauri Blinds & Curtains, Auckland, Jun 2026 (retailer estimate; GST not stated) Blockout roller blind, supplied and installed, per window About NZ$200–$400 Kauri Blinds & Curtains, Auckland, Jun 2026 (retailer estimate; GST not stated) Roller blind supply and install, per window NZ$150–$400, incl GST TradieTools NZ curtain and blind installation cost, Jun 2026 (estimate) Installation only, customer-supplied blind, per window NZ$60–$150, incl GST TradieTools NZ curtain and blind installation cost, Jun 2026 (estimate) Motorisation, added per blind About NZ$150–$400 Kauri Blinds & Curtains, Auckland, Jun 2026 (retailer estimate) Whole house, 10–15 windows NZ$3,000–$8,000 (TradieTools NZ puts a 3-bedroom house at NZ$3,000–$9,000) Kauri Blinds & Curtains, Jun 2026; TradieTools NZ, Jun 2026 (estimates)
Download the data The full table is available as a CSV with one row per figure: market, trade, item, range, source and source type.
Download trade-rates-2026.csv
Cite this index Insta Quotes. "Trade rates in Australia and New Zealand, 2026". https://instaquotes.com.au/trade-rates-2026 (last updated 30 September 2026).