Everything you need to know — from verifying licences to comparing quotes — before you hand over a single dollar to a tradesperson.
A tradie — short for tradesperson — is a skilled worker who carries out manual or technical work in a specific trade. In Australia the term covers a wide range of occupations: plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, tilers, roofers, gas fitters, concreters, landscapers, builders, air conditioning technicians, pest control operators, plasterers, glaziers and many more.
Many trades are licensed and regulated by state law. This means the individual or business must hold a current licence issued by a state authority before they can legally carry out that work. Electricians, plumbers, gas fitters and builders are the most common regulated trades, but the full list varies by jurisdiction. Unlicensed trade work is illegal, may be uninsurable, and can result in defective or dangerous outcomes.
Many other trades — cleaning, gardening, removalists, handyman work — are not licensed by law but may be subject to accreditation. For these, reviews, ABN checks and insurance verification become your primary quality signals.
Finding a tradie is easy. Finding a verified tradie — one you can trust with your home and your money — requires a few extra steps:
Trade licensing is state-based in Australia. Here is where to verify a licence in each jurisdiction:
Tradie costs vary by trade, scope, location and time of year. The ranges below are indicative for metropolitan Australia in 2026. Always get at least two or three written quotes before committing.
| Trade | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $120–$200 per hour (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Electrician | $100–$185 per hour (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Builder / Renovator | $80–$150 per hour or fixed-price contract (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Painter (interior) | $35–$60 per m² walls, $25–$40 per m² ceilings (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Cleaner | $35–$60 per hour; end-of-lease $350–$700 fixed (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Landscaper | $50–$100 per hour; full backyard designs from $5,000 (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Roofer | $50–$100 per m² for re-roofing; repairs from $250 (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
| Removalist | $120–$200 per hour (2-person team); interstate from $2,000 (2026) Cost guide · Check suburb price |
Ranges are indicative for capital-city metropolitan areas in 2026. Regional and rural rates and job complexity vary. Always confirm in a written quote.
Prices vary by suburb
Metro averages don't tell the full story. Get a personalised estimate based on your specific suburb and job type.
Want suburb-level prices right now? Search tradie costs by suburb — browse Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more, or type your suburb to see how local rates compare to the metro average.
Before you accept a quote, sign a contract or pay a deposit, run through these seven checks. They mirror the verification flow TaskerAsker applies to every provider on the platform:
TaskerAsker is an Australian marketplace that connects homeowners with verified local tradies. Here is how a typical hire works:
USP: TaskerAsker is free for customers. Tradies pay a small pay-per-lead fee only when they choose to quote — there are no monthly subscription fees, so you receive quotes from motivated tradies who want your job. Post a task free or read how TaskerAsker works for more detail.
Yes — for regulated trades (plumbers, electricians, gas fitters, builders, roofers and others) in every Australian state and territory, working without the correct licence is illegal. You can look up licences directly on the regulator's website: NSW Fair Trading, VBA in Victoria, QBCC in Queensland, WA Building Commission, CBS in South Australia, CBOS in Tasmania, Access Canberra, or the NT Building Practitioners Board. On TaskerAsker, verified providers display their licence number on their profile.
An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Register. Any legitimate tradie operating as a business must have one. You can verify any ABN for free at abn.business.gov.au — confirm it is active, the entity name matches the trading name, and GST registration is current. An ABN does not replace a trade licence, but the absence of an active ABN is a red flag.
For regulated residential building work, most states cap the deposit at 10% of the contract price (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS). For smaller trade jobs outside the building-contract threshold — for example a plumbing repair or a paint job — there is no statutory cap, but asking for more than 20–30% up front before any work starts is unusual and worth questioning. Never pay 100% in advance.
A proper written quote should include: the tradie's full business name and ABN; a description of the work to be done (scope); the materials to be used; the total price (GST-inclusive); start and completion dates; payment milestones; a workmanship warranty period; and the process for authorising variations. A single-line quote is too vague to be useful or enforceable.
Start by raising the issue in writing with the tradie directly — many disputes resolve at this step. If that fails, open a formal complaint through TaskerAsker's resolution team (one-business-day response). For unresolved matters you can escalate to your state's consumer protection body: NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, QBCC in Queensland, Consumer Protection WA, CBS in South Australia, CBOS in Tasmania, Access Canberra, or NT Consumer Affairs. For licensed trade defects, the relevant licensing authority also accepts complaints.
Yes. Posting a job, receiving quotes, reading tradie profiles and comparing prices is completely free for homeowners and renters. You only pay the tradie you choose to hire. TaskerAsker earns revenue from a pay-per-lead fee charged to tradies when they choose to quote — there are no monthly subscription fees, so you receive quotes from motivated tradies who want the work.
See also: how we verify Australian tradies, the Trust Centre, the Safety Centre, all cost guides, and before-you-hire checklist.