How much does Gyprock® installation cost? [2024]

Looking to get some plastering work done in your home? Most Australian homeowners choose Gyprock plasterboard and so it’s common to ask how much Gyprock installation costs.

Several factors can affect the cost of Gyprock installation, from the type of room that needs to be plastered to whether you're using Gyprock for cornices, ceilings and soundproofing. Read this article to get a rough idea about:

• Types of Gyprock
• How much does the Gyprock installation cost?
• Alternatives to Gyprock
• How much do other types of plaster cost?
• What factors affect the cost of Gyprock installation?
• Does my Gyprock installer need to be licensed?
• Getting quotes for Gyprock installation

Types of Gyprock

Gyprock is one of the world's most popular plasterboard products, with a reputation for being durable and high quality. There are many different types of Gyprock available that can suit a variety of needs and areas of the home. Some of the most popular residential gyprock plasterboards are:

• Gyprock Plus – lightweight and strong, Plus is used primarily as wall lining or ceilings with 450mm joist centres. It’s best in areas with low moisture like bedrooms, living rooms and entrance ways.

• Gyprock Supaceil – Supaceil is a ceiling liner designed for strength so that it can span 600mm joist centres and remain strong under heavy insulation. Like the Plus it is best used in rooms with low to no moisture. 
• Gyprock Aquachek – moisture-resistant plasterboard that can be ideal for bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.

• Gyprock sensitive – one of the premium gyprock options, Sensitive is moisture resistant and antifungal to stop mould. It’s a great wall or ceiling liner for moist areas like bathrooms, laundries and kitchens. It’s also a good choice for asthma and allergy sufferers due to its properties. 

• Gyprock Superchek – the strongest and most durable of Gyprocks plasterboard options. Supachek is designed for areas with high traffic or particularly rowdy occupants. It’s great for corridors, hallways, rumpus and games rooms, mud rooms and children’s bedrooms. It can also reduce noise between stories if used in ceilings. 

• Gyprock Soundchek – soundproof plasterboard that can be suitable for bedrooms, living rooms and other areas where noise reduction is wanted.

How much does Gyprock installation cost?

Gyprock installation costs are broken down into materials and labour costs. When you're getting quotes for Gyprock installation, check that these include the cost per square metre for Gyprock and the cost to install Gyprock in your home.

Gyprock plasterboard costs $10 per square metre on average.

• Gyprock Plus costs $5 - $8 per square metre
• Gyprock Supaceil costs $7 - $9 per square metre
• Gyprock Soundchek costs $8–$10 per square metre
• Gyprock Aquachek costs $10–$12 per square metre
• Gyprock Superchek costs $12 - $15 per square metre

The cost of installing Gyprock is not a one size fits all equation. Generally, you can expect to be charged anywhere between $35 per hour and $60 per hour, depending on your location and other factors. Installing cornices will cost more.

Gyprock installation average cost per hour:

• Sydney  - $48
• Melbourne - $45
• Brisbane - $45
• Canberra - $35
• Perth - $50
• Adelaide - $45

Read more: How much does drywall plastering cost?

Alternatives to Gyprock

There are other varieties of plasters out there, some being better suited to specific jobs than others. The main types include:

• Drywall or plasterboard – Gyprock is basically a drywall plaster that is used for lining walls and creating partitions. Gyprock is one of many brands of plasterboard available, so there is always the option to go with another brand, based on its own individual properties. For example, you might want something that is fire-resistant, sustainable or assists with the acoustics in your home.

• Wet plasters – Wet plasters are just that, plasters that are applied wet. They are usually a mixture of lime, gypsum or cement and water.

• Ornamental plaster – Generally used for ornamental aspects in a home, for example, the kinds of ceiling roses and cornices you might see in a grand old Victorian terrace.

How much do other types of plaster cost?

Gyprock costs compare favourably to other types of plasterboard available in Australia. Expect to pay around:

• $20–$70 per square metre for hard plaster installation
• $45–$90 per square metre for wet plaster installation

According to the  Australian Taxation Office (ATO), benchmark costs are:

• $8 to $16 per m2 for plasterboard -- installation only
• $15 to $20 per m2 for plasterboard -- supply and installation
• $4 to $16 per linear metre for cornice installation (mid-range)
• $5 to $10 per linear metre for supply and installation of cornices (mid-range)

All dollar amounts quoted above are GST-inclusive and prices may vary between states and regions.

Read more: How much does plastering cost?

What factors affect the cost of Gyprock installation?

Gyprock installation costs can be influenced by several factors, including:

• Your location (costs vary between regional and city centres)
• The size of the job (one room versus an entire home)
• Whether old plaster needs to be removed and whether the area is hard to access (if your plasterer needs to access a tight space to remove old plaster, this may cost you more)
• Whether you want ceilings installed (ceilings are generally harder to do than walls)
• The style and height of walls and ceilings
• Whether your walls have windows (windows generally take longer for a plasterer to work around)
• Travel time, set-up time and clean-up time

Installing battens, back blocking, wet areas or fire-related materials can add another 10% to 20% to your overall costs.

Does my Gyprock installer need to be licensed?

Whether your Gyprock installer requires a licence depends on where you live, because legislation changes from state to state, so be sure to do your research.

In New South Wales, for example, separate licensing rules exist for dry plastering and wet plastering. While in other states, both dry and wet plastering are the same trade and therefore only require one license. In other states, plastering is covered by a building license.

At the very least, the plasterer you choose should be experienced and qualified to carry out any plastering work on your property.

Getting quotes for Gyprock installation

According to the Australian Tax Office, the average size of a Gyprock installation job in Australia is about 170 square metres. With a 5% difference in supply and installation rates for plasterboard, that can amount to a difference in quotes of nearly $900.

It's worth getting quotes from plasterers if you want to get the best price, and at hipages, we advise you to get at least 3 quotes from local services. Keep in mind that the lowest quote is not always the best quote, as you should choose a licensed and insured service that has a reputation for quality work.

When you speak to plasterers, ask about their experience working in homes like your own, what certifications they have and if they're happy for you to speak to any references so you can make sure you're comfortable with the professional you choose.