How Much Does It Cost to Stage a Property in Australia? (2025 Guide) | Airletto

How Much Does It Cost to Stage a Property in Australia? A Comprehensive 2025 Guide for Sellers

Beautifully staged living room showcasing the impact of professional property staging

When preparing to sell your property, one of the most effective strategies to maximize its appeal and sale price is professional home staging. This naturally leads to the crucial question: “How much does it cost to stage a property?” While the desire for a quick, profitable sale is universal among vendors, understanding the investment required for staging is key to making an informed decision. The cost of property staging isn’t a one-size-fits-all figure; it varies based on numerous factors, from the size of your home to the scope of staging required.

This comprehensive 2025 guide will delve into the various elements that influence property staging costs in Australia, provide average price ranges, and explore why professional staging is often considered a high-return investment rather than a mere expense. Whether you’re in Sydney, Melbourne, or elsewhere in Australia, understanding these financial aspects will help you budget effectively and harness the power of staging to achieve your property selling goals with services like those offered by Airletto.

What Exactly is Property Staging and Why Invest?

Before we break down the cost of home staging, let’s clarify what it involves. Property staging is the art and science of preparing a home for sale to appeal to the widest possible audience of potential buyers. It’s much more than just decluttering or tidying up. Professional stagers strategically arrange furniture, decor, artwork, lighting, and accessories to highlight a property’s best features, create an inviting atmosphere, and help buyers emotionally connect with the space.

Key objectives of property staging include:

Depersonalisation: Removing personal items so buyers can envision themselves living there.
Maximising Space: Arranging furniture to make rooms feel larger and flow better.
Highlighting Features: Drawing attention to architectural details, views, or unique selling points.
Creating a Mood: Establishing an aspirational lifestyle that appeals to target buyers.
Improving Online Appeal: Ensuring the property photographs beautifully for online listings, which is where most buyers start their search.

Investing in professional staging is not just about making your home look pretty; it’s a strategic marketing tool with tangible benefits:

Faster Sale: Staged homes often sell significantly faster than non-staged homes. This means fewer open houses and less time on the market.
Higher Sale Price: Industry statistics consistently show that staged properties can fetch a higher sale price, often ranging from 5% to 20% more than comparable unstaged homes. As detailed in our insights on how Sydney staging furniture can boost home value, the impact can be substantial.
Increased Buyer Interest: Professionally staged homes attract more attention online and generate more viewing requests.
Helping Buyers Visualise: Staging helps buyers overcome the challenge of visualising how an empty space could be used or how to look past an owner’s current decor.
Creating a “Move-in Ready” Impression: A well-staged home often appears better maintained and more appealing, reducing buyer objections.

Considering these benefits, the professional staging cost should be viewed as an investment that can yield a significant return, rather than simply an expense.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Property Staging

The answer to “how much does it cost to stage a property?” is “it depends.” Several key factors contribute to the final price tag. Understanding these will help you gauge what to expect for your specific property.

1. Size of the Property and Number of Rooms Staged:
This is one of the most significant cost drivers. Larger homes with more rooms naturally require more furniture, accessories, and time to stage. Staging a compact one-bedroom apartment will cost less than staging a sprawling four-bedroom house with multiple living areas. You might choose to stage the entire home or focus on key impactful rooms like the living room, master bedroom, dining area, and kitchen.
2. Scope of Staging Required:
The level of staging needed will heavily influence the cost:
- Staging Consultation Only: This is the most budget-friendly option. A professional stager will tour your property (or conduct a virtual tour) and provide a detailed report with recommendations for you to implement yourself using your existing furnishings, perhaps with suggestions for minor purchases.
- Partial Staging (Occupied Home Staging): If you’re still living in the home, a stager might work with some of your existing furniture and supplement it with rented pieces, artwork, and accessories to enhance the look. This often involves decluttering and rearranging your items as well.
- Full Staging (Vacant Home Staging): This is typically the most comprehensive and thus more expensive option. An entirely empty property is furnished and decorated from top to bottom. This allows for a complete transformation tailored to the target buyer demographic.
3. Quality and Style of Furniture and Accessories:
The type of furniture and decor used will affect the price. Staging for a luxury penthouse will often involve higher-end, designer furnishings compared to staging a mid-range family home, where contemporary and widely appealing pieces might be used. The stager will choose items appropriate for the property’s price point and target market.
4. Furniture Rental Period:
Most staging contracts include furniture and accessory rental for a set period, typically 4 to 6 weeks, which usually covers the average marketing campaign. If your property takes longer to sell, you may need to pay an additional fee to extend the rental period, often on a weekly or monthly basis.
5. Location and Accessibility of the Property:
Property staging costs in Australia can vary by city and region. Major metropolitan areas like Sydney or Melbourne might have higher average costs due to higher operational expenses for staging companies. Furthermore, logistical factors such as property access (e.g., multiple flights of stairs, difficult parking for delivery trucks, lift access) can also impact the labor costs involved in delivering and installing the staging items.
6. Additional Services:
Some stagers may offer or recommend additional services that can add to the overall cost, such as:
- Professional decluttering and organisation services.
- Minor repairs or painting.
- Garden or outdoor area tidy-ups.
- Storage solutions for excess belongings.
7. Staging Company’s Experience and Reputation:
Highly experienced and reputable staging companies with a proven track record of success may charge premium rates. Their expertise, design talent, extensive inventory, and established processes often justify a higher investment.

Average Property Staging Cost Ranges in Australia (2025 Estimates)

While it’s essential to get personalized quotes, here are some general estimates for home staging costs in Australia for 2025. These figures are indicative and can vary widely based on the factors mentioned above.

Initial Staging Consultation:
For a consultation where a professional stager provides a detailed report and action plan for you to DIY, you might expect to pay between $250 and $800+. The duration and depth of the consultation will influence this cost.
Partial Staging (Key Rooms or Occupied Homes):
If you’re staging just a few key rooms (e.g., living, dining, master bedroom) or supplementing your existing furniture, the cost could range from $1,800 to $5,500+. This often includes rental of selected furniture items, artwork, linen, and accessories for the agreed period.
Full Staging (Vacant Standard Homes – e.g., 2-3 Bedroom):
For furnishing and decorating an entire vacant home (e.g., a 2 or 3-bedroom house or apartment), costs typically start from $3,500 and can go up to $8,500+. This would generally cover all main living areas, bedrooms, and potentially an outdoor space.
Full Staging (Larger or Luxury Homes):
For larger properties (4+ bedrooms, multiple living areas) or luxury homes requiring high-end furnishings, the staging investment can range from $8,000 to $20,000 or even more. The scale and quality of items needed for such properties significantly impact the price.

What’s Usually Included in a Full or Partial Staging Package Cost?

Initial consultation and site visit.
Customized staging design plan.
Rental of all furniture, artwork, rugs, lighting, linen, and decorative accessories for the agreed period (commonly 4-6 weeks).
Professional delivery, installation, and styling by the staging team.
Collection of all rented items at the end of the contract or after the property sells.
Insurance for the rented items during the staging period.

Always ensure you receive a detailed quote outlining exactly what is included in the professional staging cost.

Is Property Staging a Worthwhile Expense? The Return on Investment (ROI)

The critical question isn’t just “how much does staging cost?” but “is staging worth the cost?” Overwhelmingly, industry experience and data suggest that professional property staging is an investment that delivers a strong return.

Achieving a Higher Sale Price: This is the most significant ROI. As mentioned, staged homes can sell for 5-20% more. For a $700,000 property, a 5% increase is $35,000 – far outweighing a typical staging cost of $4,000-$6,000.
Faster Sale Time: A quicker sale means reduced holding costs for you as the vendor. These include mortgage repayments, council rates, utilities, and insurance. If staging helps your property sell a month or two faster, these savings can be substantial.
Competitive Edge: In a buyer’s market or a market with a lot of similar properties, staging can make your home stand out from the competition, attracting more serious offers.
Reduced Need for Price Reductions: Well-staged homes are less likely to languish on the market, reducing the pressure to drop the asking price to attract buyers.
Appealing to a Broader Audience: Professional stagers design with a neutral yet aspirational appeal, helping more buyers connect emotionally with the home, which can lead to more competitive bidding.

Consider this hypothetical scenario: You spend $5,000 to stage your home. It sells for $25,000 above what comparable unstaged homes in your area are achieving, and it sells four weeks faster, saving you $2,000 in holding costs. Your net gain from staging would be $22,000 ($25,000 + $2,000 – $5,000). This demonstrates a clear positive ROI.

How to Get an Accurate Property Staging Quote

To understand the specific cost to stage your property, you’ll need to obtain quotes from professional staging companies. Here’s how to go about it:

Research Local Stagers: Look for reputable staging companies in your area. Check their portfolios, testimonials, and online reviews.
Prepare Property Information: Be ready to provide details such as the property address, size (square meterage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms), whether it’s vacant or occupied, and your desired timeline for staging. Photos or a video walkthrough can be very helpful for initial estimates.
Schedule Consultations: Most professional stagers will want to conduct an on-site visit or a detailed virtual consultation to accurately assess the property’s needs and discuss your goals. This is often the point where an initial consultation fee might apply, which is sometimes credited back if you proceed with their full staging service.
Request Detailed Quotes: Ask for itemized quotes that clearly outline:
- The scope of work (which rooms will be staged, type of staging).
- The rental period covered.
- Costs for design, furniture/accessory rental, delivery, installation, and de-staging.
- Any potential additional costs (e.g., fees for extending the rental period).
Compare Quotes Holistically: Don’t just compare based on price. Consider the stager’s experience, design style, quality of inventory, and the overall value they offer.

Airletto: Your Partner for Expert Property Staging to Maximise Sale Price

At Airletto, we understand that selling your property is a significant financial undertaking. Our professional property staging services are designed to take the stress out of preparing your home for sale and to help you achieve the best possible outcome. We combine design expertise with a deep understanding of buyer psychology to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also highly marketable.

Whether you need a full staging solution for a vacant property or expert advice to enhance an occupied home, our team can provide a tailored approach. We focus on creating an emotional connection with potential buyers, showcasing your property’s full potential, and ultimately helping you sell faster and for a higher price. We are transparent about our property staging costs and work with you to create a plan that suits your budget and goals.

Conclusion: Staging Costs are an Investment in Your Property’s Success

While the cost to stage a property in Australia can range from a few hundred dollars for a consultation to several thousand for full staging, the consensus among real estate professionals is that it’s an investment that pays for itself many times over. By enhancing your home’s appeal, professional staging can lead to a quicker sale, a higher selling price, and a smoother selling process.

Before dismissing staging due to its perceived cost, consider the potential financial benefits and the impact it can have on your final sale outcome. A consultation with a professional staging company like Airletto can provide you with a clear understanding of the costs involved for your specific property and how staging can help you achieve top dollar in today’s competitive market.