Plasterboard finish levels: Level 3, 4 and 5 explained

Plasterboard finish levels tell you (and your stopper) exactly how much taping, coating and sanding a wall gets before it’s painted. They’re set out in AS/NZS 2589:2017, and getting the spec right is what stops a client ringing you back about wave lines they can see in the morning sun.

The three levels you’ll actually spec

Each level is a different amount of work, for a different situation. Here’s what each one requires and where it belongs.

Level 3 — minimal

• Tape plus 1 coat of compound. Fastener heads are spotted.
• Where: behind tile, heavy texture or cabinetry — anywhere the surface won’t be visible.
• Never paint over a Level 3 finish directly.

Level 4 — standard (most rooms)

• Tape plus 3 coats of compound, sanded smooth. Fastener heads are invisible.
• Where: all habitable rooms — this is your default spec.
• Paint with a flat or low-sheen latex.

Level 5 — premium

• Everything in Level 4, plus a skim coat over the entire surface.
• Where: critical-lighting walls (low-angle sun, single-pane windows), gloss or semi-gloss paint, and dark colours.
• Costs roughly $30/m² more than Level 4.

Pre-empt the critical-lighting complaint

If a client has a wall with low-angle morning or evening sun raking across it, spec Level 5 up front. Otherwise they’ll complain about wave lines that ARE NOT defects under the MBIE Guide — but the client doesn’t care about the guide, they care about how it looks.

Spec Level 5 once and you get no callbacks.