When you move to Brisbane, one of the first things you lose is your list of people to call. The plumber you trusted, the electrician who turned up on time, the builder a friend recommended: none of them work here. This page is our index of Brisbane trade shortlists, so you can find a good starting point for each job without ringing around blind.
Each shortlist explains how we chose the businesses on it, what the Queensland licensing rules are for that trade, and what to ask before you book. We update them each year.
Plumbing and electrical
- Plumbers: our Brisbane plumbers shortlist, including what a QBCC plumbing licence covers.
- Electricians: our Brisbane electricians shortlist, with the electrical licence check explained.
- Air conditioning: our Brisbane air conditioning installers shortlist, and why installers need both an electrical licence and an ARC refrigerant licence.
Building and renovating
- Custom home builders: our Brisbane custom home builders shortlist.
- Bathroom renovations: our Brisbane bathroom renovations shortlist.
- Tilers: our Brisbane tilers shortlist.
- Building certifiers: our Brisbane building certifiers shortlist, for when your project needs approval.
Outdoor living
- Pergolas and patios: our Brisbane pergola and patio builders shortlist.
- Shade sails: our Brisbane shade sails shortlist, which matters more here than down south once summer arrives.
Buying and selling
- Real estate agents in the Redlands: our Redlands real estate agents shortlist.
Before you book any trade in Queensland
In Queensland, building work valued over $3,300 needs a licence from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), and plumbing, drainage and gas fitting need one whatever the job is worth (QBCC, who must hold a licence, checked October 2026). Electrical work needs an electrical licence under Queensland’s electrical safety laws. QBCC explains how to find and check a licensed contractor before you hire them.
Getting two or three written quotes, asking who will actually do the work, and checking recent reviews rather than the lifetime star average will save you most of the headaches newcomers run into.
New to Brisbane in general? Start with what it costs to move to Brisbane.
