How Much Does a Painter and Decorator Cost in the UK? [2026 Prices]

Painting and Decorating Costs at a Glance

Painting and decorating is one of the most frequently hired trades in the UK, but getting an accurate price before you speak to a decorator can be surprisingly difficult. Quotes vary based on room size, surface condition, the number of coats required, paint quality, and whether exterior access requires scaffolding. This guide breaks down real 2026 costs room by room, by job type, and by region so you know what to expect before anyone picks up a brush.

Most decorators quote per room or per project rather than by the day, but understanding their day rate gives you a useful sanity check on any quote you receive. Nationally in 2026, decorator day rates sit between £180 and £320. In London and parts of the South East, experienced decorators charge £280-450 per day.

Cost by Room Type

The table below covers labour and standard materials (a mid-range emulsion such as Dulux Trade or Johnstone's) for walls and ceiling with two coats. Premium paints such as Farrow and Ball add to material costs. Woodwork (skirting, door frames, doors) is typically quoted separately and adds £50-150 per room.

Per m² rates: interior walls cost approximately £6-15/m² for labour and materials. Exterior masonry painting costs £8-20/m² depending on surface condition and access.

Regional Cost Variation

Labour rates vary considerably across the UK. The figures below show the typical range for decorating a double bedroom (walls and ceiling, two coats, labour and standard materials).

What Affects the Cost of Painting and Decorating?

Six factors move the price significantly on any decorating job.

1. Surface preparation

Preparation is the most time-consuming part of any decorating job. Walls that are freshly plastered, clean and in good condition take far less time to prep than surfaces covered in old wallpaper, multiple layers of paint, cracks or mould staining. Stripping wallpaper alone can add half a day per room. A decorator who cuts corners on prep will deliver a finish that peels and chips within a year.

2. Number of coats

Two coats is standard for most interior walls. Surfaces being changed from a very dark to a very light colour, or newly plastered walls going onto bare plaster for the first time, may need three coats. Each additional coat adds roughly 30-50% to the time spent on that surface.

3. Paint quality

Trade emulsions cost £25-60 per 10 litres. Premium paints such as Farrow and Ball or Little Greene cost £70-120 per 5 litres. On a full 3-bedroom house the material cost difference between standard and premium paint can be £400-900 before labour is considered. Premium paints often need fewer coats due to better pigment density, which partially offsets the higher price.

4. Ceiling height and room complexity

Standard ceiling heights of 2.4m can be reached from a stepladder. Rooms with ceilings above 3m require taller equipment and take longer. Complex coving, cornicing, or decorative plasterwork also extends time significantly, particularly if different colours are used in adjacent areas.

5. Exterior access and scaffolding

Exterior decoration above first-floor window height usually requires scaffolding, which adds £400-1,200 to the project cost depending on the size of the property and how long it needs to stay up. Some decorators use cherry picker access equipment instead, particularly for chimney stacks and gable ends.

6. Woodwork and specialist finishes

Gloss or satinwood on skirting boards, door frames, architrave and doors is often priced separately at £50-150 per room. Specialist finishes such as colour washing, limewash, or Venetian plaster carry a significant premium over standard emulsion work.

How to Find a Reliable Painter and Decorator

Decorating attracts both highly skilled tradespeople and inexperienced operators working under the radar. The quality of finish varies enormously, so it pays to be thorough when choosing who you hire.

• Ask for at least two or three written quotes. A quote significantly lower than others may indicate the decorator is skimping on coats or materials.
• Ask to see examples of previous work, ideally on a property you can visit rather than just photos on a phone.
• Check online reviews on Google, Checkatrade or Trustpilot. Look for mentions of prep quality and neatness of cut-in lines, not just general satisfaction.
• Ensure the decorator carries public liability insurance. Ask to see a copy of the certificate before work starts.
• Get the number of coats and paint brands specified in writing in the quote. "2 coats of Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt" is a meaningful commitment; "paint walls" is not.
• Discuss the schedule clearly before work starts. A single-room job should rarely take more than 2 days; a full house 5-10 days. If the timeline seems implausibly short, ask how many coats are included.

See also: Painter and Decorator Day Rate UK 2026 and our guide to the best quoting apps for decorators.

Is It Worth Hiring a Professional Decorator?

For most homeowners the answer is yes, particularly for rooms where the finish will be scrutinised closely, such as living rooms, hallways and master bedrooms. A professional decorator will complete a room in a fraction of the time a DIY approach takes, and with a far cleaner finish around light switches, sockets, coving and woodwork.

Fresh, well-executed decoration also adds perceived value to a property. Estate agents consistently report that freshly decorated homes sell faster and attract higher offers, particularly in the current market where buyers are sensitive to the cost of work they would need to do themselves.

For an exterior repaint, the argument is even clearer. Quality exterior paint protects masonry and woodwork from water ingress and UV damage. Deferring exterior maintenance for several years typically results in a more expensive job when you do get round to it, as surface degradation requires more preparation time.

If budget is tight, consider hiring a decorator for the visible, high-traffic areas such as the hall and living room, and tackling secondary rooms yourself.

Decorators: see our guide on how to price a painting and decorating job in the UK.

How to Keep Decorating Costs Down

• Move furniture out of rooms yourself before the decorator arrives. Most decorators will move furniture as part of the job but will charge for the time.
• Strip wallpaper yourself if you are confident in doing so. This is time-consuming but straightforward on most walls, and the saving can be £100-200 per room.
• Stick to two or fewer colours per room. Feature walls in a different colour are popular but increase the decorator's cutting-in time noticeably.
• Book in advance. Last-minute bookings or short-notice requests attract a premium from most decorators.
• Bundle rooms together. A decorator booked for a whole house will almost always price more competitively per room than one hired room by room over several months.

Frequently Asked Questions