FREE TOOL · 2026 PRICES
Estimate plastering cost for any room or area — skim coat, full re-plaster, artex removal, or external render — using 2026 UK trade pricing.
Measure only the surface to be plastered — walls only, or walls + ceiling. Exclude doors and windows.
Total Estimate
£160–£300
20 m² · Skim coat
Cost per m²
£8–£15
National average
| Room | Skim coat | Full re-plaster |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom (12 m²) | £96–£180 | £240–£420 |
| Average bedroom (16 m²) | £128–£240 | £320–£560 |
| Living room (25 m²) | £200–£375 | £500–£875 |
| Kitchen (15 m²) | £120–£225 | £300–£525 |
National average prices. Apply regional multiplier from the calculator above for your area.
Plastering is priced per m² with variations for job type and regional labour rates. Getting the area right and choosing the correct job type are the two biggest factors.
Measure the total surface area to be plastered — walls only, or walls and ceiling. Deduct door and window openings (a standard door is about 1.8 m², a window about 1.5 m²). For a 4×4m room with 2.4m ceilings, the wall area is about 38 m² before deductions — not the floor area.
The biggest cost driver is whether you need a skim coat (cheapest — over existing sound plaster or plasterboard) or a full strip and re-plaster (most expensive — remove old plaster, dot & dab new boards, then skim). Artex removal sits in between, with an additional cost if the artex tests positive for asbestos.
Plasterer day rates vary significantly by region. London trades command 35% above the national average; Scotland, Wales, and the North East run 15% below. This calculator applies a regional multiplier to the base per-m² rate so your estimate reflects local market conditions.
All rates shown are all-in, including materials. Finish plaster, plasterboard, bonding, beads, and scrim tape are included. Materials typically make up 25–35% of the total. For external render, the rate includes the render mix but excludes scaffolding — add £600–£1,500 for a typical house.
WORKED EXAMPLE
A 5×4m living room with 2.4m ceilings, deducting 1 door and 2 windows, gives approximately 32 m² of net wall area. In Manchester (North West, 0.9× multiplier):
Room dimensions
5×4m · 2.4m ceiling
Net wall area
≈32 m²
Skim coat (NW)
£230–£432
Full re-plaster (NW)
£576–£1,008
Skim coat recommendation
£230–£432
32 m² · North West · £7.20–£13.50/m² after regional adjustment
Use the calculator above with your room dimensions and region for a tailored estimate. Always get 2–3 quotes from local plasterers for large jobs.
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Common questions about plastering costs and processes in the UK.
Plastering costs in the UK in 2026 range from £8–£45 per m² depending on the type of work. A basic skim coat over existing plaster costs £8–£15/m². Full re-plaster (removing old plaster, plasterboarding and skimming) costs £20–£35/m². Artex removal and skim costs £15–£25/m². External render runs £25–£45/m². These prices include labour and materials but exclude scaffolding for external work.
Skimming an average bedroom (16 m²) costs £128–£240 in the UK in 2026. A full re-plaster of the same room (stripping old plaster, plasterboarding and skimming) costs £320–£560. These prices include the plasterer's labour and materials. London and South East prices run 15–35% higher than the national average.
Re-plastering a typical UK 3-bedroom house (all rooms, roughly 200–280 m² total wall area) costs £4,000–£9,800 for a full strip and re-plaster. Skim coating only (if existing plaster is sound) costs £1,600–£4,200. Most plasterers price per room or per m² — use the calculator above to estimate your area and choose the right job type.
Yes — most UK plasterers quote all-in prices including materials (plasterboard, bonding, finish coat, beads, scrim tape). Materials typically make up 25–35% of the total cost. The remainder is labour. For a standard skim coat job, a bag of finish plaster costs £8–£12 and covers approximately 5–7 m² at one coat thickness.
Artex applied before 2000 may contain chrysotile (white) asbestos. Before any artex removal, a sample test is recommended (typically £30–£100). If asbestos is present, a licensed contractor must remove it — adding £300–£800+ to the job depending on area. Post-2000 artex is asbestos-free. If artex contains asbestos, encapsulation (skimming over it) is sometimes preferable to removal and avoids the licensed contractor requirement.
Fresh plaster takes 2–4 weeks to fully dry and cure before painting, depending on ventilation and temperature. The surface should be a consistent pale colour with no dark patches before applying paint. A mist coat (watered-down emulsion, 10:1 paint to water) is recommended as the first coat to seal the new plaster. Painting before the plaster is fully dry causes the paint to crack and peel. In winter or poorly ventilated rooms, allow 4–6 weeks.
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