How much to skim a room in 2025?

If you want to give your walls or ceilings a smooth finish that’s all ready to be painted, then the chances are you’ll want to get them skimmed.

Skimming is a method of plastering that involves adding a thin, final layer of finishing plaster to give surfaces that sought-after smooth effect (ready for painting or papering).

But how much does it cost to skim a room? Here, we’ll break down the average room skimming price and the various factors involved.

What is skimming plaster and why is it important?

What is skimming?

Skimming, also known as ‘top coat plastering,’ is a technique that plasterers use.

It involves applying a thin coat of plaster to existing plaster or new plasterboard to create a smooth, even surface ready for decorating.

Benefits of skimming plaster for walls and ceilings

Applying skimming plaster to your walls and ceilings comes with many benefits. Here are the main ones.

• Creates a smooth surface
• Hides imperfections
• Improves adhesion of paint
• Adds strength
• Adds a layer of insulation

Skimming vs plastering

What’s the difference between skimming and plastering?

The terms skimming and plastering are often used interchangeably.

But skimming is actually a type of plastering.

In fact, there are several different techniques that plasterers might use, and skimming is just one of them.

Usually, it’s seen as the final stage of plastering a wall or ceiling – although if your walls and ceilings are in good condition, this may be all you need.

To give you a rough guide:

• Skim coats are generally very thin (applied to a thickness of up to 5mm)
• Plaster can be applied to a thickness of anywhere from 5mm to 30mm

Our guide to the difference between skimming and plastering goes into more detail.

How does the cost to plaster a room compare to skimming?

If your walls are already in good condition, you may only need to skim your room.

This won’t take as long as completely re-plastering a room, so it costs significantly less.

To give you an idea:

• Skimming a medium-sized room costs on average £480
• Plastering a medium-sized room from scratch (which will include skimming) costs around £755

Head over to our plastering cost guide to learn more.

How much does it cost to skim a room?

Skimming a medium-sized room typically costs between £430 and £550.

This should include one to two days of labour, as well as the materials.

However, if your walls or ceilings require more than just a skim coat, your costs could be significantly higher.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search

Average skimming costs per room size

The bigger the room, the more it will cost to skim.

This is because larger surface areas require more materials – plus, the job will take longer to complete, pushing up labour costs.

Small room

Skimming a small room (approx. 2m x 2m) will cost £440 on average.

Medium room

The cost of skimming a medium room (approx. 3m x 3m) is typically around £480.

Large room

Skimming a large room (approx. 5m x 6m) costs on average £650.

Cost breakdown

The cost of plastering a room is usually made up of two key elements:

1. Labour

The average day rate for a plasterer is £300. 

Skimming a medium-sized room will usually take one to two days.

2. Materials

When it comes to skimming a room, materials usually come to around £20 - £25 per wall.

However, this assumes you’re using a modern mix, such as gypsum plaster. More traditional types of plaster will usually come with an additional cost.

Skim coat cost per square metre

The average cost to skim a wall is £24 per m2.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search

What factors affect the cost of skimming walls?

As we’ve touched upon already, there are several different factors that can affect the cost of skimming (or plastering) your walls.

Here are some of the main ones to bear in mind.

Type of plaster

The most commonly used plaster today is gypsum plaster, which is made with dehydrated gypsum and often combined with hardeners.

However, if you live in an old, listed building, it may need lime plastering.

Lime plaster is made from a mix of lime, sand and water – often with added fibres like animal hair – and is breathable, unlike most modern cement plasters.

This specialist craft has been used for thousands of years and takes much longer than plastering with more modern mixes. So, you’ll need the help of a highly skilled lime plasterer, who’ll usually charge more.

Another traditional plaster that’s growing in popularity is Venetian plaster. This is made from lime putty and marble dust, which gives a glossy finish and makes it look like real marble.

On average, Venetian plaster costs between £120/m² for polished plasters and £100/m² for textured plasters.

Room size and complexity

As we’ve already covered, bigger rooms will generally cost more to skim.

However, you’ll also have to bear in mind the complexity of the job.

For instance, very small rooms can be difficult to plaster as working in a small space can be tricky for your plasterer.

Similarly, rooms with lots of corners and nooks could take longer – and, as you’d expect, the longer the job takes to complete, the greater your labour costs will be.

Condition of existing walls

Unfortunately, simply re-skimming isn’t an option for everyone, as many rooms will need a lot more work.

If your walls aren’t in good condition, your plasterer will need to remove the existing plaster and start again from scratch.

This typically involves creating a new base before skimming and finishing. For a medium-sized room, you can expect to pay around £755.

Ceilings or walls

Replastering ceilings is generally harder than replastering walls.

So, you can expect costs to skew slightly higher.

To give you an idea, re-skimming a 9m2 ceiling costs on average £275.

If you’re looking to remove artex from your ceiling (and it doesn’t contain asbestos), your plasterer may still be able to skim over it.

In this case, you can expect your costs to be marginally higher as they’ll often need to scrape off any loose debris or bumps in the artex beforehand.

However, if sags or cracks are starting to show in your ceiling, you may need to board over it before plastering, or even replace your ceiling altogether. The average cost to overboard and plaster a ceiling in the UK is £1,000.

Read our cost guide for plastering a ceiling for all the info.

Ceiling height and accessibility

If your plasterer has to work at height, you can expect costs to be higher.

Similarly, if the areas they need to work in are hard to access, your costs can also climb.

This will reflect the extra time it will take to complete the job, as well as any specialist equipment needed.

Try to clear space for your plasterer to make it as easy as possible for them to access the areas they need to reach.

Location and regional price variations

Room skimming costs will also vary widely depending on your location.

The costs in this guide are UK averages, but prices will naturally be higher in big cities where there’s increased competition.

Similarly, the cost of labour tends to skew higher in the south of the country.

We always recommend getting at least three estimates from reputable plasterers near you, to make sure you’re getting a fair and competitive price for the work.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search

How long does it take to skim a room?

It typically takes between 1-3 days to skim a room from start to finish.

Time estimates for different room sizes

How long it takes to skim a room will depend on its size.

Here are some estimates:

• Small room: 1 day
• Medium room: 1-2 days
• Large room: 2-3 days

Factors that affect completion time

There are lots of different factors that can affect how long skimming takes.

These include…

Removing old wallpaper and plaster

If there’s wallpaper in the room you want plastered, this will need to come off first.

Most plasterers will willingly do this for you, but they’ll charge a plasterer’s rate for it.

Alternatively, you could strip the wallpaper yourself first, or find a painter and decorator near you to do it for you. This will help you to save plastering time and keep costs down.

Similarly, you may be able to save time by removing blown (loose) plaster yourself before your plasterer starts.

Overboarding for ceilings

If your ceilings are in bad condition, you might want (or need) to overboard them first.

A plasterer will be able to do this much quicker than you probably would.

However, it could still add around half a day per room to your project.

Radiator removal

If you’re hoping to plaster walls that have radiators on them, you’ll usually get a better finish if you remove the radiators first.

Some plumbers will be happy to do this for you for an additional fee. However, others will ask you to arrange this yourself as, after all, they’re plasterers not plumbers!

Either way, this can add time to your project if you don’t get the radiators removed before your plasterer starts.

Furniture removal

Your plasterer will be able to work faster if you clear rooms of furniture.

If they’re having to move things around to access walls, this is going to add time to the job.

Plus, plastering is messy!

Taking steps to protect your belongings will save your plasterer time as there’ll be less preparation work for them to do.

Hiring a professional vs DIY

A professional will be able to skim a room much more quickly than a keen DIY-er – even one who’s relatively confident.

It’s a lot harder to get a smooth, even finish when skimming than you might think.

On the other hand, a professional plasterer will know what they’re doing and will be able to achieve a seamless finish quickly and efficiently.

Read our guide on how to skim a wall to learn more about the process.

Cost-saving tips for skimming a room

Wondering if you can save some money when it comes to skimming a room? Here are three key tips.

1. Prepare the room beforehand

Strip wallpaper and clear furniture beforehand to help prepare the room.

This will save your plasterer time and could reduce your overall cost.

2. Combine projects

If you need several rooms skimmed, consider getting them all done at the same time.

This could lower your cost per room as your plasterer will already be on-site.

3. Get multiple estimates

Many plasterers will provide you with an estimate instead of a quote as often your plasterer won’t know the condition of your walls until they start.

Either way, we always recommend getting at least three estimates – or quotes – from trusted plasterers near you and comparing them like-for-like.

This will ensure you’re getting a fair and competitive price for the work.

Use our handy request a quote feature or enter your postcode in the search box below to browse plasterers in your area.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search

Useful checklist for skimming walls

• Re-skimming a medium-sized room typically costs around £480
• Plastering and skimming a medium-sized room from scratch will cost around £755
• Plasterers often provide estimates rather than quotes
• Remove radiators and furniture to save on room skimming costs.

Find a professional plasterer near you

Ready to find a reliable plasterer near you? You’re in the right place!

At Checkatrade, all our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 checks to get listed in our directory. Plus, they regularly receive reviews from homeowners on everything from punctuality to professionalism and more.

In fact, we check all the reviews our tradespeople receive to make sure they’re from real people.

Not only that, but we’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that if you book through us, we guarantee their work up to £1,000 (guaranteed for 12 months – eligibility and T&Cs apply).

Enter your postcode below to get started.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search

FAQs

How much does it cost to skim a medium-sized room?

It typically costs between £430 and £550 to skim a medium-sized room (approx. 3m x 3m).

Can I skim a room myself?

Yes, if you have the right skills and experience, you may be able to skim a room yourself.

However, creating a smooth and even finish is a lot harder than it looks. For the best results, we’d strongly recommend hiring a professional.

To learn more, check out our guides on how to skim a wall and how to plaster.

How soon can I paint after skimming a room?

You should usually wait between 3-7 days after a skim coat has been applied before painting.

However, exactly how long you should wait will depend on the thickness of the plaster and the ambient temperature.

The important thing is to wait until the plaster is completely dry.

Our guide on how long you should wait before painting on newly skimmed walls has more.

Can you paint directly onto freshly skimmed walls?

Yes, you can paint directly onto freshly skimmed walls. However, it’s important to water down your first layer of paint, which is known as a mist coat.

This is because fresh plaster is extremely porous. So, if you don’t do a mist coat, the plaster will absorb the water within the topcoat.

You can find out more in our guide to painting on new plaster – or simply find a painter and decorator who will be sure to get things right the first time around.

How long does it take for plaster to dry after skimming?

A skim coat will usually take 3-7 days to dry. However, walls that have been plastered from scratch could take up to 4 weeks.

You’ll know when plaster is fully dry because it will change colour from brown to an even, light pink colour.

Head over to our guide on how long plaster takes to dry to learn more.

Can you skim over old plaster?

Yes, if your old plaster is in good condition, you can skim over it. However, it will need to be properly prepared first.

Our guide on how to prepare your home before plastering has everything you need to know.

How do I prepare a room for skimming?

Before your plasterer starts, you’ll want to clear your room of furniture and protect your floors and belongings. You can also save money by stripping wallpaper and removing any blown plaster yourself.

See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job

Search