Painter and decorator prices

Checkatrade's Professional Estimators

This cost guide was written in partnership with our professional estimators here at Checkatrade. Our estimators are Chartered Members (MRICS) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Members of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB).

Whether you’re redecorating to update your home, preparing to sell it, changing how you use one of your rooms, or simply wanting to brighten up the paintwork, a fresh paint job can do wonders for your home’s look (and value).

Painting and decorating is one of those tasks that many DIYers believe they can do themselves, until they see the poor quality of their work.

When you do it yourself, it’s difficult to get the high-quality finish that professional decorators achieve, but that’s because they have training and years of experience behind them.

How much does painting and decorating cost?

The nature of painting and decorating projects means the average cost can vary massively, with common costs ranging from £400 – £6,000. That said, the average painter and decorator’s day rate is around £325 per day.

The prices shown in this guide refer to regular trade paints, so if you’re planning to use more premium brand paints (the likes of Farrow and Ball or Little Green Man) you’ll need to factor in additional costs.

There are a number of factors that will affect the cost of painting and decorating, including:

• Type and quality of materials being used
• Size of the space being decorated
• Time required to complete the job
• Condition of the walls (additional preparation work will add to the decorating costs)

Painter and decorator prices

Painter and decorators day rate

Average UK painter and decorator day rate: £325

In addition to materials, you’ll need to pay for the tradesperson carrying out the work. The average day rate for a painter and decorator will vary depending on where you live, their experience and the type of work you need doing.

Painter and decorator hourly rates

The average cost of a painter and decorator is around £32 per hour – depending on the individual tradesperson, their experience and where you live. If the painting job is going to take several days then you may be quoted a day rate, which is usually around £325 per day – again, depending on the painter and the work required.

Cost to decorate a room

Average cost to paint a room: £400

The size of a room can vary massively, so for the sake of this guide, we’ve estimated the average cost to paint a medium size room of approximately 4.5m by 4m. The larger the room the greater the decorating costs. £400 includes the cost of paint too (assuming trade white and not something more expensive like Farrow & Ball).

Cost to paint a house

Average cost to paint a 2-bedroom flat: £2,000
Average cost to paint a 5-bedroom house: £6,000

If you’re looking to paint your whole house, this will increase the price. Not only will the job take more time, but it will require a lot more materials (paint, wallpaper, etc).

To find out more, read through our dedicated guide about the costs involved in painting a house exterior.

You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our quality checks on Checkatrade.

Cost to wallpaper a room

Average labour cost to wallpaper a room (4.4m x 3.3m): £450

Once you’ve chosen the wallpaper you want to use, it’s worth speaking with your local painter and decorator before buying it. They may be able to get trade discounts which will help keep the decorating costs down.

The price of your wallpaper will be added to the decorating labour costs.

Cost to paint ceilings

Average cost to paint a ceiling: £15 per m²

Ceilings tend to be one of the trickier parts of a room to paint. You have to have suitable ladders and longer painting tools to do the job properly. And also, you need to apply the paint in a way that doesn’t cause drips or irregularities in the finished paintwork.

Cost to paint hall, stairs, and landing

Average cost to paint hallways, landing and stairs: £1,600

One of the joys of hiring a professional painter and decorator is that they deal with all the fiddly bits of decorating. Hallways, landings and stairs come with lots of nooks and painting and decorating challenges, and it’s worth paying the price of hiring a professional so you can let them deal with it.

Exterior painting costs

Average exterior painting cost (3-bedroom semi-detached property): £1,300
Average exterior painting cost (4-bedroom detached property): £2,000

The outside of your home is subject to a lot of damaging elements like wind, rain, sun and constant temperature changes. Making sure you have a quality, long-lasting treatment for the exterior painting of your house is important.

Additional decorating costs to consider

On top of the cost of labour and materials of your painting and decorating job, there are some other important elements that you might need to budget for. These include:

• Removing wallpaper
• Plastering
• Painting at height
• Windows and skirting boards
• Re-skimming or patching holes

Painter and decorator cost calculator

To calculate the cost of your painting and decorating project, you’ll need to factor in the size and complexity of the area that you need painting. The larger the area and the more complex the project, the higher the cost.

You’ll also need to factor in any prep work needed, such as plastering or wall/ceiling preparation. And don’t forget the material costs of the paint—if you’re going for a more expensive, high-quality brand of paint, you’ll pay a higher price.

Can I paint and decorate myself?

Yes, you can, but the quality of your finish will not be as good as a professional.

We always recommend working with a professional painter and decorator to get the best finish for your home.

Benefits of hiring a professional painter and decorator

Many homeowners will always look to take on decorating jobs themselves, only to realise after a lot of hard work the quality of their decorating is a little shoddy.

There are major benefits for hiring a professional painter and decorator to carry out the work:

• Professional painters and decorators are trained in this, so their work is of a high standard
• You get professional advice about style and colour choice
• It saves you time so you can spend it enjoying your home instead of working on it
• Professional painters and decorators come equipped with all the right tools and supplies for the job (so you don’t need to buy paint brushes, dust sheets, etc)
• Experienced decorators know how to prepare surfaces to get the best finished results
• They’ll clean up everything afterwards, so you can immediately start enjoying your freshly decorated home
• You’ll have peace of mind knowing the job will be done thoroughly and to a high standard

Useful painter and decorator checklist

• By hiring a professional you will be working with someone who has years of training and experience in decorating. This means a better finish than any DIY attempt you make
• Always speak to a local painting and decorating expert to get advice on the choice of colour or materials to use for your decorating project
• Always get at least three quotes from decorators your neighbours recommend
• Speak with your local painter and decorator experts to make the most of their trade discounts when buying materials for the job

Get a quote from a painter and decorator near you

We always recommend obtaining at least three quotes from our trusted tradespeople. Our request a quote feature is perfect for getting multiple quotes – you post details about the job you want doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Try it out!

Or search your postcode to below to see who comes highly rated in your local area.