Painting and Decorating Pricing Guide UK 2026: How Much Should Decorators Charge?
By Tom Ellis
Knowing what to charge is one of the most important parts of running a profitable painting and decorating business. A decorator needs to cover much more than the time spent holding a roller or brush. A proper price needs to account for extensive surface preparation, trade paints, sundries, skilled labour, travel, professional equipment, access, dust protection, thorough cleaning, waste disposal, public liability insurance, vehicle costs, administration, quoting time, overheads, and a true profit margin.
This definitive guide explains typical decorator prices in the UK in 2026, including hourly and day rates, room-by-room costs, wallpapering, kitchen cabinet spraying, exterior painting, render, heritage decorating, and the exact commercial formulas required to quote larger projects safely.
Contents
Painter and Decorator Hourly & Day Rates (2026)
Current 2026 market data across domestic decorating, quality finishes, and commercial painting contracts.
Hourly Rates by Specialism
| Type of work | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Basic domestic decorating | £30 – £40 |
| Experienced domestic decorator | £35 – £50 |
| High-quality finish | £40 – £60 |
| Specialist decorating | £45 – £75+ |
| Commercial work | £35 – £60+ |
| Spray finishing | £40 – £70+ |
| Heritage restoration | £45 – £80+ |
| Emergency / short notice | £50 – £100+ |
Published UK guides currently put general painter rates around £27.50–£50 per hour. The lower end applies to straightforward empty rooms with good surfaces; the upper end applies to extensive preparation, high ceilings, detailed woodwork, and specialist coatings.
Day Rates by Experience
| Decorator Tier | Day rate |
|---|---|
| New / self-employed decorator | £200 – £275 |
| Standard domestic decorator | £250 – £350 |
| Experienced decorator (UK average) | £300 – £400 |
| High-end decorator | £350 – £500 |
| Specialist decorator | £400 – £600+ |
| Commercial decorator | £300 – £500+ |
| Two-person team | £500 – £800+ |
| Specialist two-person team | £700 – £1,000+ |
Current UK pricing guides place the average decorator day rate at approximately £325, with a typical range of £250–£400. Do not automatically charge the same day rate for spraying kitchen doors as rolling emulsion onto plain walls.
Regional Painter and Decorator Rates UK
Indicative 2026 working bands across the United Kingdom. Location, reputation, demand, specification, and customer demographic can all move the price substantially.
| Region | Hourly Rate | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
| London | £40 – £70+ | £350 – £550+ |
| South East | £35 – £60 | £300 – £450 |
| East of England | £30 – £50 | £275 – £400 |
| South West | £30 – £50 | £250 – £400 |
| Midlands | £28 – £48 | £240 – £375 |
| North West | £28 – £48 | £240 – £375 |
| Scotland | £28 – £50 | £240 – £375 |
| Yorkshire and North East | £27 – £45 | £225 – £350 |
| Wales | £27 – £45 | £225 – £350 |
Regional Context
Treat these figures as pricing bands rather than fixed regional tariffs. London and the Home Counties command higher rates due to commercial property rentals, congestion, and living expenses, whereas northern rural areas sit closer to national floors.
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Minimum Charges for Small Decorating Jobs
Small decorating jobs can be surprisingly unprofitable if priced purely by multiplying hours by a rate.
The Hidden Costs of a "Small Job"
A decorator may spend 30 mins travelling, 20 mins loading, 30 mins unloading, 30 mins protecting furniture and floors, 2 hours actually painting, 30 mins cleaning brushes, and 30 mins driving home. A "two-hour job" easily consumes five hours of the working day.
- Small touch-up / scratch:£75 – £125
- Small surface repair:£100 – £150
- Small decorating visit:£125 – £200
- Half-day minimum:£150 – £250
- Full-day minimum:£250 – £400
- Short-notice urgent work:£150 – £300+
- Specialist small job:£200 – £400+
Establishing Small-Job Policies
Always quote a fixed minimum fee for minor remedial work or touch-ups. Communicating this transparently before booking prevents awkward invoice shock from clients who expect to pay only for 20 minutes of paint application.
How to Calculate a Decorating Price
A reliable decorating quote accounts for every component of the service rather than guessing a flat room rate.
Materials + Preparation + Labour + Equipment + Access + Travel + Waste + Overheads + Profit = Final Price
Detailed Master FormulaPaint + Primer + Filler + Caulk + Tape + Sundries + Labour + Preparation + Protection + Access Equipment + Scaffolding + Travel + Waste + Overhead Allocation + Profit = Customer Price
Labour-Only vs. Supply-and-Fit
- Labour Only: The customer supplies paint, wallpaper, primer, and specialist coatings. The decorator charges purely for labour and agreed sundries.
- Supply and Fit: The decorator purchases all materials and includes them in the quote, allowing for a standard material markup.
- Fixed Project Price: Easiest for customers to understand (e.g., "Paint walls, ceiling, skirting and 2 doors: £1,850 including materials").
Paint Markups & Material Costs
Decorators should not necessarily sell paint at cost. Markups cover purchasing time, collection, colour matching, storage, and wastage.
Recommended Material Markups
- Standard trade paint:15 – 30%
- Premium paint (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene):10 – 25%
- Specialist coatings:10 – 25%
- Wallpaper rolls:15 – 30%
- Primer & undercoat:15 – 30%
- Filler, caulk & tape:20 – 40%
- Consumables & Sundries:20 – 40%
| Material / Sundry Item | Typical Trade Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard contract emulsion (10L) | £30 – £60 |
| Mid-range trade emulsion (10L) | £45 – £80 |
| Premium emulsion (5L) | £40 – £80 |
| Premium emulsion (10L) | £70 – £140+ |
| Exterior wood paint (2.5L) | £30 – £70 |
| Gloss / Satinwood (2.5L) | £35 – £70 |
| Floor / Metal paint (2.5L) | £30 – £90 |
| Decorator's Caulk / Filler (Tube) | £2 – £20 |
| Masking tape & Dust sheets | £3 – £30 |
| Roller sleeves & Brushes | £3 – £30 |
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Interior Painting Cost Per Square Metre
For larger surfaces or new build spaces, pricing by square metre provides a reliable baseline.
- Basic walls (Good surface):£8 – £15 / m²
- Standard walls:£10 – £20 / m²
- Walls requiring preparation:£15 – £25 / m²
- High-quality finish / F&B:£18 – £30+ / m²
- Ceilings:£10 – £20 / m²
- Woodwork (Skirting/Architrave):£10 – £20 / m²
- Extensive preparation required:£20 – £40+ / m²
Current UK pricing guides put standard interior wall and ceiling painting broadly within the £8–£25/m² range.
How to Calculate Paint Quantity
Calculate: Area ÷ Coverage per litre = Litres required
Example: A wall measuring 5m × 2.4m = 12m². For 2 coats = 24m². If paint covers 12m²/litre, you need 2 litres. Always add a 10–15% allowance for porosity, roller loading, wastage, and touch-ups.
Room-by-Room Painting Prices
Typical domestic project ranges for painting walls, ceilings, and woodwork in standard UK rooms.
Bedrooms & Living Rooms
- Small bedroom:£250 – £450
- Standard bedroom:£300 – £550
- Large bedroom:£400 – £700+
- Small living room:£300 – £550
- Standard living room:£400 – £700
- Large living room:£500 – £900+
Kitchens, Bathrooms & Dining
- Dining room:£300 – £600
- Kitchen:£300 – £700
- Small bathroom:£200 – £350
- Standard bathroom:£250 – £500
- Large bathroom:£400 – £700+
Hallways & Landings
- Hallway only:£300 – £600
- Landing only:£250 – £500
- Hall, stairs & landing:£800 – £1,750+
Figures put medium rooms at approx £450 and stairwells at £1,450–£1,750 due to high working heights.
Woodwork, Doors, Windows & Radiators
Detailed itemised pricing for interior joinery items which require meticulous sanding, undercoating, and glossing/satinwood finishes.
Doors & Frames
- Internal door (1 side):£50 – £80
- Internal door (Both sides):£80 – £120
- Detailed prep / stripping:£100 – £300+
- Door frame (Simple):£40 – £80
- Door + Frame package:£120 – £250+
Skirting & Windows
- Skirting board (per metre):£5 – £15 / m
- Skirting (Room package):£80 – £200
- Internal window repaint:£50 – £100
- Internal timber window prep:£80 – £150
- External timber window:£100 – £250
- Large sash window:£200 – £500+
Radiators
- Small radiator:£50 – £80
- Medium radiator:£70 – £120
- Large radiator:£100 – £180
- Decorative / Cast iron:£150 – £300+
Wallpapering, Stripping & Lining Paper
Wallpapering is usually priced separately from painting because precise pattern matching, paste handling, and wall prep dictate productivity.
Wallpaper Hanging Labour Rates
- Standard wallpaper (per m²):£12 – £16 / m²
- Premium wallpaper / Wide width:£15 – £25 / m²
- Complex pattern matching:£15 – £30 / m²
- Specialist / Silk / Grasscloth:£20 – £40+ / m²
- Standard feature wall:£150 – £300+
- Standard room wallpapering (Labour):£350 – £500+
Stripping & Lining Paper
- Easy wallpaper removal:£5 – £10 / m²
- Standard wallpaper removal:£8 – £15 / m²
- Difficult / Multiple layers:£15 – £35+ / m²
- Small room strip & clean:£150 – £400+
- Lining paper (Supply & hang):£8 – £25 / m²
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Preparation, Plaster, Stains & Mould
Preparation is where many inexperienced decorating businesses lose money. New plaster, water stains, and severe mould require specific chemical and priming treatments.
New Plaster & Mist Coats
New plaster requires a watered-down contract emulsion mist coat followed by filling, sanding, and two finishing coats.
- Mist coat only:£3 – £6 / m²
- Mist coat (Per room):£100 – £200
- Full new plaster prep + paint:£15 – £30+ / m²
Filling & Sanding
Filling nail holes, cracks, and gouges before painting.
- Minor filling:£5 – £10 / m²
- Standard prep:£10 – £20 / m²
- Heavy prep / Major restoration:£20 – £60+ / m²
Stains & Mould
Using stain-blocking primers (Zinsser BIN/Blockade) and fungicidal washes.
- Water stain sealing:£75 – £250
- Mould treatment & repaint:£150 – £400+
- Note: Always resolve underlying damp leaks before decorating.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting & Spraying
Kitchen spraying is a major specialist service that transforms dated wooden or laminate units into factory-finish centrepieces.
- Small kitchen (Up to 10 doors):£800 – £1,500
- Medium kitchen (11–20 doors):£1,500 – £2,500
- Large kitchen (21+ doors / Island):£2,000 – £4,000+
- Premium HVLP/Airless factory spray finish:£2,500 – £5,000+
Exterior House Painting, Render & Fences
Exterior painting is priced higher than interior work because of weather vulnerability, pressure washing, masonry repairs, and scaffolding access.
Exterior House Painting (Walls)
- Standard masonry paint (per m²):£20 – £40 / m²
- Terraced house (External walls):£800 – £1,600 (Avg £1.2k)
- Semi-detached house:£1,800 – £3,600 (Avg £2.7k)
- Detached house:£2,400 – £4,800 (Avg £3.6k)
- Large / Listed / Complex property:£6,000 – £25,000+
Current 2026 guidance places average exterior wall painting around £30/m².
Fences, Decking & Garage Doors
- Fence painting (Spray/Brush per metre):£5 – £15 / m
- Decking treatment / Staining:£5 – £30 / m²
- Garage door painting (Metal/Wood):£150 – £400+
- Render painting / Stabilising primer:£15 – £50 / m²
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Commercial Decorating, Rentals & New Builds
Commercial Painting
Offices, shops, restaurants, and warehouses priced by day rate (£300–£500+/day) or project.
- Office repaint:£2k – £10k+
- Restaurant / Retail:£3k – £15k+
- Warehouse / Industrial:£5k – £30k+
End-of-Tenancy & Refreshes
Speed is vital for landlords and letting agents needing properties back on the market.
- 1-bed flat refresh:£500 – £1,000
- 2-bed flat refresh:£700 – £1,400
- Full rental property:£1,000 – £3,500+
New Build Decorating
Priced at £40–£80/m² for standard specs or higher for luxury custom homes.
- 2-bed new build:£2,500 – £4,500
- 3-bed new build:£3,500 – £6,000
- 4-bed new build:£5,000 – £8,000+
Heritage Restoration & Decorative Finishes
Specialist heritage work commands substantial daily fees (£400–£600+ per day) because of the artistry and patience required.
Heritage Services
Working on period properties requiring breathable coatings rather than modern plastic paints.
- • Traditional limewash & distemper
- • Historic colour matching & sash window restoration
- • Decorative mouldings & lime plaster repair
- • Lead paint management & safe removal
Decorative Finishes & Gilding
Bespoke interior features priced by square metre or project rate.
- • Venetian & polished plaster: £30 – £100+/m²
- • Wood graining, marbling & rag rolling
- • Gold leaf gilding: £400 – £800+/day
- • Custom hand-painted murals
Worked Pricing Examples
Showing how direct labour, materials, overheads, and profit translate into professional customer quotes.
Standard Bedroom
- Labour (2 days @ £325):£650
- Paint & Primer:£100
- Filler, Caulk & Sundries:£40
- Travel & Dust protection:£50
- Direct cost:£840
Hall, Stairs & Landing
- Labour (4 days):£1,300
- Paint & Primer:£250
- Sundries & Protection:£100
- Tower Access Hire:£100
- Direct cost:£1,750
Wallpapered Feature Wall
- Hanging Labour (20m²):£300
- Designer Wallpaper Roll:£100
- Paste & Prep:£100
- Direct cost:£500
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Overheads, Strategy & Common Mistakes
Common Decorator Pricing Mistakes
- Charging only by room: Assuming every bedroom takes 2 days without checking wall condition or woodwork.
- Forgetting preparation: Failing to account for peeling paint, massive cracks, or wallpaper removal.
- Forgetting ceilings and woodwork: Quoting for "walls only" when the client expects doors and skirting included.
- Buying retail paint: Absorbing full retail prices instead of setting up trade accounts with Dulux, Brewers, or Johnstone's.
- Not specifying coats: Leaving quotes vague so clients demand a 3rd coat for free.
The Day-Rate Reality Check
Suppose annual business overheads (van, fuel, insurance, tools, marketing, accounting) equal £24,000, and your personal income target is £45,000. Total required revenue = £69,000.
Dividing by 180 genuinely billable days (deducting holidays, admin, quoting, and empty days):
Decorator SEO, Social Media & Winning Better Work
A painting and decorating website should not rely on one general "painter near me" page. To win premium work and stop competing with weekend DIYers, you need dedicated landing pages targeting specific high-intent searches, combined with a highly visual portfolio.
Location-Based SEO Targets
Create dedicated pages combining local towns with specific services (e.g., "Kitchen cabinet painting in [Town]"). High-value targets include:
Social Media Portfolios
Decorating is 100% visual. Homeowners want to see flawless cutting-in and immaculate dust protection before they hire you.
- Process & Prep Videos (TikTok/Reels): Show off your dustless sanding extractors and extensive masking tape setup. Educating customers on your heavy preparation justifies your premium day rate over a cheaper competitor.
- Cabinet Spraying Before & Afters: Showcase the dramatic transformation of outdated oak kitchens into modern, factory-finish sprayed cabinets.
- Local Facebook Groups: Share helpful advice on paint finishes (e.g., matte vs. eggshell) or trending colour matches. Become the trusted local authority on interior design execution.
The Final Decorator Pricing Checklist
A £400 quote and an £800 quote for the same room often differ entirely on preparation. Ensure your quote explicitly includes:
Wallpaper Removal + Surface Prep / Filling + Dustless Sanding + Masking/Protection + Paint & Materials + Material Markup + Labour Days + Scaffolding (Exterior) + Waste + Overheads + Profit
Quick UK Decorator Pricing Reference (2026)
Use this table for rapid job estimating and sanity-checking client quotes.
| Decorating Work / Service | Typical 2026 UK Benchmark |
|---|---|
| General Decorator Hourly Rate | £25 – £45 / hour |
| Experienced Decorator Day Rate | £200 – £300 / day |
| Decorator + Labourer Day Rate | £300 – £450 / day |
| Paint a Small Room (Walls, Ceiling, Basic Prep) | £350 – £500 |
| Paint a Medium Room (Walls, Ceiling, Basic Prep) | £450 – £700 |
| Paint a Large Room / Lounge (Walls & Ceiling) | £600 – £1,000+ |
| Paint Woodwork (Skirting/Architrave per room) | £80 – £150 |
| Paint Internal Door (Including frame) | £50 – £100 / door |
| Wallpapering (Labour only, per roll) | £40 – £80 / roll |
| Wallpapering a Standard Room (Labour only) | £350 – £600+ |
| Remove Wallpaper (Per Room) | £150 – £350 |
| Kitchen Cabinet Painting / Spraying | £800 – £2,000+ |
| Exterior House Painting (2-Bed Terraced) | £800 – £1,500 |
| Exterior House Painting (3-Bed Semi) | £1,500 – £3,000 |
| Exterior House Painting (4-Bed Detached) | £2,500 – £5,000+ |
| Scaffolding Allowance (For Exterior Work) | £500 – £1,500+ |
| Material Markup Allowance (Paint & Sundries) | 10% – 20% |
| Small-Job Minimum Charge | £100 – £150 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a painter and decorator charge per day?
Around £250–£400 is a useful general 2026 UK range, with approximately £325/day representing a published UK average. Specialist and London work can be considerably higher.
How much does a painter charge per hour?
Approximately £30–£50/hour is a useful general range for domestic work, with experienced and specialist decorators charging £45–£75+ per hour.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
Approximately £300–£700 for many standard rooms (walls, ceiling, woodwork), depending on size, surface preparation, and paint specification.
How much does exterior house painting cost?
Approximately £20–£40/m² is a useful current planning range, with around £30/m² as a broad average. A semi-detached house commonly costs £1,800–£3,600.
How much does wallpapering cost?
Approximately £12–£16/m² for labour on straightforward wallpapering, with more complicated designer papers and preparation costing considerably more.
Should a decorator supply the paint?
Yes, a supply-and-fit quote should include the cost of paint and materials, usually incorporating a 15–30% material markup to cover collection and matching time.
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