Painter & Decorator Costs UK - What You'll Actually Pay in 2026
How much should a painter and decorator charge in 2026? Room-by-room costs, day rates, and the quote details that separate the pros from the cowboys.
You've got three quotes for painting the living room. One says £400. One says £650. One says £900. Same room. Same walls. Three wildly different numbers.
How do you know which one's fair? And what are you actually getting for the money?
The difference between a good decorating job and a bodge almost always comes down to preparation - the work you can't see once it's finished. That's exactly where quotes get vague.
Here's what you should expect to pay, what a proper quote looks like, and the warning signs that tell you to keep looking.
What a good decorator's quote looks like
A quote that just says "paint lounge and hallway - £800" tells you almost nothing. A proper quote should spell out:
Room-by-room breakdown. Every room listed separately with its own price. Not "downstairs rooms" as a lump sum.
Number of coats. Two coats is standard for repaints. New plaster needs a mist coat (a thinned-down first coat that helps paint bond to fresh plaster) plus two full coats. If the quote says "one coat," be suspicious.
Preparation work. This is the big one. Filling cracks, sanding smooth, sugar soaping (washing walls with a cleaning solution to remove grease so paint sticks), removing flaking paint. Prep is what separates a finish that lasts from one that peels within months.
Paint brand, type, and finish. "Emulsion throughout" is meaningless. The quote should name the brand (Dulux, Farrow & Ball, Crown) and the finish - matt emulsion (flat, non-reflective paint) for walls, eggshell (a subtle sheen, tougher than matt) or satinwood (slight shine, used on woodwork) for trim and doors.
Woodwork. Are skirting boards, door frames (architraves), window frames, and doors included? Painting woodwork takes time and often costs as much as the walls.
Who supplies the paint. Either approach is fine. But if the decorator supplies it, the brand should be named. If you're buying, they should give you a specific shopping list - type, finish, colour code, and how many litres.
Furniture moving and dust sheets. Will they shift furniture and cover it, or do you need to clear the room yourself?
Timeline. How many days per room? When do they start and finish?
If the quote covers all of that, you're dealing with someone who knows what they're doing. If it's a one-liner with a price, keep shopping.
Typical costs in 2026
Here's what painting and decorating costs across the UK right now. These are for a standard repaint - walls, ceiling, and basic preparation. Woodwork, wallpaper stripping, and heavy prep work push prices higher.
Interior - per room
| Room | Price range | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | £250–£400 | Walls and ceiling, 2 coats, basic prep |
| Double bedroom | £300–£500 | Walls and ceiling, 2 coats, basic prep |
| Living room | £400–£700 | Walls and ceiling, 2 coats, basic prep |
| Kitchen | £300–£600 | Walls and ceiling (not units), prep, possible mould wash |
| Hallway, stairs & landing | £500–£900 | Multiple surfaces, awkward access, often needs more prep |
| Bathroom | £250–£450 | Specialist moisture-resistant paint, mould treatment if needed |
Day rates
| Experience level | Day rate |
|---|---|
| Junior / less experienced | £150–£200 |
| Experienced decorator | £200–£280 |
| London / South East | £250–£350 |
| Specialist (heritage, murals) | £300–£450 |
Exterior
| Job | Price range |
|---|---|
| Front of house only | £500–£1,200 |
| Full exterior (3-bed semi) | £1,500–£4,000 |
| Exterior woodwork only (fascias, soffits, windows) | £400–£1,000 |
| Masonry paint (the thick, weather-resistant paint for outside walls) | £800–£2,500 |
| Render or pebbledash (textured exterior wall finishes) | £1,200–£3,000 |
These prices assume surfaces in reasonable condition. Damp, crumbling render, or rotten woodwork push costs up fast. Always get a quote based on a site visit, not a phone estimate.
Costs based on Painting & Decorating Association rate surveys and MyBuildAlly quote analysis, Q1 2026. Your actual costs will vary based on surface condition, paint specification, and local labour rates.
Want a quick benchmark? Our cost calculator gives you a ballpark figure in about 30 seconds.
Red flags in painting and decorating quotes
Not every cheap quote is a bargain. And not every expensive one is a rip-off. But certain things should make you pause.
Quoting without seeing the rooms
A decorator who prices a job over the phone or from photos alone is guessing. They can't see the condition of the walls, how much prep is needed, whether there's damp behind the radiator, or how many coats the dark feature wall will need. Insist on a site visit.
"One coat should do it"
Rarely true. One coat over existing paint might work if you're going the same colour with premium paint. But if you're changing colour, covering marks, or painting new plaster, one coat will look patchy. Two coats is the professional standard. Three for new plaster (mist coat plus two).
No preparation work mentioned
If the quote doesn't mention filling, sanding, or cleaning the surfaces, the decorator is either planning to skip it or planning to charge extra for it later. Prep is the difference between paint that lasts five years and paint that's flaking by Christmas. As a general rule, prep should account for about a third of the total time on a repaint job.
Suspiciously cheap
If a full house repaint quote comes in at half the price of the others, something's missing. Usually it's preparation. The decorator will skim on sanding, skip the filler, apply one thin coat, and move on. You'll save money upfront and spend it again in 18 months when you need the whole thing redone.
Day rate with no estimated total days
"I'll do it for £220 a day" sounds reasonable. But how many days? If they won't commit to an estimate, you've got no idea what the final bill will be. A two-bedroom flat could take three days or seven, depending on how much prep is needed and how fast they work.
Won't name the paint brand
"Trade paint" or "standard emulsion" isn't good enough. There's a massive quality difference between Dulux Trade and the cheapest own-brand from the builder's merchant. If they won't tell you what they're using, they're probably using the cheapest option and charging you for something better. Our guide on spotting overcharging covers material markup tricks in more detail.
What's often missing from painting quotes
Even decent quotes regularly leave out work you'd reasonably expect to be included. Check for these:
Woodwork painting. Skirting boards, architraves (the frames around doors and windows), dado rails, picture rails, window sills. Painting woodwork is slow, fiddly work. It often costs as much as the walls. If the quote says "walls and ceiling only," ask for a separate price for the woodwork.
Ceiling painting. Some decorators only quote for walls unless you specifically ask. Ceilings take longer than you'd think - rollers drip, you're working overhead, and you usually need two coats of matt to get even coverage.
Filling and patching. Small holes from picture hooks are usually included. Larger cracks or damaged plaster? That's extra. If your walls are in rough shape, the prep cost can exceed the painting cost.
Wallpaper stripping. Messy, time-consuming work - especially if it's been painted over or there are multiple layers. Budget an extra £100–£250 per room.
Mould treatment. Common in bathrooms, kitchens, and north-facing bedrooms. The decorator needs to treat mould with a fungicidal wash before painting, then use specialist paint. Painting over untreated mould just means it comes back within weeks.
Primer on new plaster. Fresh plaster needs a mist coat - emulsion thinned down roughly 70/30 paint to water - before normal paint goes on. Some decorators include this; many don't.
Cutting in. The careful brushwork around edges - where walls meet ceilings, around light switches, along skirting boards. It's slow work. Make sure it's included.
Furniture moving. Will they shift furniture, or does everything need to be out before they arrive? Clarify this upfront.
Day rate vs fixed price - which is better?
Decorators typically quote one of two ways.
Day rate
You pay for each day they work. Simple and transparent - but there's no incentive to finish quickly. A three-day job can quietly become five. You're carrying the risk if prep takes longer than expected.
Best for: Small jobs (single room) or when you already know and trust the decorator.
Fixed price
The decorator quotes a flat fee for the whole job regardless of how long it takes. You know the total cost upfront. If prep takes an extra day, that's their problem, not yours.
Fixed-price quotes tend to be 10–15% higher because the decorator builds in a buffer. But you'll never get a nasty surprise when the invoice arrives.
Best for: Multiple rooms, full house repaints, or when you want cost certainty.
For most homeowners, fixed price is the safer option. Understanding the full picture of what a quote should include helps you compare like for like.
How to compare painting quotes
You've got three quotes on the table. Here's how to compare them properly.
Check the scope, not just the total. Quote A says £1,800 for the whole house. Quote B says £2,600. But Quote A excludes woodwork, ceilings, and preparation. Quote B includes everything. Quote B is actually cheaper - you just can't see it from the headline number.
Look at the preparation detail. The quote with the most thorough prep description is usually the better job. If one quote barely mentions prep, they're either skipping it or planning to charge extra.
Compare paint quality. Dulux Trade and Farrow & Ball don't cost the same - and neither does the result. Make sure you're comparing like for like.
Ask about the finish. How many coats? Will they cut in properly or just roller the walls? The answers tell you a lot about the quality you'll get.
Ask what happens if they find problems. What if there's damp behind the radiator? What if the plaster's blown (separated from the wall underneath)? A good decorator will explain how they handle surprises. A vague "we'll sort it" is a red flag.
Get a clear picture before you commit
Two quotes at the same price can mean completely different things if one includes proper prep and the other doesn't. The number matters less than what's behind it.
If you've got a quote and you're not sure whether it stacks up, run it through our cost calculator for a quick benchmark. Or create your free account and let MyBuildAlly flag the gaps before you sign anything.
The best time to question a quote is before you accept it. Once the painter's halfway through your hallway, it's too late to renegotiate.
FAQs
How much does a painter and decorator charge per day in the UK?
A qualified painter and decorator typically charges £180–£300 per day in 2026, depending on location and experience. London and the South East sit at the top of that range. Some decorators prefer to quote per room rather than per day - a standard double bedroom costs £300–£500 for walls and ceiling, inclusive of basic prep.
What should a painter and decorator's quote include?
It should list every room separately, specify the number of coats, state whether preparation work (filling, sanding, sugar soaping) is included, confirm who's supplying the paint, name the paint brand and finish, and say whether they're moving furniture. If it just says "paint lounge - £500" and nothing else, it's not detailed enough to compare or hold anyone to.
Should I supply the paint or let the decorator buy it?
Either approach works, but agree it upfront and put it in the quote. If the decorator supplies paint, the brand and type should be named - not just "emulsion." If you're buying it yourself, ask them to specify exactly what you need: type, finish, colour, and how many litres. Budget roughly £25–£40 per room for a decent mid-range paint like Dulux Trade or Crown Trade.
How long does it take to paint a room?
A standard double bedroom - walls and ceiling, two coats, basic prep - takes a good decorator about one to one-and-a-half days. A living room is one-and-a-half to two days. A hallway, stairs, and landing can take two to three days because of the awkward access and multiple surfaces. Add time for heavy prep work, wallpaper stripping, or woodwork.
Is it worth paying more for a good painter?
Almost always yes. A skilled decorator with proper preparation will give you a finish that lasts five to seven years. A cheap job with skipped prep might look fine for six months, then start showing cracks, peeling edges, and uneven coverage. You end up paying twice - once for the bad job and once to have it put right. Consider it an investment in not having to repaint your living room next year.
Do painters and decorators need qualifications?
There's no legal requirement to hold qualifications. Anyone can call themselves a painter and decorator. But look for membership of the Painting & Decorating Association (PDA) or a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. NVQ Level 2 or 3 in painting and decorating shows formal training. At minimum, they should have public liability insurance - ask to see it.
Sources
- Painting & Decorating Association (PDA) - trade rate surveys and professional standards
- BCIS Average Building Prices - regional labour rate benchmarks, Q1 2026
- TrustMark - government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople
- Analysis of painting and decorating quotes submitted to MyBuildAlly, January–March 2026