What does a painter and decorator cost in 2026?
A painter and decorator charges £150–280 a day in 2026, higher in London and the South East. Most work is quoted as a fixed price per room or per property: £250–500 for a small bedroom and £1,800–4,500 to decorate a three-bedroom house throughout. A VAT-registered firm adds 20% on top, so always ask whether the figure you've been given includes it.
Updated 15 September 2026
Preparation is what you're paying for
The paint on a wall costs a few pounds a square metre. The price is in filling, caulking, sanding, sugar-soaping and masking, and that's where two quotes for the same room diverge by hundreds of pounds.
Old plaster, blown artex, nicotine staining and damp patches all mean extra coats or a mist coat and a stain block. Ask each decorator to write down what preparation is included and how many coats — 'two coats over prepared surfaces' is a specification, 'fully decorated' is not.
Exterior work adds access. Anything above ground-floor reach needs a tower or scaffold, typically £300–900 a week hired in, and that line should be visible in the quote rather than buried.
Typical decorating prices
Labour and standard materials, two coats. Excludes VAT and access equipment.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Day rate | £150–280 |
| Small bedroom, walls and ceiling | £250–500 |
| Living room, walls, ceiling and woodwork | £450–900 |
| Hallway, stairs and landing | £600–1,400 |
| Three-bed house, full interior | £1,800–4,500 |
| Exterior of a semi-detached house | £1,500–4,000 |
| Wallpapering, per roll hung | £30–60 |
| Feature wall, wallpaper supplied by you | £150–350 |
| Front door, rubbed down and repainted | £120–280 |
Insurance, VAT and lead in older homes
Decorating isn't a regulated trade, so there's no register to check. What you can check is public liability insurance — £2m is standard — and membership of the Painting and Decorating Association or the Dulux Select scheme, both of which vet their members.
If the property was built before about 1970, the old paint layers may contain lead. Dry sanding it is a genuine health risk, and a competent decorator will wet-sand or use a suitable extraction sander rather than filling the room with dust.
VAT is the single most common cause of a nasty surprise. A sole trader under the threshold quotes a price you actually pay; a limited company adds 20%. Ask for the quote to state which.
Getting comparable quotes
Give every decorator the same room list, the same paint brand and finish, and the same answer on whether woodwork and radiators are included. Naming the product matters — trade emulsion and a premium washable line differ by £25 a tin and by years of wiping down.
A deposit for materials is reasonable on a large job; paying for the whole job in advance is not. Settle up after you've seen the work in daylight and agreed any touching-in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a room in the UK?
£250–500 for walls and ceiling in a small bedroom, and £450–900 for a living room with woodwork included. London prices sit above that range.
What's a decorator's day rate?
£150–280 a day for one decorator in most of the country, £220–350 in London. Two-person teams are quoted per day per person.
Does the price include paint?
Often not. Many decorators supply at trade price plus a small margin, or ask you to buy it. Either is fine as long as the quote says which and names the product.
Do I pay VAT on decorating?
Only if the firm is VAT registered, in which case 20% is added. Smaller sole traders below the registration threshold don't charge it, which is why their quotes can look cheaper for the same work.
Describe the job and we'll match you with the right company — free for homeowners.