TL;DR — Painting And Decorating At A Glance
- Most rooms cost £350–£600 to paint, from around £350 for a small room to £600–£1,000+ for a large one with ceilings and woodwork.
- Decorators charge a day rate of £230–£355 outside London, rising 20–30% in London and the South East.
- The amount of preparation is the biggest cost driver — filling, sanding and priming often take longer than the painting itself.
- Prices depend on the room size, number of coats, ceiling height, condition of the walls and whether woodwork is included.
- Quotes may be labour only or supply-and-apply — always confirm whether paint and materials are in the price.
- The cheapest way to decorate is to do the prep yourself and book several rooms in one visit.
- Get a fixed price for painting and decorating — check prices and book online or arrange a visit to price up a room or a whole home.
How Much Does Painting And Decorating Cost In 2026?
Painting and decorating in the UK costs £350–£600 per room on average, and decorators charge a day rate of £230–£355 outside London. In London and the South East, both figures run roughly 20–30% higher. A small box room or hallway sits at the bottom of the range, while a large living room with a high ceiling, coving and woodwork sits at the top.
Most decorators price a job in one of two ways: a day rate for open-ended work such as a whole house, or a fixed price per room once they have seen the walls. A standard room usually takes one to two days including preparation, drying between coats, and painting the ceiling and woodwork. The paint itself is a modest part of the bill — the time goes on getting a clean, even finish.
Preparation is where jobs differ most. Sound walls that just need two topcoats are quick. Walls with cracks, flaking paper, damp patches or old textured coatings need filling, sanding, stripping or priming first, which can double the labour. Here is what painting and decorating costs across the UK:
| How you book | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate | £230 – £355 | £280 – £460 |
| Small room (box room, hall) | £350 – £450 | £420 – £580 |
| Medium room (bedroom) | £400 – £550 | £480 – £700 |
| Large room (living / through-lounge) | £600 – £1,000+ | £750 – £1,300+ |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the room and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Painting And Decorating Cost By Room And Job
Pricing per room is the clearest way to budget. These are typical fixed prices for common jobs, assuming walls in reasonable condition:
| Job | Typical price (rest of UK) | Typical price (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Small room / hallway | £350 – £450 | £420 – £580 |
| Standard bedroom | £400 – £550 | £480 – £700 |
| Living room | £500 – £800 | £600 – £1,000 |
| Ceiling only (per room) | £120 – £250 | £150 – £320 |
| Woodwork (skirting, door, frame) | £80 – £200 | £100 – £260 |
| Hanging wallpaper (per roll) | £20 – £45 | £30 – £60 |
| Whole two-bed home (repaint) | £1,800 – £3,500 | £2,300 – £4,500 |
As a rough per-square-metre figure, decorators work to around £3–£8 per m² of wall for a standard two-coat finish, before prep. That is useful for comparing quotes, but most homeowners find a per-room or day-rate price easier to budget against.
What Affects The Cost Of Painting And Decorating?
Several factors decide where your job lands in the ranges above.
1. Preparation And Wall Condition
This is the biggest driver. Filling cracks, sanding, stripping wallpaper, treating damp or sealing bare plaster can take as long as the painting. Smooth, sound walls keep the price down.
2. Room Size And Ceiling Height
More wall area means more paint and time. High ceilings, stairwells and galleried landings also need access equipment, which slows the job and adds cost.
3. Number Of Coats And Colour Change
Going from a dark colour to a light one, or covering strong stains, needs an extra coat or a primer. Bare plaster always needs a mist coat first. Each extra coat adds time.
4. Woodwork And Detail
Skirting boards, doors, frames, coving and picture rails are fiddly and slow, especially if old gloss needs sanding back. The more detail, the higher the labour.
5. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 20–30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland, reflecting higher labour costs. A £450 room elsewhere can be £550–£600 in the capital.
6. Materials And Finish
Trade paint, specialist finishes and premium brands cost more than budget emulsion. Whether the quote includes paint, or you supply it, changes the headline figure.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a decorating quote:
- Protecting floors and furniture with dust sheets
- Basic filling of small cracks and holes, sanding and caulking
- Applying the agreed number of coats to walls, ceilings and woodwork
- Cleaning up and removing masking at the end
Usually charged separately:
- Paint and materials, if the quote is labour-only
- Major repairs — large cracks, damp treatment, re-plastering or plastering a wall
- Stripping heavy woodchip or textured coatings
- Access equipment for very high ceilings and stairwells
- Wallpaper supply and specialist hanging
Always confirm in writing whether paint is included, how many coats are quoted, and what preparation is covered, so the finish and the bill match your expectations.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Painting a room is one of the most achievable DIY jobs, and doing it yourself saves the whole labour cost. With a roller, brushes, dust sheets, filler and masking tape, a confident amateur can get a good result on sound walls, and the paint for a room costs only £30–£80.
The trade-offs are time, mess and finish. A professional is far quicker, cuts in neatly around edges without tape, and knows how to prep problem walls so the paint lasts. Bring in a decorator for high ceilings and stairwells that need safe access, for bare plaster and damaged walls that need proper preparation, for a flawless finish on woodwork, and for wallpaper, which is easy to hang badly. If prep reveals cracked or blown plaster, that is a job for a plasterer before any painting begins.
How To Save Money On Painting And Decorating
- Do the prep yourself — fill, sand and wash down the walls before the decorator arrives, so paid time goes on painting.
- Book several rooms at once to make the most of the day rate and setup.
- Supply your own paint in the colours and quantities you want, avoiding any markup.
- Keep colours light to reduce the number of coats, especially over a darker shade.
- Clear the room — move furniture and take down curtains and fittings in advance.
- Get 2–3 quotes and compare the number of coats and prep included, not just the headline price.
How To Hire A Good Decorator
Ask to see photos of recent work, check reviews and references, and get a written quote stating the number of coats, the preparation included, and whether paint is supplied. Confirm the decorator holds public liability insurance to cover your floors and furniture, and agree how furniture and access will be handled before the day.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured painters and decorators, transparent pricing and online booking — describe the rooms and get a price up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Room In The UK?
Most rooms cost £350–£600 to paint in 2026, from around £350 for a small room to £600–£1,000+ for a large living room with ceilings and woodwork. London adds roughly 20–30%.
What Is A Decorator's Day Rate?
A decorator's day rate is typically £230–£355 outside London and £280–£460 in London. Day rates suit whole-house or open-ended jobs, while a fixed price per room is easier to budget for a single space.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Whole House?
Repainting a two-bedroom home usually costs £1,800–£3,500 outside London and £2,300–£4,500 in London, depending on the number of rooms, ceiling heights and how much preparation the walls need.
Does The Price Include Paint?
Not always. Some decorators quote labour only and expect you to supply the paint, while others quote supply-and-apply. Always confirm which, along with the number of coats, so the quote is comparing like with like.
How Long Does It Take To Decorate A Room?
A standard room takes one to two days, including preparation, drying time between coats, and painting the ceiling and woodwork. Extensive filling, wallpaper stripping or bare plaster can add a day.
Why Is Preparation So Important When Decorating?
Preparation determines how good and how long-lasting the finish is. Filling, sanding, sealing and priming give the paint a sound surface to grip. Skipping it leads to flaking, uneven colour and a job that needs redoing sooner.
