How much does painter & decorator cost in Hong Kong?
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Key takeaways
- Most painter & decorator jobs in Hong Kong land between HK$1,200–HK$20,000 — known locally as painting and decorating.
- Interior painting needs no licence in Hong Kong (registered contractors are required only for building works under the minor works regime, not decoration), and pricing runs per saleable square foot or per flat. The humid subtropical climate makes flaking paint and mould on concrete walls the defining local problem — proper jobs budget for surface repair, sealing, and anti-mould lines.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Painter & Decorator prices by job size in Hong Kong
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room Walls and ceiling, two coats | HK$1,200 | HK$2,000 | HK$3,500 |
| Small flat (~400 sq ft) Whole-flat walls, two coats, paint included | HK$4,000 | HK$7,000 | HK$11,000 |
| Large flat (~800 sq ft) Whole-flat walls, two coats, paint included | HK$8,000 | HK$13,000 | HK$20,000 |
| Damp/flaking wall repair add-on Scrape, skim, seal problem walls before painting | HK$2,000 | HK$4,000 | HK$8,000 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per sq ft (walls, two coats) | HK$3 | HK$5 | HK$8 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in Hong Kong typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a painter & decorator pro in Hong Kong
- Quote by flat size in saleable square feet — HK painting is priced per sq ft or per whole flat
- Confirm scope: walls only, or walls plus ceilings and doors — ceilings add meaningfully in HK's concrete flats
- Ask about surface repair — HK's humidity causes flaking and blistering concrete-wall paint, and skim/repair before painting is often the bigger job
- Check whether the quote includes anti-mould paint for bathrooms and window walls
- Book through platforms with reviews (Toby, HKDecoman-style) or established decoration companies
- Check building management rules for contractor registration and working hours
Red flags
- Per-sq-ft price that excludes ceiling and repair work, ballooning on site
- No allowance for flaking/damp wall repair in an older building
- Cash-only with no receipt
- No company identity
- One-coat assumption on a colour change
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to HKD, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: Toby / HKDecoman painting quote norms (HK$3-8/sq ft); Extrapolated from HK decoration trade rates.
Frequently asked questions
How many coats of paint do walls need?
Two topcoats is the professional standard for a proper finish, plus a primer or sealer coat on new plaster, stains, or strong colour changes. Be suspicious of quotes that assume one coat — it rarely covers evenly and is the classic way a cheap quote wins then disappoints. Dramatic colour changes (dark to light) can need a tinted primer plus two coats.
How much deposit is normal for a painting job?
For small interior jobs, many painters ask nothing up front or a token booking fee. For larger jobs, 10-30% deposit is typical, sometimes with a materials payment when paint is purchased. Be wary of demands for 50%+ before any work starts. Stage payments for multi-week jobs are fine; hold back the final payment until you've inspected the finished work in daylight.
Should I move furniture before the painters arrive?
Clear small items, valuables, and wall hangings yourself; painters typically move large furniture to the room centre and sheet it as part of the job. Confirm this when booking — some charge extra for furniture moving, and empty rooms are always cheaper and faster to paint. For whole-house jobs, discuss room sequencing so you can keep living around the work.
Do painters also hang wallpaper or just paint?
Many painter-decorators do both — wallpaper hanging, feature walls, and removal — but it's a distinct skill, so ask for wallpaper-specific references. Wallpaper removal before painting is usually quoted separately since old paper can come off in minutes or take days depending on how it was applied. Never let anyone paint over wallpaper without discussing it; it's occasionally fine, usually a mistake.
Is it worth paying more for premium paint?
Usually yes for high-traffic areas and exteriors. Premium lines cover better (sometimes saving a coat), scrub clean without burnishing, and hold colour longer outdoors. On a professional job, labour dominates the price — upgrading paint might add a small percentage to the total while meaningfully extending repaint intervals. Save budget paint for low-traffic ceilings and rental refreshes.
How are painting jobs priced?
Painters quote one of four ways: per room (most common for interiors), per square metre or square foot of wall area, a day rate for open-ended work, or a fixed price for a defined whole-house scope. A fixed quote against a written scope — rooms, surfaces, prep level, number of coats, and who supplies paint — protects you best. Day rates suit only small punch-list jobs where the scope genuinely can't be pinned down.
How is painting priced in Hong Kong?
Per saleable square foot — typically HK$3-HK$8 per sq ft for standard two-coat wall painting, so a 400 sq ft flat lands around HK$4,000-HK$11,000 and larger flats scale up. Wall repair (skimming flaked or damp-damaged areas) is quoted on top and is often the variable that doubles a quote.
Why does my HK flat's paint keep peeling and what does fixing it cost?
Usually moisture — condensation on concrete walls, seepage from the flat above, or failed window seals. Painting over it fails within months; the fix is treating the source, scraping back, sealing, then repainting, which can add 30-100% to a basic painting quote. Ask the painter to diagnose the moisture path before quoting.
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