How much does painter & decorator cost in United Kingdom?
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Key takeaways
- Most painter & decorator jobs in United Kingdom land between £100–£6,000 — known locally as painter and decorator.
- Painting and decorating is unregulated in the UK — no licence exists — so voluntary schemes (Painting and Decorating Association membership, Dulux Select Decorators) and review platforms do the vetting work. Lead paint was common in UK homes before the 1960s-70s and its sale was banned by 1992; old gloss woodwork should never be dry-sanded.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Painter & Decorator prices by job size in United Kingdom
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room (walls and ceiling) Standard bedroom, two coats, minor prep | £300 | £450 | £700 |
| Whole interior (3-bed house) Walls throughout, standard prep, two coats | £2,000 | £3,500 | £6,000 |
| Exterior repaint (semi-detached) Render/masonry walls, fascias and trim, access equipment | £1,500 | £3,000 | £5,500 |
| Woodwork per room (doors, skirting, frames) Gloss or satinwood finish added to a wall job | £150 | £250 | £400 |
| Feature wall or hallway refresh Single wall or small space, two coats | £100 | £180 | £300 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per day (labour) | £180 | £250 | £350 |
| per hour (labour) | £18 | £25 | £38 |
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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom
- Check membership of the Painting and Decorating Association (PDA) or Dulux Select Decorators — painting is unlicensed in the UK, so these voluntary schemes are the main vetting
- Ask for public liability insurance (£2m is standard)
- Get itemised quotes stating prep level, number of coats, and paint brand/line — and whether the price includes materials and VAT
- Check reviews on Checkatrade, MyBuilder, or Trustpilot mentioning prep and tidiness
- For pre-1970s homes, ask how they handle potential lead paint on woodwork — no dry sanding of old gloss
- Agree a snag walkthrough in daylight before final payment
Red flags
- Quote doesn't say whether VAT and materials are included
- One-coat assumption hidden in a cheap quote
- No insurance
- Large cash deposit demanded
- Won't put prep level in writing
- Door-knocking 'we're in the area' exterior painters
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 GBP, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: Checkatrade painter and decorator cost guide 2026 (day rate ~£325 area, room ~£450); MyBuilder painter decorator cost guide; Hamuch regional decorator rates (£127-£271/day).
Frequently asked questions
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.
What should a painting quote include?
In writing: which rooms and surfaces (walls, ceilings, woodwork), prep level, number of coats, paint brand and line (and who supplies it), protection of floors and furniture, cleanup and waste disposal, timeline, total price with tax status, and payment terms. For exteriors, add access equipment (ladders vs scaffold) and weather-delay terms. Missing detail is where disputes start.
How do I judge a painter's quality before hiring?
Three checks: recent photos or addresses of comparable jobs (ask specifically for work 1-2 years old — fresh paint always looks good), reviews that mention prep and cleanliness rather than just price, and the quote itself — a detailed written scope with prep level, paint spec, and coat count signals a professional; a one-line price signals corner-cutting. Cutting-in lines around ceilings and trim are where skill shows.
What about lead paint in older homes?
Homes painted before the late 1970s-1980s (exact cutoff varies by country) may have lead-based layers under newer paint. The danger is sanding or scraping it into dust. If your home predates the local cutoff, ask the painter how they test for and handle lead — wet sanding, containment, or encapsulation rather than dry-sanding. Several countries legally require certified lead-safe practices for pre-cutoff homes.
What is a typical painter and decorator day rate in the UK?
Around £180-£350 per day depending on region, with London at the top; hourly rates run roughly £18-£38. Most jobs are better bought as a fixed price — a standard room typically costs £300-£700 including two coats and minor prep, with materials either included or added at cost.
How much does it cost to paint a whole UK house interior?
A full 3-bed interior repaint (walls throughout, standard prep, two coats) typically runs £2,000-£6,000 depending on region, ceiling heights, and woodwork. Adding all doors, skirting, and frames in gloss can add £1,000+. Get the scope itemised room by room to compare quotes fairly.
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