HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a painter & decorator in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A painter & decorator in Ireland costs €300–€800 per room, typically around €450. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a painter & decorator in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers painter & decorator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — surface Preparation — surface preparation is a crucial step in any painting or decorating project.
- How does condition of the areas to be worked on change the price?Bigger work usually means more than one visit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does types of materials chosen change the price?Supplying your own can bring the quote down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the project change the price?The more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Wallpaper Installation — wallpaper installation is a decorative service where various types of wallpaper, including vinyl, fabric, and patterned designs, are applied to walls — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a painter & decorator job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. Anyone may trade as one, and the quality is almost entirely in the PREPARATION, which is also the part that is invisible once the job is finished and the part a cheap quote leaves out. Two real hazards sit behind it: paint in a home built before about 1980 may contain LEAD, which must not be dry-sanded, and work above a step-ladder is work at height under HSA rules.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
What preparation is included, written room by room — filling, sanding, caulking, priming and how many coats; a quote that says only 'two coats' has not priced the preparation; The paint by NAME and finish, not 'trade emulsion' — coverage differs, and the published spreading rate is how you check the quantity is plausible; For a home built before about 1980, how they will test for and handle lead paint; dry sanding it is the thing not to do; How they protect floors, furniture and fittings, and who moves what; Public liability — the routine claim here is paint on a carpet; Whether the price includes making good small damage, or whether that is extra.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; ask the limit, because a spoiled floor is the usual claim. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers painter & decorator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — surface Preparation — surface preparation is a crucial step in any painting or decorating project.
A good answer: Bigger work usually means more than one visit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Supplying your own can bring the quote down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Wallpaper Installation — wallpaper installation is a decorative service where various types of wallpaper, including vinyl, fabric, and patterned designs, are applied to walls — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a painter & decorator job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; ask the limit, because a spoiled floor is the usual claim — exterior Decorating — exterior decorating focuses on enhancing the appearance of a building's outside surfaces.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the painter & decorator starts, and an itemised invoice after — interior Painting — interior painting involves refreshing the walls and ceilings of homes and commercial spaces.
Getting the quote right
- Condition of the areas to be worked on — bigger work usually means more than one visit.
- Types of materials chosen — supplying your own can bring the quote down.
- Complexity of the project — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs.
- Access to the site — height work needs equipment that a ground-floor job does not.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: condition of the areas to be worked on — bigger work usually means more than one visit
- They will not talk about it: types of materials chosen — supplying your own can bring the quote down
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the project — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs
- A price for the painter & decorator before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the painter & decorator has begun
What a painter & decorator costs: €300–€800 per room
The figures are for the job, per room, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Interior painting and Exterior painting each carry their own band. Painter & Decorator price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Painter & decorators near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstCondition of the areas to be worked on — bigger work usually means more than one visit — that is what the painter & decorator is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneTypes of materials chosen — supplying your own can bring the quote down — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the project — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAccess to the site — height work needs equipment that a ground-floor job does not — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the painter & decorator is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that they comply with safety regulations, especially when working at heights or with certain materials.
- Interior Painting
- Interior painting involves refreshing the walls and ceilings of homes and commercial spaces.
- Exterior Decorating
- Exterior decorating focuses on enhancing the appearance of a building's outside surfaces.
- Wallpaper Installation
- Wallpaper installation is a decorative service where various types of wallpaper, including vinyl, fabric, and patterned designs, are applied to walls.
- Surface Preparation
- Surface preparation is a crucial step in any painting or decorating project.
- Exterior Painting
- Focuses on the exterior surfaces of a building, protecting it from the elements while enhancing curb appeal.
- Decorative Finishes
- Encompasses techniques like stencilling, sponging, or faux finishes to add character and style to walls.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a painter & decorator: questions people ask
Several factors can influence the overall cost, including the type of paint used, the condition of the surfaces, and whether any preparatory work is needed. Additionally, the experience level and reputation of the painter can also affect pricing.
The duration of a painting job can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of the project. Smaller jobs may take a day or two, while larger projects, such as whole-house repaints, can take a week or more to complete.
For most painting and decorating tasks, a general professional is sufficient. However, if your project involves structural work, electrical, or gas installations, it's crucial to hire a qualified specialist who is registered for those specific tasks.
Same-day or emergency painting services may be available, but they often come at a premium price. It's best to contact local professionals to check their availability and any additional costs associated with urgent requests.
Yes, booking several related jobs together can often lead to cost savings, as many professionals may offer package deals or discounts for larger projects. It's advisable to discuss this with your chosen painter to explore potential savings.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. Anyone may trade as one, and the quality is almost entirely in the PREPARATION, which is also the part that is invisible once the job is finished and the part a cheap quote leaves out. Two real hazards sit behind it: paint in a home built before about 1980 may contain LEAD, which must not be dry-sanded, and work above a step-ladder is work at height under HSA rules.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Painter & decorators near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- HSA — work at height
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only