PRICE GUIDE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · 2026–2027
French Polishing cost in the UK
£200–£800 per item. Typically £400.
French polishing costs £200–£800 per item in the UK, about £400 typical. A spot repair to a mark or scratch is the small end; a full re-polish over a cleaned table or chest sits higher, and stripping a large piece back to bare wood is dearer still. Shellac is built up by hand in many thin coats.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does french polishing cost in the UK?
| Low end | £200 | a spot repair to a water mark or scratch |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £400 | what most people pay |
| High end | £800 | a full re-polish of a large table |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the handymen and repair firms near you.
What moves the price
- Spot repair or full surface — fixing one water mark costs far less than re-polishing a whole top
- Stripping — taking an old finish back to bare wood adds many hours to a French polishing job
- Size of the piece — a side table and a twelve-seat dining table are very different jobs
- Condition — deep scratches, burns and lifting veneer need repairing before the French polishing can start
- Colour matching — matching the polish to an old patina takes skill and several trials
- On site or workshop — polishing in your home avoids transport but limits the conditions
Home repair prices in the UK are up 6% over five years (ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Services for maintenance and repair, to 2026 August). Five years ago a typical french polishing would have cost about £360 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7DO →
WHAT YOU GET
What a french polishing booking includes
Takes: A day for a spot repair; one to three weeks in a workshop for a full re-polish. Not included: Upholstery, structural joinery repairs and transport of large pieces are usually priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common French polishing jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
French Polishing near you, with prices shown
The handymen and repair firms that cover your area, nearest first, each with their price and one score from every review. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
How to pay less
- Ask the French polisher whether a revive and wax would do instead of a full strip
- Protect polished tables with mats and coasters so French polishing repairs are needed less often
- Have several polishing jobs done on one visit to share the travel and set-up
Before you book
- Ask for the furniture to be seen first, to decide between a refresh and a strip
- For a valuable antique, choose a polisher who will conserve the original finish where possible
- Clear and ventilate the room if the French polishing is to be done in your home
- Agree how long the polished furniture should be left untouched while the shellac hardens
French Polishing cost: questions people ask
£200–£800 per item, about £400 typical. A spot repair is the cheapest; re-polishing a large table costs most.
A spot repair can be done in a day. A full re-polish of a table takes one to three weeks, because each thin coat must harden.
Not without good reason. Stripping an original finish can reduce an antique's value, so a careful refresh is usually better.
Many small repairs can be done on site. A full re-polish is better in a workshop, where dust and temperature are controlled.
Upholstery, structural repairs and transport of large furniture are usually extra. A polisher can usually recommend an upholsterer or carrier if the piece needs one.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, taken from published UK polishing and furniture restoration cost guides. They show a national range, not a quote.
MORE GUIDES