PRICE GUIDE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · 2026–2027
Painter & Decorator cost in the UK
£250–£800 per room. Typically £400.
Painting a room in the UK costs £250–£800, with about £400 typical for a medium bedroom. Labour makes up most of the bill, so room size, the state of the walls and how much woodwork and ceiling is included decide the price; London decorators charge the most.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a painter & decorator cost in the UK?
| Low end | £250 | a small room in good condition outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £400 | what most people pay |
| High end | £800 | a large room with woodwork and ceiling, or a London decorator |
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
- Room size — a box room is a day's painting, a large living room with high ceilings takes two
- Preparation — filling cracks, sanding and stain-blocking older walls can take as long as the painting
- Woodwork and ceilings — skirting, doors, frames and the ceiling add hours to a room
- Colour change — going from dark to light needs extra coats of paint
- Period features — cornicing, picture rails and panelling in older houses slow the painter down
- VAT — a decorating firm over the threshold adds 20%, while many sole-trader decorators do not
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 painter & decorator would have cost about £380 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7DO →
WHAT YOU GET
What a painter & decorator booking includes
Takes: One to two days for a typical room; longer for halls and stairwells. Not included: Plastering whole walls, replacing woodwork and moving heavy furniture out of the house are separate — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common painter & decorator jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Painter & Decorator near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Book several rooms of painting together, as decorators price a run of days more keenly
- Buy the paint yourself if the decorator agrees, and choose colours before the first day
- Empty the room and take down curtains so paid decorator time goes on painting
Before you book
- Homes built before the 1960s may have lead paint, so ask how the decorator will sand it safely
- Agree in writing which walls, ceilings and woodwork are included in each room
- Ask whether the painter's quote includes the paint, filler and caulk or labour only
- Check the decorator has public liability insurance before work starts
Painter & Decorator cost: questions people ask
£250–£800 per room, about £400 typical for a medium bedroom. A small room outside London is cheapest; a large living room with woodwork in London is dearest.
Most rooms take one to two days, including preparation and two coats. Halls and stairwells take longer.
It can be. Homes painted before the 1960s may contain lead paint, and sanding it creates harmful dust. HSE advice is to test it and use wet sanding or chemical strippers rather than dry sanding or burning.
A fixed price per room makes budgeting easier. A day rate suits jobs where the preparation is hard to judge in advance.
Replastering, new skirting or doors and furniture removal are priced separately. Agree in writing which walls, ceilings and woodwork the decorating price covers before work starts.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, based on published UK room painting and decorating cost guides. They give a national range, not a quote.
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