How much does a painter and decorator charge per day?

UK painters and decorators typically charge £140–£220 per day nationally. London and South East decorators charge £220–£340/day. Rates vary based on the type of work — emulsion is faster than gloss or wallpaper.

How much does it cost to paint a bedroom?

Painting a standard double bedroom (walls and ceiling, two coats) typically costs £250–£450 for labour. Materials (paint) add £50–£100 on top depending on quality. London prices run 30–40% higher.

How much does it cost to wallpaper a room?

Hanging wallpaper typically costs £150–£300 per room in labour, plus the cost of wallpaper itself. Patterned or heavy wallpaper with complex matching costs more. Lining paper before wallpapering adds £100–£200 to the labour cost.

How much does exterior painting cost?

Painting the exterior of a semi-detached house typically costs £800–£2,000 for a full repaint including prep. The prep work — filling, sanding, priming — often takes longer than the painting itself.

Do decorators charge for paint?

Some decorators include paint in their quote; others quote labour only and expect you to supply paint. If they supply materials, they typically charge a small markup. Clarify this upfront — trade paint used by decorators is generally better than DIY store paint.

How Much Does a Painter and Decorator Charge in the UK? (2025)

UK Painter & Decorator Rates at a Glance (2025)

Region	Hourly Rate	Day Rate
National average	£25–£45/hr	£140–£220/day
London	£40–£65/hr	£220–£340/day
South East	£33–£55/hr	£190–£295/day
Midlands	£22–£40/hr	£130–£205/day
North England	£20–£36/hr	£120–£195/day
Scotland	£22–£38/hr	£125–£200/day
Wales	£20–£35/hr	£115–£185/day

Are you a decorator? These are market averages. Your actual rate needs to cover insurance, a van, materials waste, and those weeks where bad weather kills your exterior jobs. Use our free decorator day rate calculator to find your real number.

What Do Painters and Decorators Charge for Common Jobs?

Most decorators quote per job or per room. Hourly rates tend to be used for smaller jobs — touching up woodwork, painting a hallway ceiling, that sort of thing. Here are typical 2025 prices for the most common jobs:

Paint a bedroom

£250–£450

Walls and ceiling, labour

Paint a living room

£350–£600

Larger area, labour only

Hang wallpaper (room)

£150–£350

Labour only, per room

Gloss doors & frames

£40–£80

Per door, both sides

Exterior semi-detached

£800–£2,000

Full repaint inc. prep

Paint garden fence

£200–£500

Both sides, per panel run

Lining paper (room)

£100–£200

Before wallpapering

Paint sash windows

£80–£160

Per window, inc. prep

What Drives the Price for Decorating Work?

The big variable is prep. A room where the walls are in perfect condition takes half the time of one with hairline cracks, blown plaster, or nicotine staining. Decorators who quote cheap often cut corners on preparation — and that's where you end up with paint cracking off or wallpaper bubbling within 12 months.

Prep condition — Filling, sanding, and priming properly takes time. Don't expect it to be free.
Paint quality — Trade paints used by professionals (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Dulux Trade) genuinely cover better and last longer. If a decorator quotes very cheaply and then uses budget emulsion, you're not getting the same job.
Type of surface — Emulsion on smooth plasterboard is quick. Gloss on old sash windows with multiple paint layers is slow, painstaking work.
Wallpaper — Standard wallpaper is straightforward. Large-pattern matches, grasscloth, or fabric-backed wallcoverings require real skill and take longer.
Access — Stairwells and double-height spaces add time for setup and make painting awkward. Expect to pay more for these.

Should You Supply Your Own Paint?

You can, but it's not always the right call. Experienced decorators use trade accounts to buy better-quality paint at better prices than you'll get retail. If you supply inferior paint to save money, the finish suffers — and the decorator knows it. Most decorators would rather supply materials and charge a small markup than be held responsible for a finish that fails because you bought cheap emulsion.

Exception: if you've got a specific colour that's only available from one brand, or you want to match an existing colour exactly, supply it yourself and tell them upfront.

Are you a decorator? Find your real rate.

Use our free calculator to see the minimum you need to charge based on your actual overheads and income goal — not just the going rate.

Calculate My Decorator Rate ›

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a painter and decorator charge per day?

UK decorators typically charge £140–£220 per day nationally. London and South East decorators charge £220–£340/day. Rates depend on work type — emulsion is quicker than gloss or wallpaper.
How much does it cost to paint a bedroom?

Painting a standard double bedroom (walls and ceiling, two coats) typically costs £250–£450 for labour. Paint adds £50–£100 on top. London prices run 30–40% higher.
How much does it cost to wallpaper a room?

Wallpaper hanging typically costs £150–£300 per room in labour, plus the cost of the wallpaper. Pattern-matching wallpaper costs more. Lining paper adds £100–£200 to labour.
How much does exterior house painting cost?

A full exterior repaint of a semi-detached house typically costs £800–£2,000 including prep. The prep — filling, sanding, priming — often takes longer than the painting itself.
Do painters and decorators charge VAT?

Only if VAT registered (turnover over £90,000/year in 2025/26). Many decorators work below this threshold. Check whether your quote is ex-VAT — on a large job the 20% difference is meaningful.