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How much do painters and decorators cost?
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If you want to get the professionals in to give your room a perfect finish, we’ve surveyed Which? Trusted Traders to find out how much painters and decorators cost.
Our figures are only a guide to average costs, and there are several factors that can affect how much you’ll be charged, including:
- where you live
- the age and condition of your property
- how long the job takes
- the types of materials (such as the quality of paint) that you want to be used.
Ask traders to break down the quotes they provide, so you know what you’re being charged for.
It’s a good idea to get more than one quote so you have a better idea of the going rate for your particular requirements.
Cost of painting and wallpapering a room
| Job | Details | Price range | Time to do job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint a room (small) | Room size approx 2.1m x 2.2m. Repaint walls and ceiling with two coats of light-coloured emulsion. Assumes existing plaster is in good condition. | £200-£900 | 1-2 days |
| Paint a room (medium) | Room size approx 3.3m x 3m. Repaint walls and ceiling with two coats of light-coloured emulsion. Assumes existing plaster is in good condition. | £250-£1,100 | 2 days |
| Paint a room (large) | Room size approx 6.1m x 5m. Repaint walls and ceiling with two coats of light-coloured emulsion. Assumes existing plaster is in good condition. | £350-£1,650 | 2-3 days |
| Repaint hallway, landing and stairs | Repaint walls only (not woodwork) in downstairs hallway, upstairs landing and stair area in an average three-bedroom house. Assumes existing plaster is in good condition. | £400-£1,600 | 3 days |
| Wallpaper a room | Room size approx 4.4m x 3.3m. Line and paper. Assumes walls are straight and sound with no existing wallpaper to remove. Customer supplying own wallpaper. | £260-£2,950 | 3 days |
Prices based on a survey of 9 Which? Trusted Traders, gathered in November 2025. Prices include labour and materials (not including wallpaper) but exclude VAT. Prices are likely to be at the upper end of the scale if you live in London or the South East.
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Cost of painting woodwork
| Job | Details | Price range | Time to do job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repaint woodwork that's in good condition (one room) | Room size approx 3.3m x 3m. Assumes existing gloss is good quality but discoloured. Rub down, undercoat and paint with gloss. Cost includes skirting boards and one door frame (no doors or windows). | £70-£650 | 1-2 days |
| Repaint woodwork that's in poor condition (one room) | Room size approx 3.3m x 3m. Remove old gloss and prepare wood. Undercoat and paint with gloss. Cost includes skirting boards and one door frame (no doors or windows). | £90-£1,200 | 1-2 days |
Prices based on a survey of 9 Which? Trusted Traders, gathered in November 2025. Prices include labour and materials (where specified) but exclude VAT. Prices are likely to be at the upper end of the scale if you live in London or the South East.
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Cost of painting exterior of house
| Job | Details | Price range | Time to do job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint exterior of average three-bedroom semi-detached house* | Assumes render is in good condition and just needs a repaint. | £600-£4,500 | 3-4 days |
Prices based on a survey of 9 Which? Trusted Traders, gathered in November 2025. Prices include labour and materials (not including wallpaper) but exclude VAT. Prices are likely to be at the upper end of the scale if you live in London or the South East. *Depending on your house, traders will probably need to use scaffolding to complete this job safely. This could add a lot to your quote. Make sure you ask traders about this to help you compare quotes more easily.
How to find a good painter or decorator
Look beyond the ratings and find a local trader who has good reviews for a similar job (such as plastering, wallpapering or external work) so you can be sure that they’re right for your project.
Though genuine cancellations do happen from time to time, any trader who says they can start work the next day should be hired with caution. Similarly, painters and decorators who offer cash deals or use other high pressure sales techniques are best avoided.
Ask your prospective decorator whether they use subcontractors. Membership of professional organisations does not usually extend to subcontractors and you need to know whether the people actually doing the job will be up to standard.
Use Which? Trusted Traders to find reliable painters and decorators near you.
All traders on our scheme have been vetted by trading standards qualified assessors to ensure they have all the correct procedures in place and operate according to current regulations.
Ask for a survey
Good decorators will rarely give you a quote or agree to undertake any work without first visiting your property. Call or email three recommended traders with a brief outline of what you’re trying to achieve and rough measurements. They’re the experts and will be able to advise on the best options once they’ve seen the condition of your home and discussed your budget and preferences.
Ask a decorator whether a slightly more expensive approach, such as high quality paint, might result in a better finish or last longer. The initial outlay might be marginally more but it could end up being better value for money.
Get written quotes
Always get quotes in writing. Usually these will be accurate, but wallpaper removal can be an exception. Most traders will give you a quote based on an assumption that there is one layer of wallpaper and that the walls underneath are sound. If they need to remove more layers or make repairs to the underlying walls, they might reasonably charge more.
Check that there are no hidden charges, such as for parking or working at weekends, before you agree to any work.
Payment
Most painting and decorating jobs are paid for when the work is completed and accepted. For large jobs, such as those that take more than a fortnight, your decorator might ask for an instalment upfront. Costly or unique materials, such as specially mixed paints, may also be billed in advance.
Once the work is finished, carefully examine everything and deal with any snagging before making or completing payment.