Cost guides
Painter and decorator prices in London: 2026 guide
How much a painter and decorator charges per day, the cost to paint a room, and what it costs to paint a whole house in London and the UK.
14 October 2026 · 3 min read · By Harry
Whether you are planning one room or a whole house, it helps to know what a fair price looks like before the quotes come in. These are the prices we see across London in 2026, from our own quotes and the market around us.
How much does a painter and decorator charge per day?
Most experienced painters and decorators in London charge £220 to £320 per person per day, plus materials. Outside London, day rates are usually £180 to £260. Specialists, such as heritage decorators, spray finishers and wallpaper hangers working with expensive papers, can charge more.
Day rates are useful for small or uncertain jobs, but for most work a fixed price is better for you: you know the total up front, and the risk of the job taking longer sits with the decorator. All our residential work is quoted as a fixed, itemised price.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
Typical London prices for walls, ceiling and woodwork, including preparation, premium paint and two coats:
| Room | Typical price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom or study | £450 – £700 | 1–2 days |
| Double bedroom | £600 – £900 | 2–3 days |
| Living room | £800 – £1,200 | 2–4 days |
| Kitchen (walls and ceiling) | £550 – £900 | 2 days |
| Bathroom | £400 – £650 | 1–2 days |
| Hallway, stairs and landing | £1,500 – £2,800 | 3–5 days |
Hallways cost the most for their size because of the height, the access equipment and all the woodwork: spindles, handrails, doors and skirting.
How much does it cost to paint a house?
For the inside of a whole house, expect roughly:
- Two-bedroom flat: £3,000 to £5,000 in London
- Three-bedroom house: £5,000 to £9,000 in London, or £3,500 to £6,500 elsewhere in the UK
- Four or five-bedroom period house: £10,000 to £20,000 or more, especially with plaster repairs and high ceilings
Painting the outside is priced separately. See our guide to exterior painting costs.
What affects the price?
- Condition of the surfaces. Cracks, flaking paint, stains and new plaster all take time to put right. Badly damaged walls may need skimming.
- Height and access. High ceilings and stairwells need towers or platforms.
- Woodwork. Doors, skirting, architraves and sash windows take longer than walls.
- Paint. Premium brands such as Farrow & Ball cost more per tin but cover better and last longer.
- Colour changes. Going from dark to light, or the reverse, can need an extra coat.
- Furniture and access. Lived-in homes take a little longer than empty ones.
How to compare quotes
Ask each decorator for a written quote that lists every room, the preparation included, the paint brand and finish, the number of coats and how long the job will take. A cheap quote that leaves out preparation will cost you more when it starts peeling in a year.
We give every client a free visit, colour advice and a fixed, itemised quote within two working days. See our interior painting and house painting services, or get a free quote.
Questions
How much does a painter and decorator charge per day in London?
Most experienced painters and decorators in London charge between £220 and £320 per person per day in 2026, plus materials. Outside London, day rates are usually £180 to £260.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
A bedroom typically costs £600 to £900 and a living room £800 to £1,200 in London, including preparation, paint and two coats on walls, ceiling and woodwork.
How much does it cost to paint a house in the UK?
Decorating the inside of a three-bedroom house usually costs £5,000 to £9,000 in London and £3,500 to £6,500 elsewhere in the UK, depending on its size, condition and the amount of woodwork.
Related services
Residential painting and decorating
Interior painting and decorating for houses, flats and period homes, from a single room to a full redecoration, with careful preparation and a fixed, itemised price.
Related articles
How much does it cost to plaster or skim a room?
Plastering costs in London for 2026: skimming a room, plastering a ceiling, boarding and patch repairs, plus how long each job takes and what affects the price.
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a house?
Exterior painting costs in the UK for 2026: front doors, sash windows, terraced fronts and whole houses, plus scaffolding, render repairs and timing.
How much does it cost to spray kitchen cabinets?
Kitchen cabinet spraying costs for 2026: what a respray costs by kitchen size, islands and extras, how it compares with a new kitchen, and how long it lasts.
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