How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Ceiling in 2023?

When you paint and decorate a room, it’s important not to leave out the ceilings. If you don't paint the ceiling when you decorate, you'll soon notice – especially if it's white. While everything else will look fresh and clean, the ceiling will look dull and grubby.

Lots of people leave ceilings because they're more difficult to paint. So how much does it cost to get a decorator to paint a ceiling for you?

How much does it cost to paint a ceiling in the UK?

How much it costs to paint a ceiling in the UK depends on how big it is, how high it is and your location in the country, but here are the average costs:

Job	Average cost
Painting a ceiling	£7-£10 per square metre
Painting a ceiling in an average living room	£100-£200
Paint for ceiling, coving and ceiling rose	£5-£8 per litre
Painting and decorating day rate	£250-£400

HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for painters and decorators across the country, but these costs are taken from averages across the UK. Take a look at the table further down the page for a more specific estimate for labour in your area.

What affects the cost of painting a ceiling?

There are a few things that will affect the cost to paint a ceiling:

•   How big your ceilings are: The larger the surface area, the longer it will take to paint – so your decorator will charge more
•   Brand of paint: Using a premium brand will cost more, but a mid-range brand is probably the most cost-effective. Cheap brands might require more coats, driving labour costs up
•   Your location: If you live in London or the south east, or in major cities, you'll pay more than smaller towns or villages

How much does it cost to paint a room with high ceilings?

If you have high ceilings, the cost to paint a room may be slightly more than if you had standard-height ceilings, but normally it won't add any extra. A decorator will use the appropriate ladder and telescopic poles to reach your ceilings and get a good finish.

The average cost to paint a room and the ceilings is £450.

How much does it cost to paint a room with vaulted ceilings?

The cost to paint a room with vaulted ceilings is a tricky one to put a price on. Vaulted ceilings are high and a decorator generally won't be able to reach the top with a normal ladder safely.

That means that a decorator will have use special indoor scaffolding to reach the apex of your vaulted ceiling.

We'd expect this to add at least £100 onto the cost of painting a room, but it could be more.

Will a painter charge extra to paint a ceiling rose?

Normally, a painter will roll painting a ceiling rose into the cost of painting your ceiling, unless it's very large or has lots of intricate crevices. They may charge more if it will add significant time onto the project, but it's unlikely for most standard ceiling roses.

Ceiling roses can generally be treated the same as coving, so the decorator will paint them at the same time.

Is ceiling paint more expensive than wall paint

No – ceiling paint isn't more expensive than wall paint. Most brands of paint can be used across walls and ceilings, which is handy if you want to paint your room the same colour as your ceiling.

It's always best to go with a trusted brand of paint for your ceilings. Brands like Dulux, Leyland or Armstead don't have to cost much – you can pick them up for £5-£8 per litre. If you want a premium brand like Farrow & Ball or Lick, that will cost £20-£25 per litre.

How long does it take a painter to paint a ceiling?

How long it takes a painter to paint a ceiling will obviously depend on how big it is, but for an average UK living room expect the ceiling to take 1-2 hours to complete.

You might find that it's more cost-effective to have more than one ceiling in your home painted, as then the decorator can move onto that one while the first one dries.

Is it hard to repaint a ceiling?

It's certainly not easy to repaint a ceiling! You'll need to use a ladder and telescopic poles, and you won't be able to move around the room as easily as you can if you're painting the walls, which is why lots of people get decorators to paint ceilings.

It's easy to miss spots when you're painting a ceiling yourself, especially if you're painting white over white. Try to paint in natural light to get the best result, but hiring a decorator will ensure you get the best finish.

Does a ceiling need 2 coats of paint?

Yes, most decorators will always recommend that you have two coats of paint applied to your ceiling. It's easy to miss patches on the first coat, so going over it with a second coat ensures you get the best finish.

Do you paint the ceiling or wall first?

A painter and decorator will always say that you should paint the ceiling first. The general rule is to work from the top down, so paint your ceiling, coving and ceiling roses first. Then move onto the walls, followed by the skirting boards, window frames, picture rails or dado rails.

Working from top to bottom ensures that you don't drip ceiling paint on freshly painted walls or woodwork.

If you're ready to get comparison quotes to paint your ceilings, post your job on HaMuch. We'll put you in touch with trusted painters and decorators in your area.

Estimates for common painter & decorator jobs;

Rates for other trades