How much does it cost to paint interior doors?

Painting your interior doors can boost the look of your home instantly. Old, yellowed gloss on internal doors returned to a bright white or a statement colour adds character and charm to your property, helping to increase its value without too much work involved.

But how much does it cost to paint interior doors? We'll go through what to expect in this guide.

How much does it cost to paint interior house doors?

How much it costs to paint interior doors in your house will depend on the condition of the doors, whether there is lots of prep work involved and where you live, but here are the average costs:

Supply costs for painting interior doors

Normally, a painter and decorator will ask you to supply the paint because there are so many colours and finishes to choose from. If you just want a white gloss finish, they may give you a quote that includes the cost of the paint.

Most people choose to paint their doors in gloss, satin or eggshell. Gloss gives a high-shine finish, while eggshell is matte – and satin is a blend of the two. Gloss used to be the most popular, but it's more fashionable to have a more muted finish today.

A good quality internal door paint from a brand like Dulux or Leyland will cost around £25 per litre, with premium brands like Farrow & Ball and Lick setting you back around £45 per litre.

Cost of painting skirting boards

If you're having your internal doors painted, you might want to consider painting your skirting boards and other woodwork too.

It costs around £200 to paint skirting boards, or between £500-£700 for skirting boards plus other woodwork in a 3m x 3m room. 

What affects the cost of painting interior doors?

How many doors you want to have painted

As you can imagine, the cost of painting interior doors will go up with the number of doors you want painted. You may find that a decorator can give you a better price per door for multiple doors than a single door because they will be able to move on to the other doors while the first coat dries.

Door condition

The condition of your doors will affect the cost of painting them. The more prep work that is involved to get them ready for painting, the longer it will take the decorator.

The quality of paint

While it can be easy to think that a cheap internal door paint will do the job, you might find that it doesn’t give you the finish you want or you end up needing more coats. The more coats the door needs, the longer it will take your decorator, so you’ll end up spending more on labour.

It’s probably more cost-effective to go with a well-known brand so your decorator only needs to apply one or two coats.

Where you live

Where you live affects the cost of painting internal doors. Painters and decorators generally charge more per hour in major cities and the South East than they do in other areas of the UK. That's why it's best to get a range of quotes so you can ensure you’re getting the best price for your project.

How long does it take to paint an interior door?

How long it takes to paint an interior door will depend on its condition and how many coats it needs. But in general, expect it to take around 2 hours to paint a door. If you're having more than one interior door painted, it will take less time in total because the decorator can move on to the other doors while the first coat is drying.

How much paint does it take to paint one interior door?

How much paint it takes to paint one interior door will depend on how many coats the door needs, but Dulux recommends that both sides of an interior door will need around 750ml of paint.

It's always best to speak to a number of painters and decorators so you can get advice on how much paint they think you'll need for your project.

Can you paint interior doors without sanding?

We wouldn't recommend painting interior doors without sanding them first. Most decorators would not paint a door that hasn't been sanded as they won't be able to guarantee a good finish. Paint won't adhere to a glossy or shiny surface, resulting in delayed drying and inconsistent textures.

If you want to save money on labour costs, sand the door down yourself in preparation for the decorator. Make sure you use 180- or 220- grit sandpaper and either sand by hand or use an electric sander. Sand the door down until it feels just smooth.

Once you've finished, wipe down the door with a damp cloth to remove the dust. To make sure you get every last bit, you could vacuum the door before wiping it down.

How often should you repaint interior doors?

How often you should repaint interior doors will depend on the quality of the paint job and how much traffic goes through the room that the door covers.

If you get a painter and decorator to paint your interior doors to a high standard, your internal doors might not need repainting for up to 10 years. High-traffic areas might require more frequent paint jobs, but you should still expect to get five years out of a professionally painted interior door.

DIY jobs are likely to require more frequent paint updates, purely because you won't get the same finish that a professional would.

Now you know the average cost to paint interior doors, get a range of quotes from reputable painters and decorators to compare specific prices for your home. Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with painters and decorators in your area.

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