Painting and decorating is a common task for many homeowners. Simply adding a lick of paint is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give your home a freshen up. 

Of course, painting and decorating actually covers a wide range of different tasks, from preparing walls by sanding, filling holes and cracks and removing wallpaper, hanging wallpaper, painting walls and all sorts of other finishing tasks like painting doors, coving and skirting boards.

All of this means it’s difficult to put a real price on how much it costs to get a house fully painted and decorated. Plus, the price of painting and decorating will of course vary enormously based on how large the house is, the level of finish you require, and exactly how much work needs to be done.

So, in this article, we’re going to cover how much painting and decorating a house could cost. We’ll also cover some of the factors that go into this price, as realistically you’ll need to do some of your own research and thinking to come up with a rough price for your own painting and decorating project.

How much does it cost to decorate a house?

The big question, then, is how much you’re likely to pay to get your house painted and decorated. Our table to the right shows our guide price for how much painting and decorating could cost in different areas across the country, accounting for local variations in labour and materials. This price is based on painting a 3-bedroom home, with some preparation work done by the homeowner. As an average, expect it to cost around £2200.

The price will vary depending on the size of your home, with a large 5-bedroom house costing around £4000-£5000, while you could decorate a smaller 1 or 2-bedroom flat for around £1500-£2000.

What is the average day rate for a decorator?

The average day rate for a decorator is between £200-£400. This varies depending on where you live – if you live in a major city or the south east, expect to pay more than those living in other parts of the UK.

How much does a painter charge per room?

Obviously, how much a painter charges per room will depend on its size. But you could pay as little as £250 for one room, or as much as £1000 for a large room.

What factors affect the cost of decorating a house?

Of course, there are more factors that affect the cost of your painting and decorating job than simply the number of rooms in your home. Here are some of the factors that will likely affect your final quote.

Stripping and hanging wallpaper

Hanging wallpaper is generally a more expensive job than simply painting walls, due to the extra effort required. Similarly, if you’ve already got wallpaper on the walls in your home that you need removed, this will add to the overall cost as removing wallpaper can be a time-consuming job, even for professionals.

Type of rooms

One thing that you might not consider when it comes to the price of getting your home painted and decorated is the type of the rooms that you’re decorating. Simple, square rooms like bedrooms and living rooms are easier to paint, while bigger rooms with angled ceilings and lots of nooks and crannies, like halls, stairs and landing will all add to the cost. Consider things like whether your decorator will need to paint behind radiators and whether they need to be removed from the walls. That’s why it’s generally cheaper to get a 2 bedroom flat decorated than a 2 bedroom house, as the extra time it takes to sort out all the fiddly bits can really add up. 

Quality of materials used

The quality of the materials you specify will also affect how much it costs to get your house decorated. Of course, high quality paint or wallpaper will add to the overall cost, while you could save yourself money by asking for cheaper brands of paint to be used.

Brands like Dulux, Leyland and Armstead manufacture good quality paint and it doesn’t have to cost the earth – a matt emulsion will usually cost between £2-£8 per litre. Premium brands like Farrow & Ball or Lick cost more – expect to spend between £14-£25 per litre. Professional painters and decorators will be able to recommend the right materials to best suit the needs of your home.

Condition of the walls

Another big factor in the price of painting and decorating is the condition of the walls in your property. If there are lots of holes that need filling, or the walls are in such bad condition that a plasterer’s services are required, this can add a sizeable chunk to the cost of your painting and decorating project.

Presence of furniture

While painters and decorators will provide dust sheets to ensure your furniture and carpets are protected while they’re working, if the house is empty, it’s much easier and quicker for them to work. You’ll generally find it’s cheaper to get work done if you’ve not moved all of your belongings and furniture into the property yet.

Size of the rooms

One of the biggest factors in how much it costs to decorate your home is of course, the size of the rooms. The bigger the room, the more expensive it is to decorate. Some painters and decorators may even price per metre squared rather than per room or per day, so if you really want to be confident in your quote, it’s worth taking the time to measure the size of the rooms in your home.

Any extra work

Of course, painting and decorating isn’t just painting the walls. Think about any extra work you might want doing, for example changing or painting light switches, painting coving, skirting boards or doors, or any kind of tiling, feature walls or feature wallpaper. All of this will add a bit extra to the price of your painting and decorating project.

Is it cheaper to get an entire house decorated at once?

In general, it’s cheaper to get multiple rooms, or your whole house, painted and decorated at the same time. This is because the professional painters and decorators will be able to manage their time more efficiently, for example by painting one room while the other is drying. 

So, you may actually be able to save money by getting your whole house painted and decorated in one go, rather than getting individual rooms done. 

Can I paint and decorate my home myself?

Of course, painting and decorating is a project that you can tackle yourself, and many people do. However, there are two things to bear in mind if you’re considering doing a DIY painting and decorating project.

1. The amount of effort involved. You might think that it’s something you’ve got time to do, but the amount of time and effort it takes to paint and decorate a house can quickly get out of hand. Plus, if you take time off work to decorate, the cost of your annual leave might not be far behind the costs of hiring a decorator to do it for you.
2. The level of finish. If you want beautifully smooth edges and perfect paint application, we’d recommend getting a professional painter and decorator in.