By Emily Rivers
Last updated 3rd May 2023

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.

Size of property to be painted

Average cost

1-to-2-bedroom flat

£1500-£2000

3-bedroom house

£1900-£2500

4-bedroom house

£3000-£3700

5-bedroom house

£4000-£5000

Cost to decorate a house

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. 

Estimates for common painter & decorator jobs;

Rates for other trades

Painting and decorating a house cost in the UK
Painting and decorating a house cost in the UK (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKPainting and decorating a house cost
Painting and decorating a house near Aberdeen£2440
Painting and decorating a house near Amber Valley£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Arun£2700
Painting and decorating a house near Ashfield£2390
Painting and decorating a house near Aylesbury Vale£2740
Painting and decorating a house near Barnsley£2290
Painting and decorating a house near Basildon£2550
Painting and decorating a house near Basingstoke & Deane£2670
Painting and decorating a house near Bassetlaw£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Bath & North East Somerset£2480
Painting and decorating a house near Bedford£2890
Painting and decorating a house near Belfast£2120
Painting and decorating a house near Birmingham£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Blackburn£2190
Painting and decorating a house near Blackpool£2170
Painting and decorating a house near Bolton£2330
Painting and decorating a house near Bournemouth£2390
Painting and decorating a house near Bracknell Forest£2730
Painting and decorating a house near Bradford£2280
Painting and decorating a house near Braintree£2490
Painting and decorating a house near Breckland£2230
Painting and decorating a house near Bridgend£2390
Painting and decorating a house near Brighton£2680
Painting and decorating a house near Bristol£2490
Painting and decorating a house near Broadland£2230
Painting and decorating a house near Broxtowe£2350
Painting and decorating a house near Bury£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Caerphilly£2430
Painting and decorating a house near Calderdale£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Cambridge£2630
Painting and decorating a house near Canterbury£2210
Painting and decorating a house near Cardiff£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Carmarthenshire£1940
Painting and decorating a house near Charnwood£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Chelmsford£2480
Painting and decorating a house near Cheltenham£2560
Painting and decorating a house near Cherwell£2800
Painting and decorating a house near Chester£2180
Painting and decorating a house near Colchester£2370
Painting and decorating a house near Conway£2060
Painting and decorating a house near Coventry£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Crewe & Nantwich£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Dacorum£2720
Painting and decorating a house near Derby£2330
Painting and decorating a house near Doncaster£2190
Painting and decorating a house near Dover£2280
Painting and decorating a house near Dudley£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Dundee£1980
Painting and decorating a house near East Ayrshire£2390
Painting and decorating a house near East Devon£2250
Painting and decorating a house near East Dunbartonshire£2440
Painting and decorating a house near East Hampshire£2470
Painting and decorating a house near East Hertfordshire£2640
Painting and decorating a house near East Lindsey£2200
Painting and decorating a house near East Riding£2700
Painting and decorating a house near Eastleigh£2490
Painting and decorating a house near Edinburgh£2540
Painting and decorating a house near Elmbridge£2710
Painting and decorating a house near Epping Forest£2710
Painting and decorating a house near Erewash£2330
Painting and decorating a house near Exeter£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Falkirk£2270
Painting and decorating a house near Fife£2520
Painting and decorating a house near Flintshire£2140
Painting and decorating a house near Gateshead£2290
Painting and decorating a house near Gedling£2390
Painting and decorating a house near Glasgow£2430
Painting and decorating a house near Gloucester£2550
Painting and decorating a house near Guildford£2630
Painting and decorating a house near Gwynedd£2400
Painting and decorating a house near Halton£2220
Painting and decorating a house near Harrogate£2280
Painting and decorating a house near Havant & Waterloo£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Highland£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Horsham£2510
Painting and decorating a house near Huntingdonshire£2960
Painting and decorating a house near Ipswich£2210
Painting and decorating a house near Isle of Wight£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£2490
Painting and decorating a house near Kingston-upon-Hull£2570
Painting and decorating a house near Kirklees£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Knowsley£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Lancaster£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Leeds£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Leicester£2400
Painting and decorating a house near Lisburn£2140
Painting and decorating a house near Liverpool£2260
Painting and decorating a house near London£2680
Painting and decorating a house near Luton£2700
Painting and decorating a house near Macclesfield£2410
Painting and decorating a house near Maidstone£2460
Painting and decorating a house near Manchester£2370
Painting and decorating a house near Mid Bedfordshire£2760
Painting and decorating a house near Mid Sussex£2550
Painting and decorating a house near Middlesbrough£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Milton Keynes£2850
Painting and decorating a house near Neath Port Talbot£2330
Painting and decorating a house near New Forest£2410
Painting and decorating a house near Newbury£2590
Painting and decorating a house near Newcastle-under-Lyme£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Newcastle-upon-Tyne£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Newport£2400
Painting and decorating a house near North Ayrshire£2330
Painting and decorating a house near North East Lincolnshire£2200
Painting and decorating a house near North Hertfordshire£2660
Painting and decorating a house near North Lanarkshire£2320
Painting and decorating a house near North Lincolnshire£2460
Painting and decorating a house near North Somerset£2480
Painting and decorating a house near North Tyneside£2310
Painting and decorating a house near North Wiltshire£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Northampton£2910
Painting and decorating a house near Norwich£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Nottingham£2380
Painting and decorating a house near Nuneaton & Bedworth£2350
Painting and decorating a house near Oldham£2360
Painting and decorating a house near Oxford£2830
Painting and decorating a house near Perth & Kinross£3860
Painting and decorating a house near Peterborough£2990
Painting and decorating a house near Plymouth£2520
Painting and decorating a house near Poole£2390
Painting and decorating a house near Portsmouth£2410
Painting and decorating a house near Powys£1900
Painting and decorating a house near Preston£2180
Painting and decorating a house near Reading£2690
Painting and decorating a house near Redcar & Cleveland£2360
Painting and decorating a house near Reigate & Banstead£2650
Painting and decorating a house near Renfrewshire£2540
Painting and decorating a house near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£2350
Painting and decorating a house near Rochdale£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Rotherham£2220
Painting and decorating a house near Salford£2360
Painting and decorating a house near Salisbury£2480
Painting and decorating a house near Sandwell£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Scarborough£2400
Painting and decorating a house near Scottish Borders£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Sefton£2230
Painting and decorating a house near Sevenoaks£2570
Painting and decorating a house near Sheffield£2200
Painting and decorating a house near Slough£2710
Painting and decorating a house near Solihull£2300
Painting and decorating a house near South Ayrshire£2430
Painting and decorating a house near South Bedfordshire£2890
Painting and decorating a house near South Cambridgeshire£2610
Painting and decorating a house near South Gloucestershire£2490
Painting and decorating a house near South Kesteven£2280
Painting and decorating a house near South Lanarkshire£2260
Painting and decorating a house near South Oxfordshire£2770
Painting and decorating a house near South Somerset£2200
Painting and decorating a house near South Tyneside£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Southampton£2470
Painting and decorating a house near Southend-on-Sea£2460
Painting and decorating a house near St Albans£2670
Painting and decorating a house near St Helens£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Stafford£2410
Painting and decorating a house near Stockport£2410
Painting and decorating a house near Stockton-on-Tees£2380
Painting and decorating a house near Stoke-on-Trent£2310
Painting and decorating a house near Stratford-on-Avon£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Stroud£2560
Painting and decorating a house near Suffolk Coastal£2190
Painting and decorating a house near Sunderland£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Swale£2450
Painting and decorating a house near Swansea£2200
Painting and decorating a house near Tameside£2380
Painting and decorating a house near Teignbridge£2370
Painting and decorating a house near Tendring£2290
Painting and decorating a house near Test Valley£2490
Painting and decorating a house near Thamesdown£2370
Painting and decorating a house near Thanet£2190
Painting and decorating a house near The Wrekin£2220
Painting and decorating a house near Thurrock£2560
Painting and decorating a house near Torbay£2420
Painting and decorating a house near Trafford£2350
Painting and decorating a house near Vale of Glamorgan£2480
Painting and decorating a house near Vale of White Horse£2700
Painting and decorating a house near Vale Royal£2120
Painting and decorating a house near Wakefield£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Walsall£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Warrington£2360
Painting and decorating a house near Warwick£2300
Painting and decorating a house near Waveney£2250
Painting and decorating a house near Waverley£2690
Painting and decorating a house near Wealden£2550
Painting and decorating a house near West Lancashire£2250
Painting and decorating a house near West Lothian£2440
Painting and decorating a house near West Wiltshire£2340
Painting and decorating a house near Wigan£2250
Painting and decorating a house near Windsor & Maidenhead£2720
Painting and decorating a house near Wirral£2230
Painting and decorating a house near Wokingham£2740
Painting and decorating a house near Wolverhampton£2320
Painting and decorating a house near Wrexham Maelor£2120
Painting and decorating a house near Wychavon£2260
Painting and decorating a house near Wycombe£2850
Painting and decorating a house near York£2300