What preparation should a painter and decorator include?

Included by default: dust-sheeting, masking, filling cracks, caulking, sanding, mist coats and final clean. Not included: full plaster re-skim, removing painted-over wallpaper, severe mould or stain treatment, repairs over half a square metre.

Cost Guide · Updated May 2026

Painting and Decorating Cost UK 2026: Painter & Decorator Day Rates

Q: What is the day rate of a painter and decorator in the UK in 2026?

A self-employed painter and decorator charges 180 to 280 pounds per day in 2026 for typical interior work. A 2-person team is 320 to 480 pounds per day. London and South East rates run 240 to 320 pounds per day per person. PDA-registered tradespeople sit at the top of the range.

Q: How much to paint and decorate a 3-bed semi?

A full interior repaint of a 3-bed semi costs 2,500 to 5,500 pounds in 2026, taking 10 to 18 days for a single decorator. Add 400 to 900 pounds per room for wallpapering, 600 to 1,200 pounds per room for full plaster re-skim, and 200 to 600 pounds for premium paint.

Q: What is the difference between a painter and a painter and decorator?

A painter applies paint only. A painter and decorator also handles wallpapering, lining paper, basic plaster repair, stain blocking, woodwork prep, and specialist finishes. The NVQ Level 2 Painting and Decorating qualification covers both skills.

Q: How much does wallpaper hanging cost per roll?

Wallpaper hanging in 2026 costs 25 to 45 pounds per roll for plain or paste-the-wall papers, and 40 to 75 pounds per roll for pattern-match or grasscloth. A single feature wall is 180 to 320 pounds labour; a whole room is 400 to 900 pounds labour.

Q: How long does it take to paint a 3-bed house?

A full interior repaint of a 3-bed semi takes 10 to 18 days for a single decorator, or 5 to 9 days for a 2-person team. Plaster repair adds 2 to 5 days; wallpapering adds 1 day per room; exterior adds 4 to 8 days.

Q: How do I find a good painter and decorator?

Look for: 5+ years trading, NVQ Level 2 Painting and Decorating, PDA membership, 2m+ public liability insurance, and recent local references with photos. Get 3 written quotes with daily rate breakdown, paint spec and prep schedule.

A painter & decorator charges £180–£280/day in 2026, with a typical 3-bed semi interior repaint and re-decoration coming in at £2,500–£5,500 for paint, wallpaper, prep and plaster repair. This guide covers day rates, per-room pricing, wallpapering and prep, and what the combined “painter and decorator” trade actually includes — distinct from a pure painting quote.

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Costs

Painting and Decorating Cost — UK 2026

Job	Typical Cost	Duration
Painter & decorator day rate	£180–£280/day	Per person
Single room repaint + minor decor (walls, ceiling, woodwork)	£380–£650	1.5–2.5 days
Single room with wallpaper hang (1 feature wall)	£520–£900	2–3 days
Room with full plaster repair + skim + paint	£750–£1,400	3–5 days
Hallway, stairs & landing decor (incl. high-level access)	£600–£1,200	2–4 days
3-bed semi — full interior repaint + decor	£2,500–£5,500	10–18 days
4-bed detached — full interior repaint + decor	£4,000–£8,500	15–25 days
Exterior decor (render paint, windows, fascias, doors)	£1,800–£4,500	4–8 days
Wallpaper hanging only (per roll, hung)	£25–£45/roll	~1 day/room

Prices include paint (Dulux Trade or equivalent), basic filler/caulk, dust-sheets, masking and a clean handover. Premium paints (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene) add £30–£60 per 2.5L tin over Dulux Trade. Wallpaper is typically supplied by the homeowner; the figures above are the hanging labour only.

Last updated 2026-05-18. London & South East rates run 20–30% above the figures shown.

What's Included

Painter & Decorator: What the Combined Trade Covers

A “painter and decorator” quote covers more than just brushwork. The full combined trade typically includes:

Preparation (40–55% of labour time)

Filling, caulking & sanding — cracks, nail holes, gaps to skirting
Minor plaster repair — up to 0.5m² patches without re-skim
Stain-blocking & mist coats on new plaster or water marks
Removing existing wallpaper (steam & scrape)
Masking, dust-sheeting and protecting floors
Lining paper for poor walls before paint or paper

Application

Paint application — 2 coats walls, 2 coats woodwork, ceiling cut-in
Wallpapering — pattern match, paste-the-wall & paste-the-paper hangs
Specialist finishes — eggshell, lime wash, chalk paint, dead-flat emulsion
Woodwork & trim — skirting, architrave, doors, dado rails
Radiator removal & refit for painting behind
Final clean and handover

Tip: a separate plasterer is needed for full re-skims or walls over 0.5m² of damage. A separate carpenter is needed for new skirting or architrave. A good painter & decorator will tell you upfront.

Regional Variation

Painter & Decorator Day Rates by UK Region

Region	Day Rate (1 P&D)	vs UK Average
London	£240–£320	+30%
South East	£220–£300	+20%
South West	£195–£260	+5%
Midlands	£180–£240	Baseline
North / Yorkshire	£165–£220	−8%
Wales	£170–£225	−5%
Scotland	£175–£230	−5%

Materials cost the same nationally; the variation is almost entirely labour. London is consistently 25–30% above the UK baseline for general decor work. PDA (Painting & Decorating Association) members tend to sit at the top of the regional range but carry workmanship guarantees.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the day rate of a painter and decorator in the UK in 2026?

A self-employed painter & decorator charges £180–£280/day in 2026 for a typical interior job, working solo. A 2-person team is £320–£480/day. London and South East rates run £240–£320/day per person. PDA-registered tradespeople sit at the top of the range but include workmanship guarantees and proper preparation. Apprentice or labourer day rates are £100–£140 when working alongside a senior P&D.

How much to paint and decorate a 3-bed semi?

A full interior repaint of a 3-bed semi — walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, skirting and minor filling/caulking — costs £2,500–£5,500 in 2026, taking 10–18 days for a single decorator. Add £400–£900 per room for wallpapering. Add £600–£1,200 if any room needs a full plaster re-skim before paint. Premium paint (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene) adds £200–£600 to the materials bill.

What is the difference between a painter and a painter & decorator?

A “painter” applies paint — brushwork only. A “painter & decorator” (the standard UK trade) also handles wallpapering, lining paper, basic plaster repair, stain blocking, woodwork preparation, and specialist finishes like eggshell or lime wash. For anything beyond an empty-room repaint, a P&D is what you actually want. The trade qualification (NVQ Level 2 Painting & Decorating) covers both skills.

How much does wallpaper hanging cost per roll?

Wallpaper hanging in 2026 costs £25–£45 per roll for plain or paste-the-wall papers, and £40–£75 per roll for hand-trimmed, pattern-match or grasscloth specialist papers. A single feature wall (4 rolls) is typically £180–£320 labour. A whole room (8–12 rolls) is £400–£900 labour. Wallpaper itself is supplied separately by the homeowner — budget £25–£100 per roll for the paper.

How long does it take to paint a 3-bed house?

A full interior repaint of a 3-bed semi takes 10–18 days for a single decorator (or 5–9 days for a 2-person team), assuming the walls only need filler/caulk and not plaster repair. Plaster repair adds 2–5 days. Wallpapering adds 1 day per room. Exterior decor adds another 4–8 days. Reputable P&Ds will give you a realistic day count with the quote — very short estimates usually skip preparation.

Should I supply the paint or let the decorator buy it?

Most decorators prefer to supply trade-grade paint (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade, Johnstone’s) and pass the cost on at trade price — you save 15–25% versus retail. If you want a specialist brand (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Paint & Paper Library), you can supply it yourself — the decorator’s labour cost stays the same. Don’t mix retail emulsion with trade undercoat on big jobs — coverage and finish will be inconsistent.

What preparation should a painter & decorator include?

Basic preparation (always included): dust-sheeting, masking, filling small cracks and nail holes, caulking gaps to skirting/architrave, sanding existing paintwork between coats, mist coats on new plaster, and a final clean. Not included by default: full plaster re-skim, removing old wallpaper that’s painted over, stain-blocking severe water marks, treating mould, or repairs over 0.5m². Always check the written quote — rock-bottom prices usually cut preparation time.

How do I find a good painter and decorator?

Look for: 5+ years trading, NVQ Level 2 Painting & Decorating qualification, membership of the PDA (Painting & Decorating Association), public liability insurance (£2m minimum), and recent local references with photos. Get 3 written quotes with a daily rate breakdown, paint specification (brand & tin count), and a preparation schedule. We match you with 3 vetted local P&Ds in 24 hours via the form below.

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