Best painters and decorators in the UK: how to choose (2026)
Decorating is the trade where the difference between good and bad is almost entirely invisible on day one. Two decorators can paint the same room for a similar price; one has filled, sanded, caulked and primed properly, and one has painted over the problems. Twelve months later you can tell them apart instantly. This guide is about spotting the difference before you book — not about ranking companies we have never watched work.
- Preparation is 70% of the job — judge quotes on prep, not paint
- Look for: PDA membership, TrustMark, public liability insurance
- Typical 2026 day rate: £180–£280, more in London
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Why we do not rank decorators
Decorating is overwhelmingly a local, small-business trade — often one or two people with a van. A national “top 10” list would be meaningless even if it were honest, and most such lists are paid placements. What genuinely helps is knowing what a good decorator does differently, so you can hear it in the quote and see it on site.
Accreditations worth checking
Decorating is not a regulated trade, so there is no licence to check. These are the meaningful signals.
| Signal | What it means | How much weight to give it |
|---|---|---|
| PDA | Painting and Decorating Association — the trade body; members sign up to a code of conduct and a dispute process | Strong. The clearest professional marker in this trade |
| TrustMark | Government-endorsed scheme covering workmanship, customer service and trading practices | Good supporting signal, especially for larger contracts |
| Public liability insurance | Cover for damage to your property or belongings | Essential. Ask to see the certificate |
| NVQ / City & Guilds in painting and decorating | Formal training rather than picked up on site | Useful, particularly for specialist finishes |
| CSCS card | Site safety card, needed for commercial and new-build work | Relevant mainly if your job is on a construction site |
| Manufacturer training | Accreditation from a paint or coatings manufacturer for specialist systems | Matters for spraying, resin or specialist exterior systems |
A portfolio beats a badge
Ask to see photographs of finished work — ideally close-ups of cut-in lines around ceilings, sockets and skirtings, and of woodwork. That is where skill shows. Ask, too, for a job they finished two or three years ago, because that reveals whether the preparation held up.
Preparation: the whole ball game
If you take one thing from this page, take this. The paint is a small part of the cost and almost none of the difference in outcome. What separates a good decorator from a cheap one is the work you never see:
- Washing down walls and woodwork so paint actually bonds
- Filling and sanding cracks, dents and old fixing holes — then sanding again
- Caulking gaps at skirtings, architraves and coving for crisp lines
- Priming bare plaster, filler, stains and new woodwork appropriately
- Sanding between coats on woodwork for a smooth finish
- Masking and protecting floors, furniture and fittings properly
When you compare quotes, ask each decorator to describe their preparation. The one who talks about it in detail, unprompted, is usually the one to hire — even if they are not the cheapest.
What decorating costs in 2026
| Basis | Regional UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate (one decorator) | £180 – £280 | £250 – £400 |
| Average bedroom, walls and ceiling | £350 – £600 | £500 – £850 |
| Whole 3-bed house interior | £2,500 – £5,500 | £3,500 – £8,000 |
For the full rate breakdown including per-room, per-square-metre and exterior pricing, see our 2026 painter and decorator day rate guide, or the UK painting and decorating cost page.
How to compare decorating quotes fairly
- Specify the same scope to everyone: which rooms, walls only or walls plus woodwork and ceilings, how many coats
- Agree the number of coats. Two coats over a similar colour is normal; a strong colour change or bare plaster needs a mist coat plus two, sometimes three
- Decide who supplies the paint. Trade prices are lower than retail, but you keep control if you buy it — just agree the brand and finish in writing
- Confirm preparation explicitly. “Fill and sand as required” is vague; ask what “as required” means for your walls
- Ask about the finish on woodwork. Brushed, rolled or sprayed changes both the price and the result
- Check clearing and protection — who moves the furniture, who lifts the carpet protection, who cleans up
Questions to ask before you book
About the work
What preparation is included? How many coats? Which paint and finish? Will you be spraying or brushing the woodwork? How many days will you be here, and will it be you personally?
About the business
Are you insured, and may I see the certificate? Do you belong to the PDA or TrustMark? Can I see recent work? What happens if I am unhappy with a wall once it dries?
Red flags
- A quote with no mention of preparation at all
- Willing to skip a mist coat on new plaster to save time
- Large deposit demanded when materials are a modest share of the cost
- Cash only, no written quote and no invoice
- Far cheaper than everyone else — usually one coat instead of two, or no filling
- Vague about paint brand and finish, then uses contract emulsion where you expected a durable matt
Exterior work needs a different conversation
Outside, preparation matters even more and the weather sets the timetable. Ask specifically about scraping back flaking paint, treating any rot in timber, priming bare wood, and what happens if it rains mid-job. Check whether access equipment — ladders, towers or scaffolding — is included, because on a two-storey property scaffolding can be a significant separate cost. Exterior work is best booked for late spring through early autumn.
FAQs: choosing painters and decorators in the UK (2026)
How do I know if a decorator is any good?
Judge them on preparation and portfolio rather than price. Ask what filling, sanding, caulking and priming is included, look at close-up photographs of cut-in lines and woodwork, and ask to see a job finished two or three years ago to see how it has held up.
What accreditations should a painter and decorator have?
Decorating is not regulated, so look for Painting and Decorating Association membership, TrustMark registration and current public liability insurance. An NVQ or City and Guilds qualification is a useful additional signal, and a CSCS card matters if the work is on a construction site.
Should I supply the paint myself?
Either works. Decorators can often buy at trade prices, but supplying it yourself gives you control over the exact brand and finish. Whichever you choose, agree the brand, colour and finish in writing so there is no dispute later.
How many coats of paint should a decorator apply?
Two coats is standard over a similar existing colour. New or bare plaster needs a thinned mist coat first, then two full coats. A big colour change, especially covering a dark shade with a light one, can need three.
How much does a decorator cost per day in the UK?
Typically 180 to 280 pounds per day across most of the UK in 2026, and 250 to 400 pounds per day in London and the South East. Many decorators prefer to price per room or per job rather than by the day.
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