Painter and decorator day rate in 2026 (UK)

A painter and decorator typically charges £180–£280 per day across most of the UK in 2026, rising to £250–£400 per day in London and the South East. Most experienced decorators would rather price the room or the whole job than the day, because they can then work at the speed the finish requires. This page covers day rates, per-room prices, per-square-metre figures and the extras that quotes leave out.

Day rate: £180–£280 regional, £250–£400 London
Average bedroom: £350–£600 all in
Paint is usually extra unless the quote says otherwise

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Decorator day and hourly rates in 2026

Charge type	Regional UK	London & South East	Notes
Day rate, one decorator	£180 – £280	£250 – £400	Roughly 7–8 hours on site
Day rate, two-person team	£320 – £500	£450 – £700	Faster, usually better value on big jobs
Half day	£110 – £170	£150 – £240	Common minimum for a single small task
Hourly rate	£25 – £40	£35 – £55	Rarely offered; day or job pricing is the norm
Minimum charge / callout	£100 – £180	£150 – £250	Usually equivalent to a half day
Specialist finishes (spray, wallpaper hanging)	£250 – £400 per day	£350 – £550 per day	Higher skill, slower, more masking

Why the day rate is not the best number to negotiate

Paying by the day rewards slowness; paying by the room rewards a decorator who is quick and good. For any job with a clear scope, ask for a price per room or for the whole property. Day rates make sense for open-ended snagging, touch-ups or a “do as much as you can in a day” visit.

Per-room prices (2026)

Typical labour-only prices for an average UK room in reasonable condition, two coats over a similar colour. Add roughly 30–50% inside the M25.

Room	Walls & ceiling	Including woodwork	Days
Small bedroom / box room	£250 – £400	£350 – £550	1 – 2
Average double bedroom	£350 – £550	£450 – £750	2 – 3
Living room	£400 – £700	£550 – £950	2 – 3
Kitchen (walls and ceiling)	£300 – £550	£400 – £700	1 – 3
Bathroom	£200 – £400	£280 – £500	1 – 2
Hallway, stairs and landing	£500 – £1,000	£700 – £1,400	3 – 5
Whole 2-bed house interior	£1,800 – £3,500	£2,400 – £4,500	8 – 14
Whole 3-bed house interior	£2,500 – £4,500	£3,200 – £6,000	12 – 20

Hallways and stairwells cost disproportionately more than their floor area suggests, because of the height, the access equipment and the amount of woodwork. See our painting cost by room guide for more detail.

Per square metre and exterior pricing

Work	Typical 2026 rate	Notes
Interior walls and ceilings	£8 – £18 per m²	Labour only, two coats, sound surfaces
Wallpaper hanging	£12 – £28 per m²	Higher for patterned or heavy papers
Wallpaper stripping	£5 – £12 per m²	More if multiple layers or painted over
Exterior masonry	£12 – £25 per m²	Excludes access equipment
Exterior woodwork (fascias, windows)	£18 – £40 per linear metre	Depends heavily on condition
Whole exterior, 3-bed semi	£2,000 – £5,000	Scaffolding usually additional

What is not in the day rate

Item	Usually included?	Typical extra
Paint and materials	No, unless stated	£80 – £200 per room
Filler, caulk, sandpaper, masking	Usually yes	Included in labour
Heavy preparation (extensive filling, stripping)	No	Extra days at the day rate
Scaffolding or tower hire (exterior)	No	£400 – £1,500
Moving heavy furniture	No	Clear the room yourself and save a half day
Waste removal (old paper, old paint)	Sometimes	£30 – £120
Parking and congestion charges	No, in cities	Passed on at cost
VAT	Only if VAT-registered	20% on the invoice

Bare plaster changes the maths

New plaster needs a thinned mist coat before two full coats — three coats in total, and the first one soaks in. If your walls have just been skimmed, expect the quote to be higher than a straightforward repaint, and be wary of anyone who says the mist coat can be skipped.

How to bring the cost down honestly

Clear the rooms yourself — furniture, curtains, pictures, fittings
Do several rooms at once; the setup cost is spread and decorators price whole-house work keenly
Stick close to the existing colour so two coats genuinely cover
Book outside the spring and pre-Christmas rush if you can be flexible
Leave woodwork out if it is still sound — it is often a third of the labour
Get three quotes on an identical scope — see our guide to choosing a decorator

What is not worth cutting: preparation and the second coat. Both save money now and cost more within two years.

For whole-project budgets see the UK painting and decorating cost guide or try the painting cost calculator.

FAQs: painter and decorator day rates (UK, 2026)

What is the average painter and decorator day rate in 2026?

Around 180 to 280 pounds per day across most of the UK, and 250 to 400 pounds per day in London and the South East. A two-person team typically costs 320 to 500 pounds per day regionally.

Is it cheaper to pay a decorator by the day or by the room?

By the room or by the job is usually better value where the scope is clear, because the decorator carries the risk of the work taking longer than expected. Day rates suit open-ended tasks such as snagging and touch-ups.

Does the day rate include paint?

Normally not. Paint and materials are usually additional at roughly 80 to 200 pounds per room depending on brand and finish. Consumables such as filler, caulk, sandpaper and masking tape are generally covered within the labour rate.

How much does it cost to paint a bedroom in 2026?

An average double bedroom costs roughly 350 to 550 pounds for walls and ceiling, or 450 to 750 pounds including woodwork, taking two to three days. Add around 30 to 50 percent in London and the South East.

Do decorators charge a minimum fee?

Most apply a minimum equivalent to a half day, commonly 100 to 180 pounds regionally and 150 to 250 pounds in London. If you only have one small task, it is worth grouping it with other work to make the visit worthwhile.

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