Painting & Decorating Costs: Interior, Exterior & How to Get Quotes

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a property — whether it's a single room refresh, a full house repaint, or exterior maintenance to protect against the elements. But painting and decorating costs vary enormously depending on the scope of work, the condition of the surfaces, and whether you're using a sole trader or an established decorating company.

So how much should you expect to pay? What's included in a decorator's quote? And how do you find someone reliable who delivers a professional finish without cutting corners? This guide breaks down painting and decorating costs by project type, explains what to look for when hiring, and shows how platforms like SpecConnect can connect you with verified decorators quickly.

How much does painting and decorating cost in the UK?

Decorator rates vary by region, experience, and the type of work. Here are typical prices for 2026:

Day rates

• Sole trader decorator: £150-£250 per day
• Established decorating company: £200-£350 per day (per decorator)
• London and South East: £250-£400 per day

Interior painting (per room)

• Small bedroom (walls & ceiling): £300-£500
• Medium living room: £400-£700
• Large room or open-plan space: £600-£1,200
• Hallway, stairs & landing: £500-£1,000
• Whole house interior (3-bed house): £2,500-£5,000 (depending on prep work and finishes)

Exterior painting

• Terraced house (2-3 bed): £1,500-£3,500
• Semi-detached house: £2,500-£5,000
• Detached house: £3,500-£7,000+

Woodwork

• Internal doors (per door): £60-£120
• Skirting & architraves (per room): £80-£150
• Windows (per window, both sides): £40-£80
• Staircase spindles & handrails: £200-£400

Prices include labour and basic paint. High-end paints (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene) or specialty finishes (Venetian plaster, textured walls) cost more.

What's included in a decorator's quote?

• Surface preparation — filling cracks, sanding, cleaning, priming
• Masking and protection — covering floors, furniture, fixtures
• Paint and materials — undercoat, topcoats, brushes, rollers
• Number of coats — typically 2 coats for walls, 2-3 for woodwork
• Waste removal — disposing of old paint tins and dust sheets
• Aftercare advice — when you can move furniture back, ventilation, touch-ups

What's usually NOT included: major repairs (replastering, replacing rotten wood), wallpaper removal (often quoted separately), and moving heavy furniture. Always clarify what's in scope before work starts.

Interior painting vs exterior painting: what's the difference?

Interior painting focuses on walls and ceilings (emulsion paint), woodwork (gloss or satin finish), feature walls or accent colours, and preparation including filling, sanding, and priming. Interior work can be done year-round and usually takes 1-5 days per room depending on size and prep work.

Exterior painting focuses on render, brick, or timber cladding, windows, fascias, soffits, gutters, front doors and garage doors. Exterior work is weather-dependent (best done April-October) and requires scaffolding or ladders for upper floors, pressure washing and surface cleaning, exterior-grade masonry paint, and longer drying times between coats. A typical exterior house paint takes 1-2 weeks including prep and drying time.

What qualifications or insurance should a painter and decorator have?

• Public liability insurance (minimum £2 million) — covers accidental damage to your property
• City & Guilds NVQ in Painting & Decorating (Level 2 or 3)
• PDA (Painting & Decorating Association) membership
• Dulux Select Decorator or Crown Decorator — manufacturer-approved schemes
• CSCS card (required for commercial or new-build work)
• IPAF or PASMA (for working at height with scaffolding or access platforms)
• Portfolio and references — photos of completed projects and testimonials

How long does decorating take?

• Single room (bedroom): 1-2 days (including prep, 2 coats on walls/ceiling, woodwork)
• Living room or kitchen: 2-3 days
• Hallway, stairs, landing: 2-4 days (more intricate with spindles and awkward angles)
• Whole house interior (3-bed): 1-2 weeks
• Exterior house (semi-detached): 1-2 weeks (weather dependent)

Common decorating problems and how to avoid them

Paint peeling or flaking within months

This usually happens when surfaces weren't properly prepared (dirt, grease, or old flaking paint not removed), the wrong type of paint was used, or damp issues weren't addressed before painting. Make sure your decorator preps properly — sanding, cleaning, priming. If there's damp, fix it first.

Colour looks different once dry

Paint often looks darker wet and lighter when dry. Lighting also affects colour. Test colours with sample pots on the actual wall. Paint a large patch (A4 size minimum) and view it in different lights (morning, evening, artificial light) before committing.

How to avoid cowboy decorators

• ❌ Demands large upfront payment (10-20% deposit is standard; more is a warning sign)
• ❌ No written quote
• ❌ Can't provide insurance proof or references
• ❌ Quotes significantly lower than everyone else
• ❌ Only accepts cash
• ✅ Get 3 written quotes
• ✅ Check reviews online (Google, Checkatrade, Trustpilot)
• ✅ Pay in stages (deposit, midpoint, final payment on completion)
• ✅ Use verified platforms like SpecConnect where tradespeople are checked before joining

How SpecConnect connects you with verified painters and decorators

Finding a reliable decorator usually means phone calls, vague quotes, and waiting for site visits. SpecConnect removes that hassle. You upload photos of the rooms or exterior you want painted — including measurements if you have them. The app shares these with verified painters and decorators covering your area. They can see the scope of work before responding, which means more accurate quotes without wasting time on site visits.

Most SpecConnect users receive competitive decorating quotes within a few hours. SpecConnect is free to use for homeowners, landlords, and property managers. It covers 35+ trade categories beyond decorating — electricians, plumbers, landscapers, builders, and more.