PAINTING AND DECORATING COSTS · LONDON
How Much Does Painting and Decorating Cost?
Painting and decorating costs depend on the rooms, surfaces, preparation, woodwork, access and paint specification included in the project.
For a normally prepared London room using standard trade materials, Growchance’s indicative guidance starts with:
Indicative planning guidance, not a quotation. Prices exclude VAT. Premium paints, major plaster repairs, scaffolding, substantial furniture handling, parking and applicable London vehicle charges are assessed separately.
QUICK COST SUMMARY
Typical painting and decorating costs in London.
These Growchance ranges provide an initial comparison for normally prepared residential rooms and properties using standard professional trade paint.
Every figure is excluding VAT. Poor surfaces, extensive preparation, specialist products, difficult access and occupied working conditions can change the final quotation.
| Painting scope | Guide price ex VAT | Working assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Individual rooms | ||
| Small bedroom or box room | £315 – £500 | Walls, ceiling, normal woodwork, one door and frame, light preparation and two finish coats. |
| Medium bedroom | £375 – £625 | Normally prepared surfaces with standard trade materials. |
| Living room | £450 – £800 | Walls, ceiling and ordinary internal woodwork in normal condition. |
| Hallway, landing and stairs | £650 – £1,250 | Allows for additional height, cutting-in, doors, balustrades and more difficult access. |
| Kitchen | £400 – £700 | Walls, ceiling and ordinary woodwork. Kitchen units are not included. |
| Bathroom | £275 – £500 | Normally prepared walls, ceiling and agreed woodwork. Specialist moisture treatments are separate. |
| Whole properties | ||
| One-bedroom flat | £1,350 – £2,500 | Empty or reasonably clear property with surfaces in normal condition. |
| Two-bedroom flat | £1,800 – £3,200 | Walls, ceilings, normal internal woodwork and doors. |
| Three-bedroom house | £3,150 – £5,850 | Standard residential interior scope without substantial repair or specialist finishes. |
| Four-bedroom house | £4,000 – £7,200 | Final cost depends materially on layout, room sizes, condition and woodwork. |
| Exterior painting | ||
| Front elevation only | £1,100 – £2,150 | Typical two-storey London terrace or semi in reasonable condition. Scaffolding is excluded. |
| Front and rear elevations | £1,800 – £3,250 | Subject to surface condition, access, weather and agreed preparation. |
| Typical three-bedroom house exterior | £2,500 – £4,500 | Typical terrace or semi-detached property. Scaffolding and significant repairs are separate. |
STANDARD PRICING BASIS
Understand what the guide prices assume.
Painting quotations are only meaningful when the preparation, products, surfaces and number of coats are defined.
Growchance’s standard ranges assume ordinary residential surfaces in reasonable condition. Work beyond that baseline is assessed separately rather than hidden inside a general room price.
Included in a standard painting scope
- Standard trade paint Professional trade products suitable for the agreed surfaces.
- Two finish coats Applied after the required preparation and priming.
- Normal priming Primer, undercoat or spot-priming where ordinarily required.
- Minor preparation Minor filler, ordinary caulk and light sanding.
- Protection Normal masking and protection of nearby floors and furniture.
- Standard equipment Brushes, rollers, consumables, ladders and ordinary steps.
- Working-area care Daily tidying and ordinary painting-waste handling.
- Final clean Cleaning of the agreed painting work area after completion.
LABOUR AND MEASURED RATES
How painters and decorators price the work.
A decorator may price by the day, by measured surface area or as a complete room or property. The right method depends on how clearly the preparation and finished scope can be defined.
Growchance uses measured rates as planning guidance rather than automatic fixed prices. Small projects remain subject to the minimum job charge.
PAINTER / DECORATOR DAY RATE
£225 – £360 Per person, per working day · labour only · excluding VATDay rates are useful where the work contains mixed preparation, several surfaces or smaller tasks that cannot be represented reliably by a single square-metre rate.
Minimum painting job £225 ex VAT
| Work | Guide rate ex VAT | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard wall painting | £11 – £18/m² | Standard trade materials included; normally prepared residential surface. |
| Ceiling painting | £12 – £20/m² | Standard trade materials included; access and condition can change the rate. |
| Light preparation | £3 – £6/m² | Minor filling, light sanding and ordinary local preparation. |
| Substantial preparation | £8 – £15/m² | Filling, sanding and stabilising surfaces in poorer condition. |
| Loose or flaking-paint removal | £6 – £12/m² | Removal before the subsequent preparation and painting stages. |
| Skirting boards | £6 – £9/linear m | Standard paint and materials included; ordinary condition. |
| Architraves | £6 – £10/linear m | Standard paint and materials included; ordinary detailing. |
Two rooms with the same floor area can contain very different wall, ceiling, door and woodwork quantities.
Apply the preparation allowance that matches the inspected surface. Do not automatically add every preparation rate.
For ordinary residential work, a defined room quotation is often easier to understand than several isolated measured rates.
ROOM-BY-ROOM PRICES
How much does it cost to paint a room?
Room prices are often more useful than a single day rate because they bring the walls, ceiling, ordinary woodwork and agreed preparation into one defined scope.
The following figures assume light preparation, two finish coats and standard trade materials. All prices exclude VAT.
Small bedroom
£315 – £500Suitable as initial guidance for a box room or smaller bedroom with ordinary surfaces and limited woodwork.
Standard scope: walls, ceiling, normal skirting and architrave, one door and frame.
Medium bedroom
£375 – £625The total moves within the range according to wall area, condition, windows, doors and the amount of cutting-in.
Standard scope: walls, ceiling and ordinary residential woodwork.
Living room
£450 – £800Larger wall areas, multiple doors, bay windows, cornices or detailed woodwork can move the price towards or above the upper range.
Standard scope: walls, ceiling and agreed normal internal woodwork.
Kitchen
£400 – £700Kitchen wall area may be reduced by units, but cutting-in around cabinetry, worktops and fixed fittings requires care.
Not included: painting kitchen cabinets, furniture or specialist joinery.
Bathroom
£275 – £500Small floor area does not always mean limited work because of cutting-in around tiles, sanitaryware and ventilation details.
Separate where required: anti-mould systems, waterproofing, plastering and tiling.
Additional woodwork
Priced to scopeSeveral doors, detailed period windows, extensive panelling or intricate mouldings require additional preparation and finishing.
Measured separately: doors, windows, skirting, architraves and detailed features.
Stair areas cost more than their floor area suggests.
Height, access, multiple doors, balustrades, detailed woodwork and extensive cutting-in can make a hallway, landing and staircase more labour-intensive than a larger straightforward room.
All figures exclude VAT. Heavy preparation, extensive repairs, premium paints, unusually detailed woodwork, significant furniture handling and occupied-property restrictions may increase the final price.
FLAT AND HOUSE PRICES
Whole-property painting costs in London.
A whole-property quotation should reflect the number and size of rooms, surface condition, doors, windows, woodwork and whether the home is empty or occupied.
These ranges assume an empty or reasonably clear property, surfaces in normal condition and standard trade materials. All prices exclude VAT.
One-bedroom flat
£1,350 – £2,500Initial guidance for walls, ceilings, normal internal woodwork and doors throughout a normally prepared property.
Typical programme: 3 – 5 working days
Two-bedroom flat
£1,800 – £3,200The final total depends on room sizes, circulation areas, the number of doors and the amount of preparation required.
Typical programme: 4 – 7 working days
Three-bedroom house
£3,150 – £5,850Suitable for a standard residential interior scope without substantial plaster repair, specialist finishes or unusually detailed period woodwork.
Typical programme: 6 – 10 working days
Four-bedroom house
£4,000 – £7,200Larger layouts, multiple reception rooms, staircases and additional woodwork can move the project beyond the guide range.
Programme: confirmed after the scope is assessed
What the property ranges are intended to cover.
- Walls and ceilings Normally prepared internal walls and ceilings throughout the agreed rooms.
- Normal internal woodwork Agreed skirting, architraves, doors and frames in ordinary condition.
- Standard preparation Minor filling, ordinary caulk, light sanding and normal local priming.
- Standard trade materials Appropriate standard trade paint and normal painting consumables.
- Two finish coats Applied after the required preparation, primer or undercoat.
- Normal working access An empty or reasonably clear property with efficient access between rooms.
EXTERIOR PAINTING PRICES
How much does exterior house painting cost?
Exterior painting is affected by height, access, surface exposure, previous coatings, local repairs and the preparation needed before a suitable external finish can be applied.
These ranges are for a normal two-storey London terrace or semi-detached property in reasonable condition. Scaffolding is excluded.
| Exterior work | Guide price ex VAT | Working assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Front elevation only | £1,100 – £2,150 | Normal two-storey terrace or semi with ordinary access and surfaces in reasonable condition. |
| Front and rear elevations | £1,800 – £3,250 | Subject to access, surface condition, detailing and agreed preparation. |
| Whole exterior | £2,500 – £4,500 | Typical three-bedroom London terrace or semi. Scaffolding and major repairs remain separate. |
| Exterior casement window | £55 – £95/item | Ordinary window or frame with normal preparation. |
| Exterior sash window | £70 – £125/item | Greater detailing, preparation and cutting-in than a standard casement window. |
| Exterior front door | £110 – £180/item | Normal condition using a suitable agreed exterior coating system. |
Restricted access, conservatories, extensions and neighbouring boundaries can change the working method.
Loose, flaking or incompatible coatings require additional removal, stabilising and preparation.
Cracked render, failed pointing, rotten timber and damaged masonry must be assessed before decoration.
Masonry, timber and metal require suitable preparation, primers and compatible exterior products.
DOORS, WINDOWS AND WOODWORK
Detailed surfaces require additional preparation and finishing.
Woodwork is normally more labour-intensive than a straightforward wall because edges, profiles, hardware and adjacent finishes require careful preparation and cutting-in.
The guide rates below assume ordinary residential condition and standard paint and materials. All prices exclude VAT.
| Surface | Guide price ex VAT | Working assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Skirting boards | £6 – £9/linear m | Standard paint and materials included; ordinary condition and detailing. |
| Architraves | £6 – £10/linear m | Normal preparation, priming where required and agreed finish. |
| Internal door and frame | £85 – £135/set | Both sides of the door with an ordinary frame in normal condition. |
| Internal casement window | £45 – £90/item | Ordinary internal window or frame without extensive repair. |
| Detailed sash or period window | £80 – £135/item | Allows for additional profiles, preparation and cutting-in. |
| Exterior casement window | £55 – £95/item | Suitable external preparation and coating system; access assessed separately. |
| Exterior sash window | £70 – £125/item | Detailed exterior joinery in reasonable condition. |
| Exterior front door | £110 – £180/item | Normal preparation and a suitable agreed exterior paint system. |
PREPARATION AND REPAIRS
Surface condition can change the painting cost.
Paint cannot correct an unstable, damaged or poorly prepared background. The existing surface must be inspected before deciding whether light preparation is sufficient.
Preparation allowances should match the work genuinely required. Do not add every preparation rate automatically.
Light preparation
£3 – £6/m²Minor filling, ordinary caulk, light sanding and normal local preparation before the specified painting system.
Substantial preparation
£8 – £15/m²More extensive filling, sanding and stabilising where surfaces are in visibly poorer condition but do not require full plastering.
Loose or flaking paint
£6 – £12/m²Controlled removal of failed material before the required repair, stabilising, priming and repainting stages.
Some defects are better priced by area than by square metre.
-
Small local crack or hole repair Repair beyond ordinary minor filler but still within a local painting-preparation scope.£40 – £90/area
-
Larger local damaged area Painting preparation only. Significant plaster failure or replacement work is assessed separately.£90 – £225/area
MATERIALS AND PROJECT CONDITIONS
What else can change a painting quotation?
Two apparently similar properties can require different budgets because the specification, access and working conditions affect both material use and decorator time.
These items should be shown clearly rather than hidden inside a general room price or added automatically without evidence.
Premium paint
Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Benjamin Moore, heritage products and specialist coating systems require a separate material adjustment. They are not included in the standard trade-paint rate.
Occupied properties
An allowance of approximately 5% – 15% may apply where occupation genuinely slows access, sequencing, protection or daily cleaning. It is not an automatic charge.
Furniture handling
Minor movement of light items is normally included. Emptying or repeatedly moving a heavily furnished room may add approximately £50 – £150 per room or be priced by time.
Parking and access
Chargeable parking, restricted loading, Congestion Charge and applicable vehicle costs remain separate where they are actually incurred.
Scaffolding
Exterior painting guidance excludes scaffolding. Scaffold design, licences and pavement occupation must be assessed for the specific London property.
Specialist preparation
Damp staining, mould, persistent cracking, incompatible coatings and damaged backgrounds may require investigation or specialist treatment before decoration.
Add VAT to the published Growchance guide prices.
Every price range on this guide is shown excluding VAT. A quotation should identify the net amount, VAT and final total clearly so the project can be compared on the same basis.
TYPICAL PROGRAMMES
How long does painting and decorating take?
The working programme depends on preparation, drying, the number of surfaces and whether decorators can move efficiently between rooms.
These ranges assume standard preparation and a normal team of one or two decorators. They are working-day allowances rather than guaranteed completion dates.
| Painting scope | Typical programme |
|---|---|
| One room | 1 – 2 working days |
| Two or three rooms | 3 – 5 working days |
| One-bedroom flat | 3 – 5 working days |
| Two-bedroom flat | 4 – 7 working days |
| Three-bedroom house | 6 – 10 working days |
| Exterior front elevation | 2 – 4 working days |
| Whole-house exterior | 4 – 8 working days |
Protect adjoining finishes, prepare the work area and complete the agreed filling, sanding and repairs.
Apply suitable primer, undercoat or spot-primer to the prepared surfaces.
Complete two finish coats as standard, allowing the required drying between applications.
Check the agreed surfaces and details before completing the final work-area clean.
COMPARING QUOTATIONS
Compare the complete scope, not only the final number.
Painting quotations can appear similar while covering different surfaces, preparation, materials and finishing stages.
Before comparing prices, confirm that each contractor has interpreted the project in the same way and that VAT and exclusions are stated clearly.
Which surfaces are included?
Confirm walls, ceilings, skirting, architraves, doors, frames, windows, radiators and any exterior surfaces individually.
What preparation is allowed?
Check whether the quotation covers only light sanding and filling or also substantial repairs, stripping and stabilising.
Which products are specified?
Identify the manufacturer, product type, sheen and colour where relevant. “Paint included” is not a complete specification.
How many coats are included?
Growchance standard guidance assumes two finish coats, with primer or undercoat where normally required.
Who protects and clears the rooms?
Confirm the responsibility for furniture movement, floor protection, masking, daily tidying and final cleaning.
What remains separate?
Review plastering, specialist treatments, scaffolding, parking, access equipment, premium paints and waste beyond the painting scope.
Is VAT included?
Compare either every net figure or every VAT-inclusive figure. Do not compare totals presented on different tax bases.
How are changes agreed?
Previously concealed defects or requested additions should be reviewed and agreed before extra work proceeds.
A low headline figure may describe a smaller job.
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01
Walls only Ceilings, doors, frames and other woodwork may be excluded.
-
02
Minimal preparation The price may assume that all surfaces are already sound and ready to paint.
-
03
Client-supplied materials Paint, primer, filler and consumables may need to be purchased separately.
-
04
VAT not shown The payable total may be higher than the figure initially presented.
PREPARE YOUR ENQUIRY
What should you send for an initial painting review?
Useful information helps distinguish a straightforward repaint from a project requiring substantial preparation, repairs or specialist access.
You do not need to prepare a professional specification. Send the information currently available and identify anything that remains uncertain.
Property and postcode
Provide the London postcode, property type, number of floors and whether the home will be occupied during the work.
Rooms and surfaces
List the rooms or exterior areas and confirm whether walls, ceilings, doors, frames, skirting, windows or other woodwork are included.
Current photographs
Include clear general photographs and closer images of cracking, flaking paint, staining, damaged plaster or difficult access.
Paint and finish preferences
Mention known colours, brands, specialist finishes or whether standard professional trade paint should be allowed for initially.
Access and furniture
Explain whether rooms will be clear, heavily furnished or occupied and identify exterior access restrictions where known.
Preferred timescale
Provide the preferred start period and any practical deadline, but allow the confirmed programme to follow the assessed scope.
Send the available details for an initial project discussion.
Growchance can review the information, identify anything still required and advise whether photographs, further measurements or a property visit are the appropriate next step.
An initial review is not a quotation or contract. Final preparation, specification, access, programme, availability and price are confirmed separately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Painting and decorating costs explained.
These answers explain how London decorating costs are commonly calculated and what should be confirmed before comparing quotations.
01 How much does painting and decorating cost in London?
The cost depends on the size and condition of the rooms, the amount of preparation, the surfaces being painted and the selected finish. As Growchance working guidance, a small bedroom may cost £315 – £500 ex VAT, while a typical three-bedroom house may cost approximately £3,150 – £5,850 ex VAT.
These are planning ranges rather than fixed quotations. The exact scope must be assessed for the property.
02 How much does a painter and decorator charge per day?
Growchance’s working London guidance is approximately £225 – £360 per decorator per day ex VAT for labour only. Day rates should not be compared without checking the preparation, protection, materials, number of decorators and finishing standard included.
03 Are paint and decorating materials included?
The room and property ranges in this guide assume trade paint, normal primer or undercoat where required, two finish coats, ordinary protection materials, minor filler and caulk.
Premium or specialist paints, unusual finishes and additional repair materials should be identified separately in the quotation.
04 Does the price include wall preparation?
Normal minor filling, caulking and light preparation may be included in a standard decorating scope. Substantial cracking, loose surfaces, flaking coatings, extensive repairs or full plastering should be assessed and priced separately.
If the walls require more extensive work, review the Plastering Cost London Guide .
05 How long does it take to paint a room?
A typical room may take approximately 1 – 2 working days. The programme can increase where extensive preparation, multiple colours, detailed woodwork or longer drying periods are required.
06 Does an occupied property cost more to decorate?
It can. Working around occupants, furniture and restricted access may slow protection, preparation and drying between stages. Where occupation materially affects productivity, an allowance of around 5% – 15% may be appropriate.
It should not be added automatically. The effect depends on the actual working conditions.
07 Is VAT included in the prices shown?
No. The Growchance working prices in this guide are shown excluding VAT. VAT should be added at the applicable rate when preparing the overall project budget.
08 What should a painting quotation clearly include?
It should identify the rooms and surfaces covered, preparation standard, number of coats, paint specification, woodwork, protection, repairs, access arrangements, waste handling, programme, VAT and exclusions.
Compare quotations only after confirming that each contractor has priced the same scope and finishing standard.
DISCUSS YOUR DECORATING WORK
Tell us about your property and the areas you want to decorate.
Share the available details and Growchance can review the likely scope, preparation requirements and information needed before providing a project-specific quotation.
London postcode, property type and whether the property will be occupied during the work.
Rooms, ceilings, doors, windows, woodwork or exterior elevations that require preparation and decoration.
Mention cracks, flaking paint, damaged plaster, stains, access restrictions and any photographs you can provide.
An enquiry or initial estimate does not create a contract or confirm availability. The final scope, programme and price are agreed separately.