2026 Pricing Guide
Decorating Costs UK 2026
Painting, wallpapering and finishing — see real UK decorator prices and get an instant estimate.
Decorating costs in the UK range from £200 for a single room to £5,000+ for a full house repaint. In 2026, painting one room (walls only) costs £200–£400, while walls, ceilings and woodwork cost £400–£750. Wallpapering costs £250–£500 per room. A full 3-bed house redecoration costs £2,500–£6,000. Costs rise with wall prep, wallpaper stripping and the number of colours or feature walls.
Decorating Prices
How Much Does Each Decorating Option Cost?
Prices below are indicative 2026 UK market rates and include labour and materials. Use our calculator for a personalised estimate.
Paint Walls (1 room)
£200 – £400
Mist coat, 2 coats of emulsion. Assumes walls in reasonable condition.
Walls + Ceilings + Woodwork (1 room)
£400 – £750
Full room decoration including skirting, doors and window frames.
Wallpaper Hanging (1 room)
£250 – £500
Supply and hang standard wallpaper. Feature walls less, patterned more.
Whole House (3 bed)
£2,500 – £6,000
Every room including ceilings, walls, woodwork. Best value as one job.
Wallpaper Stripping
£150 – £350
Per room. Steaming and scraping. Cost rises with multiple layers and paste residue.
Exterior Painting
£800 – £2,500
Masonry paint to rendered or pebbledashed walls. Scaffolding may add cost.
* All prices are estimates. A site survey is required for an accurate quote. Use our calculator for a personalised estimate.
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The Decorating Process Step by Step
Prep
Clear or cover furniture, remove old wallpaper, fill cracks and holes, sand, sugar-soap walls. The foundation of a lasting finish.
Mist Coat
Apply a watered-down emulsion mist coat to new plaster so topcoats adhere properly.
Ceilings
Paint ceilings first (2 coats) so splashes don't ruin finished walls. Cut in edges, then roll.
Woodwork & Walls
Undercoat and gloss/satin woodwork, then 2 coats of emulsion on walls. Cut in around edges, roll the rest.
Finish & Snag
Second-coat where needed, touch up, remove tape while paint is still wet to avoid peeling, clean up.
Common Mistakes
4 Mistakes to Avoid
Skipping Wall Prep
Painting over cracks, flakes or dirty walls shows every imperfection and fails fast. Fill, sand, sugar-soap and mist coat before any topcoat — prep is 60% of a good decorating job.
Using Cheap Paint
Budget paint needs 3–4 coats to cover and still fades. Trade-quality emulsion (Dulux Trade, Johnstone's) covers in 2 coats and lasts twice as long. The paint is the cheapest part of the job — don't skimp.
Not Stripping Wallpaper Properly
Painting over loose wallpaper leads to peeling and bubbles. Strip back to bare plaster, size the walls, then paint. Skipping this step wastes the whole job.
Wrong Order of Works
Decorating should follow plumbing, electrics and plastering — never the other way round. Fit and paint woodwork before walls, ceilings before walls, and don't forget to undercoat new plaster.
FAQs
Decorating Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to paint a room in the UK in 2026?
Painting the walls of one room costs £200–£400 in 2026. A full room (walls, ceiling, woodwork) costs £400–£750. Wallpaper hanging costs £250–£500 per room. Whole-house decorating (3 bed) costs £2,500–£6,000.
How much does a decorator cost per day?
A decorator charges £150–£300 per day in 2026, or £20–£35 per hour. Most quote per room or per job rather than per day. Materials (paint, brushes, sheets) are usually extra unless included in the quote.
How long does it take to decorate a room?
Painting walls takes 1–2 days (prep, mist coat, 2 topcoats). A full room with ceilings and woodwork takes 2–4 days. Wallpapering takes 1–2 days per room. Drying time between coats adds a day.
How much does wallpapering cost?
Wallpapering costs £250–£500 per room supplied and fitted in 2026. Designer or pattern-match wallpapers cost more. Stripping existing wallpaper first adds £150–£350 per room. Feature walls cost less than full rooms.
Should I paint or wallpaper?
Painting is cheaper, faster and easier to refresh. Wallpaper adds texture, pattern and durability (7–15 years vs 5–7 for paint) but costs more and is harder to change. Feature walls are a popular middle ground.
Do decorators supply the paint?
Some decorators include paint in the quote at trade prices; others charge labour only and you buy the paint. Trade-quality paint (Dulux Trade, Johnstone's) covers better and lasts longer than retail equivalents. Agree what's included before booking.
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