Cost to Paint a Room in the UK

Quick Cost Breakdown

• A small room (bathroom, box room) typically costs £180-£350 to paint professionally.
• A large room (living room, open-plan space) costs £500-£1,200 depending on size and finish.
• Prices can vary significantly between decorators in the same area, so getting two or three quotes before committing can make sure you're paying a fair rate.

Cost to Paint a Room Contents

In this cost guide, we'll cover:

1. How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room in the UK?
2. Room Painting Costs: Detailed Breakdown
3. How Paint Type Affects the Cost of Painting a Room
4. What Affects the Cost to Paint a Room?
5. Additional Room Painting Costs to Factor In
6. DIY vs Hiring a Professional Painter
7. Find Painters and Decorators Near You on MyBuilder
8. FAQ: Common Questions About Room Painting Costs

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room in the UK?

There's a reason redecorating jumps to the top of the to-do list every January and every spring, a freshly painted room genuinely transforms how a space feels.

The cost of painting a room varies more than most people expect though, and not only because painters charge very different rates.

A room where the walls are in good condition and only need two coats of emulsion is a very different job to one that needs old wallpaper stripped, cracks filled, new plaster mist-coated, and woodwork repainted in a different colour.

Here's an overview of average room painting costs in the UK:

Room Type	Average Cost (Walls + Ceiling)
Small room (bathroom, box room)	£180-£300
Standard bedroom	£260-£400
Large bedroom	£350-£500
Living room	£400-£700
Large / open-plan living room	£600-£1,000
Kitchen	£300-£600

These figures are based on standard trade paint and a room in reasonable condition. It's good to know that premium paints cost significantly more per litre and can add £100-£300 to the overall cost of painting a room depending on the size of the space.

For a more detailed look at painter and decorator day rates and what's included in a typical quote, see our painter and decorator cost guide.

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Room Painting Costs: Detailed Breakdown

Knowing the full picture of what goes into the cost of painting a room is the best way to compare quotes once work is underway.

Two quotes can look similar on paper but include very different amounts of prep work, paint quality, and surfaces covered. Breaking it down line by line makes the difference immediately obvious.

Here's what makes up the total:

Labour (walls and ceiling):

The bulk of the cost. Most decorators charge £150-£250 per day for standard two-coat emulsion on walls and ceiling. A standard bedroom typically takes one to one and a half days; larger rooms or those needing significant prep will take longer.

Labour (woodwork):

Skirting boards, architraves, door frames, and window frames are usually priced separately, adding around £50-£100 per room on top of the wall and ceiling rate. If you want doors painted too, factor in extra time per door.

Standard trade emulsion:

For a standard bedroom you'll need roughly 2.5-5 litres, depending on the number of coats and the colour. Standard trade emulsion costs £20-£50 for the room at trade rates, a relatively small part of the total bill.

Premium emulsion:

If you're using premium emulsions, the same coverage costs considerably more, typically £80-£200 per room in paint alone. The finish is excellent, but it's worth factoring in before committing to a brand.

Primer or mist coat:

Required on new or freshly skimmed plaster before standard emulsion can be applied. A mist coat is watered-down matt emulsion that soaks into the plaster and provides a key for subsequent coats. Budget £80-£150 per room for a mist coat.

Crack filling and prep:

Minor repairs before painting, filling hairline cracks, sanding back rough patches, cleaning down walls, adds £50-£150 per room depending on the condition.

Preparation accounts for 40-60% of total labour on older properties. It's the part of the job that's easiest to skimp on, and the most common reason a paint job fails prematurely.

For ceiling painting costs specifically, take a look at our ceiling painting cost guide for a detailed breakdown.

How Paint Type Affects the Cost of Painting a Room

Choosing a paint colour is the fun part, working out which type to buy is where it gets a bit more complicated.

The paint you choose affects both the material cost and the number of coats required, which in turn affects labour time. Get it right and you won't need to redecorate for years. Here's how the main options compare.

Paint costs per litre:

Paint Type	Cost Per Litre
Budget trade emulsion	£5-£10
Mid-range emulsion (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade)	£10-£18
Premium emulsion (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene)	£40-£70
Gloss / satin (for woodwork)	£12-£25
Textured / effect paints	Up to £30+
Primer	£10-£20

A few things worth knowing:

Deep colours need more coats. Dark blues, greens, and charcoals, particularly popular in feature walls, often require three coats regardless of paint brand, adding 15-25% to the total labour time.

Premium paints cover better but cost significantly more. A tin of estate emulsion costs around £59 for 2.5L, compared to £20-£30 for a trade equivalent. The finish is excellent, but in a large room you'll need multiple tins, and the painter's labour time remains the same.

Trade paint vs retail. Most professional decorators use trade-grade paints sourced from trade counters, which tend to offer better coverage and durability than the equivalent retail product at the same price point. Worth asking which brand and grade your decorator plans to use before accepting a quote.

What Affects the Cost to Paint a Room?

Two rooms of the same size can generate quotes that differ by hundreds of pounds. The real driver is scope. A straightforward repaint on walls in good condition is a very different job to one that involves stripping wallpaper, priming new plaster, and repainting woodwork in a contrasting colour.

Here's what drives that variation:

Room size: The larger the room, the more paint, time, and labour involved. Most decorators work at around 40 square metres of wall surface per day, so a large open-plan living room could take twice as long as a standard bedroom.

Condition of the walls: Rooms in good condition with intact, previously painted walls need minimal prep. Rooms with cracks, blown plaster, water stains, or old wallpaper need significantly more work before a brush touches the walls.

Number of surfaces: Are you painting walls only, or walls, ceiling, and woodwork? Each additional surface adds time. Woodwork, skirting boards, architraves, window frames, and doors, is typically finished in gloss or satin and adds £50-£100 per room to the cost on top of wall painting.

Ceiling height: Standard 2.4m ceilings are straightforward. Period properties with 3m+ ceilings require more time per coat and may need scaffolding boards or a taller ladder, adding time and occasionally an extra charge.

Number of coats: Two coats is standard on a previously painted surface. New plaster needs a mist coat plus two topcoats. Going from a light to very dark colour (or vice versa) may need three coats for full coverage.

Location: Day rates in London and the South East run 20-35% higher than the national average. Rates in rural Scotland, Wales, and the North of England tend to sit at the lower end of the range.

Additional Room Painting Costs to Factor In

Most quotes cover labour and paint, but a few extras can push the final cost higher than expected if you're not aware of them upfront.

Additional room painting costs:

Clearing the room is something most decorators expect you to handle before they arrive. Some will move furniture as part of the job, but many won't, or will charge £20-£50 per room for the time it takes.

Architectural features like coving, ceiling roses, and picture rails take longer to cut in neatly than plain walls, and some decorators will factor this into their day rate. It's worth mentioning any features when requesting quotes. If you're adding new coving as part of a room refresh, our coving installation cost guide covers typical pricing.

Travel and parking can come up in busy urban areas, particularly if your decorator has to pay for parking or is subject to a congestion charge zone. It's not always included in an initial quote, worth flagging your location at the outset to avoid it appearing as a surprise line item at the end.

Decorative and feature wall finishes sit in a different price bracket entirely. Venetian plaster, limewash, colour washing, or other textured effects require additional materials, more time on site, and in some cases a decorator with specific technique experience. Budget £150-£500+ per wall depending on the finish.

Waste disposal is usually handled by the decorator as part of the job, but it's worth confirming on larger projects. Used paint tins and materials need to be disposed of responsibly and can't simply go in a standard bin.

DIY vs Hiring a Professional Painter

Painting is one of the most accessible DIY home improvement tasks.

However, the gap between a competent professional finish and a DIY result can be significant, particularly on prep work and cutting in.

DIY cost to paint a room for a standard bedroom:

Item	Estimated Cost
Emulsion paint (2 x 2.5L)	£20-£50
Gloss / satin for woodwork	£15-£25
Brushes, roller, tray, tape	£20-£40
Sandpaper, filler	£10-£20
Total DIY cost	£65-£135

Compared to a professionally painted room at £300-£500, DIY saves around £200-£400 on a standard bedroom. In a large living room the saving is greater, but so is the time and effort involved.

• Where DIY works well: A room in good condition, previously painted in a similar colour, with no significant prep work needed. Two coats of a quality emulsion with care taken around edges and woodwork can produce a very solid result.

• Where DIY falls short: Rooms needing significant prep, filling, sanding, priming new plaster, are much harder to get right without experience. Cutting in neatly around coving, skirting boards, and window frames is a skill that takes practice, and a poorly cut edge is immediately visible once the room is furnished. If you're planning to sell the property or the finish really matters, professional results are hard to replicate without the tools and experience.

Compare painters and decorators

Find Painters and Decorators Near You on MyBuilder

Post your job for free on MyBuilder and hear from local painters and decorators who are available and interested in your project.

Browse their profiles, read reviews from previous customers, and look through photos of completed decorating work, all in one place, before you make any decisions.

All tradespeople on MyBuilder undergo checks at registration, such as ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated jobs and skill assessments, allowing you to hire with confidence.

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FAQ: Common Questions About Room Painting Costs

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room in the UK?

The average cost to paint a room in the UK is £300-£500 for a standard bedroom including walls, ceiling, and woodwork.

A small room such as a bathroom starts from around £180, while a large living room can cost £800-£1,200. The average cost for painting a room includes standard trade paint and labour; premium paint brands add to the material cost on top.

How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?

A standard bedroom in good condition typically takes 1-2 days for a professional painter, including walls, ceiling, and woodwork. Larger rooms or those requiring significant prep work, stripping wallpaper, filling cracks, priming new plaster, can take 2-3 days or more. The number of coats also affects the timeline, as paint needs adequate drying time between applications (usually 4 hours for emulsion, longer for gloss).

How Often Should a Room Be Repainted?

Most rooms benefit from repainting every 5-7 years under normal conditions. High-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens tend to show wear more quickly and may need attention every 3-5 years.

Bathrooms can be affected by moisture and may need more frequent repainting if ventilation isn't adequate. Regular touch-ups of scuffs and marks can extend the time between full repaints.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Paint a Room?

The cheapest way to paint a room is to do it yourself, which saves around 80% of the cost compared to hiring a professional.

If you're hiring a decorator, you can reduce costs by clearing and preparing the room yourself before they arrive, choosing standard trade colours rather than custom mixes or premium brands, and booking multiple rooms at once; most decorators offer a discount per room when doing several in the same visit.

What's the Difference Between Trade Paint and Retail Paint?

Trade paint is formulated for professional use and typically offers better coverage, higher opacity, and greater durability than the equivalent retail product at a similar price per litre.

It's available from trade counters and builders' merchants rather than DIY stores, and is what most professional decorators use as standard. The retail version of the same paint, the tin you'd pick up on the high street, is generally reformulated for consumer use and tends to require more coats for the same coverage.

Is It Worth Hiring a Professional Painter?

For most rooms, yes. Particularly where the walls need significant preparation, the finish matters for resale or rental purposes, or the room has features like coving, ceiling roses, or detailed joinery that require careful cutting in.

The time saving is also significant: a professional can complete a standard bedroom in a day, whereas a DIY job over a weekend that needs recoating, touching up, and correcting takes considerably longer. The cost for a painter to paint a room is largely labour, but for most homeowners the quality and time saving justifies it.