Painter and decorator cost: what drives the price

Preparation is most of the job

Two rooms of the same size can differ widely in cost because of preparation. Filling cracks, sanding, washing down, stain blocking and repairing damaged woodwork take far longer than applying the colour. A room with sound walls and a similar colour change is quick; one with nicotine staining, flaking ceilings or old gloss to key is not. Good quotes tell you what preparation is included.

Size, height and access

Wall and ceiling area matters, but so does height. Stairwells and high ceilings need towers or platforms, and furniture that has to be moved or protected adds time. Outside painting cost is driven heavily by access: scaffold, towers or ladders, and the number of storeys.

• Preparation and repairs
• Room size and ceiling height
• Access equipment
• Number of coats and colour change
• Woodwork, doors and detail
• Finish and product quality

Woodwork and doors

Doors, frames, skirting and windows are slow, detailed work. Door painting cost rises with panelled doors, both sides, and converting from varnish to paint. Spray painting prices can be competitive where there are many doors or a lot of joinery, because set-up time is shared across items.

Day rates versus fixed quotes

Some decorators work on a painter and decorator day rate; others give a fixed price for the job. A day rate can suit small, uncertain jobs, while a fixed written quote gives certainty for a defined scope. Whichever you are offered, check what happens if extra work is found, and whether materials are included.

Cost to paint a house interior

A whole-house repaint is priced room by room plus halls and stairs, usually with a saving over doing each room separately because set-up and protection happen once. Occupied homes take longer than empty ones. Landlords between tenancies often get the quickest turnaround because rooms are clear.

Commercial costs

Commercial work is priced differently, with out-of-hours working, phasing and RAMS all affecting the figure. Our separate guide on commercial painting cost per square metre covers that side. For any job, Dynamic Decorating gives free quotes based on what actually needs doing.

Products and finish

Paint quality is a real cost factor. Trade-grade products cover better and last longer, while specialist finishes such as stain blockers, anti-mould systems or durable wipeable paints cost more per tin but solve specific problems. A cheap quote using budget paint can need redoing sooner. Ask which products are proposed for walls, ceilings and woodwork, and how many coats are included.

How to get a comparable quote

Give every decorator the same information: rooms, what is included, colours, the state of the surfaces and timing. Photos help. Then compare like for like.