Market guide, not a tariffTypical published guidance
Published 2026 UK guides vary, with common day-rate guidance from roughly £150–£325 before paint. That spread is why the preparation and scope should be compared, not just the day rate.
Published decorator day-rate rangeabout £150–£325 per dayDifferent national guides publish different averages; London can be higher.
Typical 4m × 3m room labour guideabout £300–£500For roughly 1–2 days of work; preparation can increase this.
These figures are a sense-check only. Location, access, specification, VAT and the actual condition of the property can move a quote materially.
Price driversWhat can move the cost?
• Surface preparation• Number of coats• Woodwork and ceilings• Wallpaper removal• Height/access• Paint specification and supply
Compare like for likeWhat the quote should include
✓ Preparation/filling✓ Number of coats✓ Ceilings✓ Woodwork✓ Paint supply or allowance✓ Protection/covering✓ Waste/tidying✓ VAT status
Before acceptingQuestions worth asking
- How much preparation is included?
- How many coats are allowed for?
- Are ceilings and woodwork included?
- Who supplies paint?
- Are repairs to damaged plaster included or excluded?
FairerQuote Price DataWhat customers actually compared on FairerQuote
Not enough genuine FairerQuote comparisons exist in this trade yet to publish an average. We require at least 3 accepted comparisons before showing marketplace statistics.
0genuine comparisons currently available
MethodWhere the guide figures come from
Market-guide figures were checked on 18 August 2026 against the published UK sources below. We summarise them in our own words and keep them separate from FairerQuote marketplace data.
