When planning for a home renovation, one of the first things that comes to mind is: How much does a painter actually charge per hour? Whether you are painting a single room or redecorating your whole house, understanding the painter and decorator cost per hour helps you spend your budget in a useful way and avoid any hidden costs.
In the UK, prices can vary depending on location, experience, and job size. This blog not only tells about the basics but also provides you with clear and practical information about what you should expect to pay, along with the extra details that many cost guides don’t explain.
Average Painter and Decorator Cost per Hour
Within the UK, a painter and decorator cost per hour varies from £16 to around £40 per hour on average. However, this does not mean that it will apply to everyone.
- £16–£20 per hour: This is the self employed painter and decorator hourly rate you may see from freelancers in small areas.
- £21–£30 per hour: The most common range for a skilled tradesperson doing standard residential painting work.
- £31–£40+ per hour: It is reserved for London jobs, ambitious decorators, or specialist work such as heritage restoration.
On larger projects, it is not uncommon for professionals to prefer to quote a day rate. The daily rate for a painter and decorator is £140 and £280, which makes it more straightforward than quoting an hourly rate for two or more days’ work.
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Regional Price Differences
There is one aspect that some do not consider when looking at labour costs, which is location. For instance, in the North of England, Wales, or Scotland, rates are 15-25% cheaper than in London or the South East of England.
A good example is painters and decorators in Croydon, where they will often charge nearer the top end because of demand and overheads in Greater London.
Thus, while the national average is helpful, make sure to refer to local benchmarks prior to accepting any quote. The term “painter and decorator near me” or “decorators near me” will give you finer benchmark comparisons specific to your area.
What Affects the Hourly Rate?
The painter and decorator cost per hour isn’t just for applying paint. There are several reasons why costs may go up or down.
Preparation Work
If the condition of your walls is bad, you can expect to have more charges. If a decorator has to fix peeling paint, fill cracks, or add sand, they will add hours to the job.
Dimensions and Detail of the Room
The bigger the rooms, the higher the ceilings, or the more elaborate the trims, the more labor and paint the project will require.
Materials and Quality of Paint
Standard emulsion is less expensive than specialist or more exclusive types of paint, such as eco-friendly or uPVC paint, which can often be more costly and can take more coats to cover.
Access
Exterior work, staircases over 7, or jobs that require scaffolding or safety gear will add to the price of the job as well.
Experience and Insurance
An extensively experienced and fully insured decorator will cost more per hour, but typically provides a more consistent finish.
Location Travel Costs
Some professionals will build mileage or time costs if you’re outside their standard working area. This is typically why painters near me or painter decorators near me are cheaper.
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Hourly vs Day Rates: Which Is Better?
If you want one door, wall, or feature to be repainted, hourly work makes sense. However, if it is a whole room or a larger assignment, it is much more cost-effective and less contentious when working by the day, so that there aren’t disputes about breaks or minor delays.
Most local painter and decorator prefer to give a day rate for this reason. It allows them to get on with the job without worrying about the time and focus on achieving a quality finish.
Finding the Right Decorator
Cost is important, but so is confidence. Here are four important pointers for ensuring you’re hiring a trustworthy contractor:
- Search for building painters near me that have verified reviews.
- Ask friends or neighbours about decorators near me they have experience with.
- Visit a decorating centre near me and see if they have any tradepeople they suggest.
Find somewhere you can hire a tradesperson safely, where you can filter for insurance and experience.
If you take the time to vet properly, at least you won’t be paying to have something fixed that you paid your contractor to do.
How Much Should a Decorator Cost Overall?
One of the main questions for most homeowners is; how much should a decorator cost for an entire job?”
- Single room repaint: £350–£600 (walls, ceiling, and skirting boards included).
- Hall/stairs: £700–£1,200 (more time would be spent as access is awkward).
- Three-bedroom house repaint: £2,000–£3,500 average.
Again, this fits with the painter and decorator cost per hour multiplied over multiple days, plus any trims, ceilings, removal of wallpaper, or finishes.
When someone asks, “how much do decorators charge?” – the honest reply is: it depends on the scale, complexity, and finish of the job.
For example, to incorporate decorative attributes such as the brick wall design ideas referenced above, you would expect the time and costs to increase significantly in contrast to a simple one-colour repaint of the wall.
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Extra Services Many People Forget
Many blogs discuss “the essentials”. Base coating, for instance, is an often-forgotten extra that you may face when hiring a decorator:
- Wallpaper removal or hanging: Depending on the difficulty involved, this may add anywhere from £100-£300 per room.
- Ceilings and woodwork: Usually require more labour and can increase a project’s cost by 20%-30%.
- Disposal of the paint: Even getting paint disposed of in an eco-safe manner could result in a charge by the decorator.
- Decorative finishes: Cost would be separate from painting cost for stencilling, sponging, mural work, etc.
Even though all of these will affect the overall painter and decorator cost per hour, they are seldom included in the average painter and decorator guides.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does a painter and decorator cost per hour in the UK? It ranges from £16 to £40 per hour, depending on your location, type of job, and the painter’s background.
With knowledge of hourly and daily rates, preparation, and when to hire a painter, you can make better plans and save yourself from any hidden costs.
Understanding hourly and daily rates, preparation, and knowing when to hire a specialist (such as for uPVC paint or feature walls) allows you to plan better and avoid any hidden charges.
By using trusted sources like The Trade Core to hire a skilled professional and clarifying costs upfront, you will have a finish that looks beautiful and lasts for years.
FAQS:
How much does a handyman charge to paint a room in the UK?
The price may vary from £200 to £450 for a medium room, with the paint cost around £50 to £100. A skilled painter will likely charge around £350 with paint included for the job.
What does a painting quote include?
A painting quote typically includes labour, paint, and materials, surface preparation, number of coats, and clean-up. Extras, like premium paints, ceilings, or scaffolding, may or may not be included in the quote separately.
How much do painters charge for a full house?
In the UK, painters usually charge about £150-£400 a day, approximately £250-£500 for a room, and approximately £1,500-£4,00+, depending on the size, location, and complexity of a whole house.
What’s the best season to paint a house?
The best time to paint the exterior of your home is during early summer or autumn, the time when temperatures are not exceptionally hot, humidity is low, and weather conditions are more stable.
What is a daily rate for a painter-decorator?
In general, day rates for a painter usually fall between £127 and £271, allowing you to plan your budget more accurately.