1. Average Cost to Paint a Room
The cost of painting a room depends mostly on its size, the condition of the walls and how much is included: walls only, or ceilings, woodwork and doors too. Several UK sources publish room-by-room guide prices. They don't use identical room sizes or assumptions, so treat them as rough guides that will vary in practice.
Checkatrade: Checkatrade's painting and decorating cost guide gives averages of about £350 for a small room (8m²), £450 for a medium room (18m²) and £1,000 for a large room (30m²), including standard trade paint.
Which?: Which?'s painter and decorator cost survey surveyed Which? Trusted Traders and found ranges of £200 to £900 for a small room, £250 to £1,100 for a medium room and £350 to £1,650 for a large room. That covers walls and ceilings in two coats of light emulsion, excluding VAT.
Screwfix: Screwfix's room painting cost guide suggests professional costs of around £200 to £450 for a small room, £250 to £600 for a double bedroom and £350 to £900 for a large living room.
2. Bedroom, Living Room and Hallway Costs
Different rooms bring different challenges:
Bedrooms are usually the simplest: regular walls, one door, a window and a radiator. A double bedroom typically falls into the "medium" bracket in the guides above.
Living rooms are often larger, with more furniture to move and more woodwork such as alcoves and fireplaces.
Hallways, stairs and landings are among the most time-consuming spaces because of height and awkward access. Which? puts repainting the walls of a typical three-bedroom house's hall, landing and stairs at £400 to £1,600, and Checkatrade gives an average of about £1,600.
Kitchens and bathrooms are smaller but fiddly, with lots of cutting in around units, tiles and fittings, and often need moisture-resistant paint.
3. Ceilings, Woodwork and Colour Changes
The headline room price often assumes a straightforward repaint. These extras can change the cost:
Ceilings: Bark's price guide suggests ceilings from about £100 per room, and Checkatrade gives £10 to £20 per m².
Woodwork: skirting boards, door frames and window sills take time to sand, undercoat and gloss. Checkatrade puts painting a door on both sides at around £80 to £100.
Dramatic colour changes: going from dark to light, or the other way round, can need an extra coat.
Premium paint: Checkatrade notes its prices assume standard trade paint, so designer brands will add to the bill.
Quick tip: ask each decorator to list walls, ceiling, woodwork and doors separately on the quote, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
4. Preparation That Raises the Price
Preparation is where the real quality of a paint job is decided, and it's also where quotes differ most. Expect to pay more if the room needs:
Filling cracks and holes, or patching damaged plaster
Stripping old wallpaper before painting
Treating damp stains or mould first
Sanding and repairing flaking gloss on woodwork
A mist coat on new plaster
Which? notes that its room prices assume plaster is already in good condition, so rooms that need repairs can cost more than the guide ranges.
5. How to Save Money on Painting a Room
Checkatrade's guide suggests a few ways to keep costs down, and they're sensible advice:
Clear the room and move furniture yourself before the decorator arrives.
Remove pictures, curtain poles and fittings.
Stick to a single colour of standard trade paint.
Combine several rooms into one job, as decorators may price a multi-room job more efficiently than single visits.
For a full checklist, read our guide to preparing your home for a decorator.
6. DIY or Hire a Professional?
Screwfix estimates DIY materials for a medium room at roughly £65 to £140, much less than a professional. But you'll also need your own time, tools and skill, especially for cutting in, ceilings and woodwork. A professional brings speed, a cleaner finish and proper preparation. We cover the trade-off in more detail in why hiring a decorator is worth the investment.
7. Comparing Quotes for Your Room
When quotes arrive, compare the same scope: the number of coats, paint brand, preparation, whether ceilings and woodwork are included, and VAT. Our guide to comparing painter and decorator quotes walks through this step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to paint a room?
Which? estimates one to two days for a small room, about two days for a medium room and two to three days for a large room, based on walls and ceilings in two coats. Extra preparation or woodwork adds time.
Is it cheaper to paint the walls only?
Yes. Leaving out the ceiling and woodwork reduces labour, but fresh walls can make tired skirting and ceilings look worse. Ask for separate prices so you can decide.
Should I buy the paint myself?
You can, but agree it with your decorator first. Many decorators prefer to buy their own paint because they know which products perform well and may get trade prices. If you supply it, make sure you buy enough of the right finish.
How many coats will my room need?
Two coats is the usual assumption in published guides like Which?'s. A strong colour change, fresh plaster or patchy walls may need more, and that will be reflected in the price.
Do decorators charge less for empty rooms?
Often, yes. Less time spent moving and covering furniture means more time painting. Clearing the room yourself is one of the simplest ways to make your quote more competitive.
Can I get a fixed price for one room?
Most decorators will give a fixed price for a single room once they've seen it or have detailed photos and measurements. It's the simplest way to budget for a small job.
How Find A Decorator Can Help
Find A Decorator is a new UK marketplace that connects homeowners and businesses with professional painters and decorators. We're in our early, pre-launch stage, so we're still growing our network of decorators in each area. Decorator profiles cover 11 regions across Great Britain: Greater London, the South East, South West, East of England, West Midlands, East Midlands, North West, North East, Yorkshire & the Humber, Scotland and Wales. We don't cover Northern Ireland at the moment.
To get started, post your decorating job with as much detail as you can: room sizes, surfaces, photos and when you'd like the work done. You can read more about our interior painting service, and if you have questions about how the platform works, our help centre explains the process step by step.
A clear job description gets more accurate quotes. Include the number and approximate size of the rooms or areas, which surfaces need painting, the current condition of walls and woodwork, whether you'll supply the paint, any access issues such as parking or stairs, and your ideal start date. The more a decorator knows up front, the fewer surprises there are later for both of you.
Final Thoughts
Painting a room in the UK typically costs a few hundred pounds for a small room and up to around £1,000 or more for a large one, according to published guides. The real price depends on your room's size, condition and the finish you want, so detailed quotes are the only way to be sure.