1. Published Day Rates Across the North
Published sources generally put northern English cities below London and around or slightly below the UK middle. These are guides only and vary between decorators:
HaMuch's painter and decorator rates by city lists, excluding VAT, about £195 a day near Manchester, £190 near Leeds, £182 near Liverpool, £183 near Sheffield and £191 near Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Day Rate's town-by-town decorator rates models Manchester at about £188, Leeds about £185, Sheffield about £180, Liverpool about £175 and Newcastle about £173 a day, against its £200 UK benchmark, with York higher at about £195.
National guides such as Checkatrade's painting and decorating cost guide (around £300 average) give a higher overall figure, which shows how much sources differ.
2. North West, Yorkshire and North East Compared
Find A Decorator's regions include the North West, Yorkshire & the Humber and the North East. Based on the sources above, the differences between northern cities are fairly small, usually within a few pounds a day of each other. The spread within each city, between a newly qualified sole trader and an established firm, is far bigger than the gap between cities. That's why detailed local quotes matter more than any regional average.
3. Red-Brick Terraces
Victorian red-brick terraces are a defining feature of northern towns and cities. Typical decorating considerations include:
Narrow hallways and steep staircases that make access awkward
Older plaster that may need repairs before painting
Original features such as cornicing, picture rails and fireplaces in some homes
Exterior woodwork such as sash windows, doors and fascias, while the brick itself is usually left unpainted
Key takeaway: think twice before painting red brick. It changes the character of a terrace, is hard to reverse, and in some areas may need permission if the street is in a conservation area.
4. City Apartments and Mill Conversions
Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle all have large numbers of city-centre apartments, many in converted mills and warehouses. These often have:
Exposed brick, high ceilings and large windows
Building rules on working hours, lift use and contractor access
Parking restrictions for decorators' vans
Check your building's rules and share them with decorators when you request quotes, as access arrangements can affect the price.
5. Stone Homes in Yorkshire and the North East
Parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and the North East have traditional stone-built houses and cottages. As with other older solid-walled buildings, breathable finishes may be needed to avoid trapping moisture. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, read our guide to painting listed buildings and homes in conservation areas.
6. Typical Jobs Across Northern Cities
Decorators across the North see a broad mix of work, and knowing which type yours is helps you write a better brief:
Terrace refreshes: repainting living rooms, bedrooms and hallways in two-up two-down and larger terraced homes, often with woodwork and stairs included.
Rental turnovers: student and private rented homes in cities such as Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle are often repainted between tenancies on short deadlines, usually in durable neutral colours.
New-build estates: growing suburbs around many northern cities mean plenty of first-time decoration over new plaster, which needs a mist coat.
Exterior woodwork: windows, doors, fascias and bargeboards on brick homes, where the brick itself is usually left bare.
Commercial and hospitality: bars, restaurants, shops and offices in city centres, often needing out-of-hours work.
Whatever the job, a clear description with room sizes, photos and your preferred dates will help decorators give accurate, comparable quotes, and it reduces the chance of surprises once work begins. If your job mixes several types of work, such as interior rooms plus exterior woodwork, list each part separately so quotes can be compared line by line.
6. Getting Good Quotes in the North
Describe your property, rooms and surfaces clearly, with photos.
Mention access issues: steep stairs, parking, building rules.
Ask whether VAT is included.
Compare quotes on the same scope using our guide to comparing decorating quotes.
For tips on choosing someone reliable, see how to find a reliable painter and decorator, and get ready with our home preparation checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to hire a decorator in the North than the South?
Published sources like HaMuch and The Day Rate suggest northern city day rates are generally lower than London and many South East towns. Individual quotes still vary widely.
How much does it cost to paint a room in Manchester?
We couldn't find a reliable Manchester-only room price. Checkatrade's national averages are around £350 for a small room and £450 for a medium room including standard paint, and local quotes may differ.
Do I need permission to paint my terrace's front?
Usually not for an ordinary unlisted house, but conservation areas with special controls and listed buildings may need consent. Check with your council.
Are apartment decorating jobs more expensive?
Not necessarily, but building rules, parking and lift access can add time. Share the details when you request quotes so decorators can price accurately.
Do northern decorators charge VAT?
Only if they're VAT-registered. HaMuch's figures exclude VAT, so check whether each quote includes it before comparing.
How many quotes should I get?
At least three is a sensible rule of thumb. It gives you a feel for the local going rate and makes outliers, very high or very low, easier to spot.
Will decorators in the North quote from photos?
Many will give an initial estimate from clear photos and measurements, then confirm the price on a visit. Photos of every wall, any damage and the access route help.
Is Find A Decorator available in the North?
The North West, Yorkshire & the Humber and the North East are all regions decorators can choose. We're pre-launch and still growing, so availability may vary.
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
Published day rates for Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle sit close together according to HaMuch and The Day Rate, generally below London and around or below the UK middle. Housing type, access and the scope of work shape quotes far more than which northern city you live in. Describe your home clearly, include photos and room sizes, check building rules if you live in an apartment, and compare detailed local quotes on the same basis.