Painter & Decorator Prices and Day Rates: What to Expect in 2026
Typical day rates
For a self-employed painter and decorator working across London and Kent in 2026, a fair day rate typically falls in the range of £150–£250 per day, depending on experience, the complexity of the work, and how far outside their usual patch the job is. That’s a day rate for the tradesperson’s time and skill — materials and any specialist equipment are usually quoted separately.
Day rates aren’t the whole story, though. Most decorators (us included) quote a fixed price for the job rather than charging by the day, because a day rate alone doesn’t account for how long a job will actually take — and “how long will it take” is exactly the variable that’s hardest for a homeowner to judge in advance. A fixed quote puts that risk on the decorator, not on you.
Price list — typical job prices
| Job | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (walls, ceiling, woodwork) | £250–£550 |
| Living room (average size) | £500–£900 |
| Full 3-bed house interior | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Exterior of a 3-bed house | £2,500–£4,500 |
| Wallpapering a room (hanging only, paper supplied) | £250–£450 |
| Wallpapering a room (paper + hanging) | £300–£650 |
| Kitchen cabinet respray | £1,200–£4,000+ |
| Door paint stripping (per door) | £80–£180 |
These are UK ranges, not fixed prices — see our dedicated guides on cost to paint a room, cost to paint a 3-bed house, and kitchen cabinet respray costs for the full breakdown behind each figure.
What actually determines where you land in the range
- Condition of the existing surfaces — filling, sanding, and treating stains or damp before paint goes on is where the time goes, and it’s invisible in a “before” photo taken from across the room
- Access — ground-floor rooms with clear access are quicker than high ceilings, awkward stairwells, or exterior work needing towers
- How many coats — two is standard; a big colour change or a premium low-coverage paint can mean three
- Amount of woodwork — skirting, doors, frames, and picture rails all add cutting-in time beyond the wall area itself
- How far the job is from a decorator’s usual working area — a job right on the edge of someone’s coverage area may carry a small premium for travel time
Why we quote fixed prices rather than day rates
A day rate sounds simple, but it puts the guesswork on you: if a decorator underestimates how long a room will take, either the job gets rushed to fit the days quoted, or the price creeps up as more days get added. We visit, look at the actual condition of the walls and woodwork, and give a fixed price in writing before any work starts — so you know the total cost upfront, and there’s no incentive on our side to work slowly, or on yours to worry that a “quick job” might not be.
Getting a fair comparison between quotes
If you’re comparing two or more quotes, make sure they cover exactly the same scope before comparing the numbers:
- Same rooms/surfaces included
- Same number of coats
- Same level of prep included versus charged as an extra
- Same paint quality (trade vs premium)
A quote that’s £150 cheaper but excludes woodwork, or only promises one coat, isn’t actually the cheaper option once you add back what’s missing.
Want an accurate number for your own job rather than a general range? Get in touch — we’ll come and look at the actual space and send a written quote, free of charge either way.