Typical planning cost£325 per day / £450 medium room
Broader project range£350 room to £6,000+ whole home
Planning figures are estimates rather than quotations. Live calculators combine dated UK benchmarks with clearly separated modelling assumptions such as region, size, condition and specification.
What affects the cost?
Decorating costs depend on preparation, room size, number of coats, paint specification, access and local labour rates.
- Room or property size
- Surface condition and preparation
- Number of coats
- Standard or premium paint
- Interior versus exterior
- Region and access
Typical cost breakdown
Painter labour45–65%
Paint & materials15–30%
Preparation10–25%
Access & contingency5–15%
Sources used for this guide
Checkatrade
View source ↗Painting and Decorating: Cost Breakdown 2026
Published / checked: June 2026
Used for: Room, whole-property, exterior painting and decorator day-rate benchmarks
Frequently asked questions
What is a painter and decorator day rate?
A current UK average is around £325 per day.
How much does it cost to paint a medium room?
A current planning benchmark is about £450 including standard trade paint and labour.
Related costs
Cost guide
Plastering
Typical UK plastering costs for skim coats, whole rooms and specialist finishes.
£24 per m² for skim plasteringView guide →Cost guideFlooring
Typical UK laminate, engineered wood and hardwood flooring supply and fitting costs.
Laminate around £60 per m² supplied & fittedView guide →Cost guideHouse rendering
UK house rendering prices per square metre, by render type and property size.
£30–£80 per m²View guide →