Painter and Decorator Day Rates UK 2026: What Decorators Charge Per Day
By Future Momentum Systems · Updated September 2026
Most UK painters and decorators charge somewhere between £180 and £350 a day in 2026, depending on location, experience and the type of work. Published figures vary widely — so we've brought together the main UK sources, plus regional rates and typical room prices.
Average decorator day rate (2026)
| Source | Typical day rate |
|---|---|
| Fantastic Services | £230–£355 outside London |
| Trade2Base (sole traders) | £180–£300 outside London |
| Book A Builder UK | £180–£300 |
| MyBuilder | £150–£300 |
A realistic working figure is £200–£300 a day outside London, with London and the South East running roughly 20–30% higher.
Decorator day rates by region
| Region | Typical day rate |
|---|---|
| London | £280–£450 |
| South East | £230–£380 |
| Midlands | £180–£300 |
| North West | £160–£280 |
| Yorkshire | £150–£260 |
| Scotland | £170–£290 |
| Wales | £140–£250 |
Source: Trade2Base, 2026. Exterior, specialist and commercial work typically 15–30% higher.
Hourly rates
MyBuilder puts typical painter and decorator hourly rates at around £20–£40, with London at the top of the range.
Typical room prices
Most rooms cost £350–£600 to paint, from around £350 for a small room to £600–£1,000+ for a large room with ceilings and woodwork. A standard room usually takes one to two days including preparation.
What affects a decorator's day rate?
- Location
- Preparation needed (filling, sanding, priming)
- Interior vs exterior
- Specialist finishes (spraying, wallpaper, heritage)
- Domestic vs commercial
What affects the cost of a decorating job
Preparation is often the biggest part of the job. Walls with cracks, old wallpaper or damp patches take longer to get ready, and that time is built into the price. Materials are usually charged separately from the day rate, and good-quality paint can add noticeably to the total.
Access matters too. High ceilings, stairwells and exterior work may need ladders, towers or scaffolding. Most decorators will visit, look at the rooms and give a fixed quote, which is often easier to compare than day rates alone.
For painters and decorators: the hidden cost of a missed call
At £250 a day, one missed enquiry can be worth a full day — or a whole-house repaint. But you can't answer the phone halfway up a ladder with a brush in your hand. Most callers won't leave a voicemail — they ring the next painter and decorator on Google.
That's why more trades businesses use a call answering service that picks up every call, takes the job details and texts them straight to you. See how FMMS answers calls for trades →
Need a website that wins more jobs? See our websites for trades →
Painter and decorator day rate FAQs
Sources
Figures are published averages as of September 2026 and are for guidance only.