How to price painting a room
Litres of paint, coats, prep and hours for walls, ceiling and woodwork: how decorators quote a room in the UK.
For painters & decorators in the UK. Prices checked November 2026.
Worked example
“Paint a 4.5 m by 4 m bedroom: walls, ceiling, skirting and door.”
| Material | Qty | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade vinyl matt emulsion 5L | 2 tub | £56.00 | |
| Brilliant white matt ceiling emulsion 5L | 1 tub | £24.00 | |
| Satinwood paint 750ml | 2 tin | £30.00 | |
| Flexible filler 330g | 1 | £7.00 | |
| Decorators caulk white 310ml | 2 | £6.00 | |
| Masking tape 50m | 1 roll | £4.00 | |
| Sandpaper assorted pack | 1 pack | £6.00 | |
| Dust sheet 12 x 9ft | 2 | £12.00 | |
| Roller sleeve and tray set | 1 set | £10.00 | |
| Labour, 12.6 hours at £32.00/hour | £403.20 | ||
| Transport | £25.00 | ||
| Total | £583.20 |
Typical UK retail prices including VAT, November 2026. Not VAT-registered example; add 20% to the total if you are. Rate is an example: use your own.
What customers expect to pay
Homeowners are told to expect £315–£585 for decorating a medium room, according to the Checkatrade cost guide. The worked example comes to £583.20.
Where the time goes
- Protect room and prepare surfaces2.7 h
- Paint walls3.7 h
- Paint ceiling2.9 h
- Undercoat and paint woodwork3.3 h
Before you quote
- Trade emulsion covers roughly 14 m² per litre per coat on sound walls.
- Strong colour changes need a third coat; ask about colours before quoting.
- Prep is where quotes go wrong. Look at the walls under good light.
How the quantities are worked out
Each material is counted in the units merchants sell it in, with normal waste allowed, so you can order straight from the list. Labour is the on-site time for one competent tradesperson, including setting up, testing and clearing up. Change the measurements and the whole quote moves with them; that's what Quotable does for you on every job, with each material priced live at UK merchants.
Quote this job with today's prices
Type the job, check the lines, send a link your customer can accept and pay. Every material is priced live and linked to the product.