Checkatrade's cited 2026 guide publishes painter and decorator labour at £250-£350 per day or £30-£40 per hour. The figure becomes useful only when the quote states the preparation and finish expected.
The finish begins before the first coat
Cleaning, filling, sanding, caulking, stain blocking, masking and protecting the property can take a substantial share of a decorating job. A cheaper quote may include less preparation, fewer coats or a different paint specification. Comparing the final number alone can therefore reward an incomplete scope.
Record surfaces, repairs, paint system, coats, colour changes, access and responsibility for moving furniture. That gives both sides a defensible basis for variations.
Choosing a charging basis
| Basis | Published figure | Can suit | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | £30-£40 | Small repairs, touch-ups or clearly defined preparation. | Minimum booking, drying visits and material collection. |
| Day | £250-£350 | Planned preparation and decorating over full days. | Day length, work sequence and how extra repairs are agreed. |
| Fixed price | Quote required | Rooms, exteriors or a complete measured package. | Surfaces, coats, paint system, repairs and exclusions. |
| Per room | Quote required | Standardised rooms only when scope is recorded. | Room size, condition, woodwork, ceiling and occupancy. |
Illustrative calculation
4 days × £250-£350 = £1,000-£1,400
This is labour-only arithmetic using the cited day range. Paint, preparation products, access equipment, protection, waste, travel and VAT where applicable may be additional.
Regional considerations without invented uplifts
The cited evidence does not support a numeric decorating table by region. These notes identify practical local pressures while leaving prices to current, job-specific quotes.
| Area | Potential pressure | Useful check |
|---|---|---|
| London | Parking, access, occupied flats and material storage can affect time. | Agree access, protection and parking arrangements. |
| South East | Travel and local demand vary across towns, coast and countryside. | Compare identical paint and preparation specifications. |
| Midlands | Property condition and occupancy may matter more than broad geography. | Provide photos and list every surface. |
| North | Local availability, travel and exterior exposure vary. | Agree weather and access assumptions for exterior work. |
| Wales | Longer journeys and exposed exterior work can affect programme. | Check travel and weather delay terms. |
| Scotland | Weather windows, daylight and travel may affect exterior scheduling. | Seek a local quote with programme assumptions. |
What moves a decorating quote
- Condition of walls, ceilings, woodwork and exterior surfaces.
- Filling, sanding, stripping, stain blocking and repair.
- Number of coats and size of colour change.
- Paint brand, product system and finish.
- Height, scaffold, ladders and awkward access.
- Furniture moving, protection, occupancy and cleaning.
Day rate does not equal take-home pay
A customer-facing rate may need to fund tools, dust extraction, vehicle costs, insurance, estimating, material collection, administration, holidays, warranty work and unbooked time. The labour range is not a statement of personal earnings.
Source and methodology
The headline ranges are reproduced from Checkatrade's 2026 tradespeople cost guide. They are described as published guide ranges, not Price The Job survey results.
The worked calculation is illustrative. The regional table contains explanatory factors, not numeric regional data.