Is £1300 reasonable for decorating one average-sized room over three days?

[aimee41]

How much should a painter/decorator cost?
we are not SE/London, £350k for 3 bed semi type area. We need to get some painting done, first quote is £1300 for an average sized 13x10 ft room, said it would take 3 days. It seemed a lot in time and money. I’d be grateful if others could share quotes and rough areas. Thanks

My painter charges £140 a day, plus whatever paint is required. She would paint a small room in three days.

That seems incredibly expensive. Does that include them supplying all pains/materials? Would you consider doing it yourself?

I always ask for a quote for the job, rather than day rate.

I don’t think that’s unreasonable. It would definitely take 3 days, the prep will be at least a day, then have to wait for paint to dry between coats.
We recently had large hall, stairs and landing done, it took 9 days, with 2 people for most of the time and cost just over £3k. We’re in the South.

I've just painted a similar size room myself and materials alone (B&Q own - not branded) cost £200 ish. If it's a 2 man crew that would work out around £150 a day each plus a bit extra for travel/admin/business costs.

So sounds reasonable.

Gosh I’d drive to where you live and do it for you for half of that! Much too much

I'm in Surrey, where a 3 bed semi is £850k. It sounds a very, very toppy price to me.

What exactly is included in that price?

Hampshire - we paid a lit more than that for a 6m x 3m room to be stripped, lined and painted. Not even a very good job either 🤦‍♂️

Good point.
Are they stripping off wallpaper first? Are they painting the ceiling and skirting boards too? Will there be plastering involved? Are they supplying all the materials?

If just a simple paint job, 2-3 days for one person should surely be sufficient.

If the two people were really working all day for 9 days, it must be a very large hall/landing area. Presumably they painted the balustrade too. I'm imaginging a lovely, period hallway. From what you describe, it appears to have taken 16-18 days of labour. The OP's job of an average sized room would take about 3 days of labour so seems far too expensive by comparison.

It does include paint and wall prep but walls already in good shape

The person quoting is a general handyman who does all sorts perhaps he’s too skilled as coukd probably earn more plastering etc

I would get more quotes in that case.

We just paid a decorator £1100 to paint two bedrooms, and install all new skirting and flooring in both rooms. Took him five days. We’re in south wales.

Just paid £600 - including materials - for 2 rooms to be painted. Took 2 days.

I've recently had a 2 bed flat (bathroom not done) painted, including hall, stairs and landing and all woodwork, for £1150. He did a good job. I was very pleased with the price. NE England.

We have just had our hall, stairs and landings redecorated in North London. Some making-good was required on sash windows, skirting and banisters, so it wasn’t just painting. It was a 5-day job for 2 men, who worked 8-9 hours each day. Our 3 quotes were £2,250, £2,250 and £2,500. We went with the last of these (who had excellent references from our friends) and he agreed to match the £2,250 quoted by the others. Seemed expensive but they have done a fantastic job.

I recently paid £300 per day for a good quality decorator. I’m in Surrey. Paint on top of that. Very pleased with the final result

Could you do the job yourself? It’s not that difficult, seems expensive just for painting one room.

Seems a lot. I was quoted 1800 for playroom living room and bathroom to be painted - all in good condition so literally to paint and cost of paint - bathroom was £500 on its own

which I just can’t afford

i then asked about on local group and found a lovely man who paints

he charges £120 a day plus paint that I buy. I did say to him he was cheap but used him before and he’s good

so cost me £360 in labour plus paint was around 300. It’s the paint that is costly

but in those 3day I asked if he could add a bedroom for a 4th day and he did it in the 3 days already paid

he paints walls of one room. Then next and repeat. Then back to 1st room for ceilings and repeat

the 1800 I was quoted is by a handy man and bathroom would have meant paying him around 420 a day to paint it plus £80 for paint as he said wouid take him one day

I think first man is def over charging and my painter undercharges for what ge does /how good he is

I’d say £400 a day for any trade these days. (Surrey) Some can get much more. So sounds about right for three days but three days sounds too long!
There are lots of painter/decorators around who work cash in hand and are much cheaper.
Interested in this as am about to look for someone. My friend uses a pensioner in her road who does everyone’s painting for £50 a day! Apparently he’s good but very very slow and chats and drinks tea all day. I’d rather get a professional who pays tax and gets on with it.

I’m guessing my man is cih. Yes I paid cash but doesn’t mean he isn’t declaring

I have to declare if I get paid cash as need it in the bank as have bills etc

thi rare I get cash

But 500 including an extra room v 1800 is a no brainer

I hope so bc it’s exactly what I am paying! (Scotland).