Painter & decorator day rates in London
Greater London · 2026
£245–£405
per day, ex VAT
£31–£51
per hour
+35%
vs UK average
A painter and decorator working in London typically charges £245–£405 a day (£31–£51 an hour), ex VAT — 35% above the UK average of £240 a day. London rates run 30–40% above the national picture. Higher living costs, congestion charging, ULEZ and parking all get passed into quotes, and competition from commercial and high-end residential work pulls experienced trades away from small domestic jobs.
The gap between the bottom and top of this range is mostly preparation and finish quality. Decorators who photograph their prep work and specialise in period property or high-end finishes sit well above the median.
What moves a painter and decorator's rate
- 01Interior versus exterior work — exteriors carry access and weather risk
- 02Preparation-heavy period properties, where prep is most of the job
- 03Wallpaper hanging, which is a premium skill priced above painting
- 04Whether materials are supplied by the decorator (with markup) or the client
London vs everywhere else
| London | £245–£405 |
| South East | £205–£345 |
| East of England | £190–£315 |
| South West | £180–£300 |
| Scotland | £175–£290 |
| West Midlands | £175–£290 |
| North West | £170–£280 |
| East Midlands | £165–£275 |
| Yorkshire | £160–£270 |
| Wales | £160–£265 |
| North East | £155–£255 |
| Northern Ireland | £150–£245 |
Charging £325? Prove it's enough.
The market range is the market's number. Yours depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you actually bill. Run it through the calculator, then send the quote while the number's fresh.
Other trades in London
Run a trade site or blog? Embed this live rate widget on your pages — free.
Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote, and not financial advice.