How Much Does Painting & Decorating Cost?
Time for a new coat of paint at home! But how much does a painter cost? And what is the cost price of painting work per m2? In this blog article, we list all the factors. Finally, we also provide a sample quotation and a target price per square meter.
Do you have plans to give your home a fresh color? Or just the kitchen, bathroom, or living room? Then you would like to know in advance how much you will spend on a good painter!
What determines the cost of painting?
● The painter takes this into account when drawing up the quotation:
● The surface in m2, and the number of rooms to be painted.
● The condition of walls and ceilings: is it necessary to repair or level them?
The type and quality of the paint chosen.
1. The price per m2
Professional painters and painting companies usually opt for a cost price per m2 instead of an hourly rate.
The painters at Jaimy charge a price between £20 and £40 m².
How do you calculate the area to be painted in m2?
● Several square meters for a wall: multiply the length x the height of the wall (for example,2 meters height x 5 meters length = 10 m2. Repeat the calculation for each partition in each room and add the result.
● Several square meters for the ceiling: multiply the length x width of the ceiling. More convenient than the ceiling is to measure the floor area - which is usually the same.
TIP:
Your estimate does not have to be accurate to the centimeter to request a painter's quote. A rough estimate is usually sufficient!
2. Preparing walls or ceilings
The current condition of the walls and ceilings significantly influences the total contract price. Without clean, smooth walls or ceilings, the paint will not adhere as well, and the painter cannot deliver a beautiful job. Such prior treatment is usually labor-intensive and therefore weighs on the costs:
● Old walls are often damaged, with cracks or drilled holes. Those irregularities are best eliminated in advance with filler and a putty knife.
● Sometimes the old, peeling paint (or wallpaper) has to be removed first. This is done with a knife or sander.
● A rough surface often needs to be leveled. This can be done by sanding by hand or with a machine.
● Some surfaces are dirty and need to be degreased or cleaned.
| STATE OF THE WALLS | MIN. PRICE | MAX. PRICE | NECESSARY STEPS |
| Good state | £10 / m2 | £20/ m2 | Primer + 2 coats of paint |
| Average condition | £20 / m2 | £25 / m2 | Cleaning + Primer + Filling and treating holes/cracks + Partial coating + Sanding + 2 coats of paint |
| Bad state | £30 / m2 | £35/ m2 | Cleaning + Sanding or scraping + Primer + Filling and treating holes/cracks + 2 coatings + Sanding + 2 coats |
| CONDITION OF THE CEILING | MIN. PRICE | MAX. PRICE | NECESSARY STEPS |
| Good state | £20/ m2 | £25 / m2 | Primer + 2 coats of paint |
| Average condition | £25 / m2 | £30/ m2 | Cleaning + Primer + Filling and treating holes/cracks + Partial coating + Sanding + 2 coats of paint |
| Bad state | £35 / m2 | £30m2 | Cleaning + Sanding or scraping + Primer + Filling and treating holes/cracks + 2 coatings + Sanding + 2 layers of paint |
Removing or scraping wallpaper costs about 5 to 10£ / m². Removing wallpaper is time-consuming and requires expertise. After removing the wallpaper, the painter or wallpaper must also remove any glue residues.
3. Types and different types of paint
Below you will find an indication of the prices of color:
| TYPE OF PAINT | AVERAGE PRICE PER M² |
| Organic paint | £2 / m2 |
| Chalk paint or magnetic paint | £3 / m2 |
| Acrylic, latex or vinyl paint | £5 / m2 |
| Tile paint | £5 / m2 |
| Polyurethane paint | £5 / m2 |
| Alkyd paint | £10 / m2 |
| Waterproof paint | £10 / m2 |
| Concrete paint | £10 / m2 |
| Insulating paint | £20 / m2 |
| Epoxy paint | £25 / m2 |
4. Other factors that determine the painting price per m2
The painter (sometimes) takes this into account when drawing up a quotation:
● Colored paint or special color paint is generally per m². Painters who mix or compose their colors sometimes charge an extra cost for this service.
Do you choose a different color for each room?
Of course, it influences the total cost price.
● There are substantial price differences between different brands and types of paint. One motto: avoid cheap paint. It often needs more layers so that you can work much longer to achieve a good result.
● Special paints are considerably more expensive per m² than standard paint. Then we think of tile paint or metal paint with a unique design color, such as silver or gold.
Sample offers for a complete house
Below you will find the quotation from one of the painters we work with at Jaimy. This sample quotation highlights the cost of painting a living room, hall, two bedrooms, and the kitchen—total cost: 3400£ for painting an apartment of approximately 100 m².
| ROOMS | SURFACE CEILING | SURFACE WALLS | TO STEP | PRICE PER M² / UNIT RATE | TOTAL |
| Living room - Average condition | 36 m² | 60 m² | Cleaning + Primer + Filling of holes/cracks + Partial coating + Sanding of 2 layers of paint | £25 | £1400 |
| Hall - Good condition | 6 m² | 25 m² | Primer + 2 coats of paint | £30 | £420 |
| Room - Damaged walls | 15 m² | 40 m² | Cleaning + Scraping walls + Priming coat + Filling of holes/cracks + 2 coatings + Sanding + 2 coats of paint | £30 | £1270 |
| Room - Good condition | 15 m² | 40 m² | Primer + 2 coats of paint | £20 | £670 |
| Kitchen: walls + Ceiling - Good condition | 12 m² | Walls: 35 m² and ceilings 12 m | Primer + 2 coats of paint | Walls: £20 £ Ceilings: 20£ | Walls: £580 Ceilings: £210 |
| Bathroom - Average condition | 12 m² | 35 m² | Cleaning + Primer + Filling of holes/cracks + Partial coating + Sanding + 2 coats of paint | £20£ | £820 |
| Total | £3400 |
The prices per m2 in this sample offer are purely indicative and can be different for each painter.
For an exact quote or price per m2, it is best to contact a professional.