Painter & Decorator Price Calculator
In decorating, prep is everything. If you only price for rolling paint on walls, you will lose money on filling, sanding, and masking. Accurate decorator pricing relies heavily on assessing the current condition of the surfaces.
Key pricing factors
Surface Preparation
Sugar soaping, filling, caulking, and sanding often take as long as the painting itself.
Paint Coverage Rates
Calculate the square meterage and divide by the paint's coverage rate. Always allow for a minimum of two coats.
Consumables
Masking tape, dust sheets, rollers, and caulk add up. Apply a standard sundries charge to every room.
Example: Decorating a Medium Living Room
- Labour (Prep + 2 Coats, 2.5 days)
- £500.00
- Trade Emulsion (10L) & Gloss (2.5L)
- £85.00
- Masking & Sundries
- £25.00
- Cost
- £610.00
- Margin (20%)
- £122.00
- Final Quote
- £732.00
Using high-quality trade paint costs more upfront but saves a full day of labour by requiring fewer coats.
Practical quoting guidance
- Quote per room or per square metre, not just a blind day rate.
- Explicitly state if the quote is for empty rooms. Charge extra for moving heavy furniture.
- If the customer supplies the paint, warn them that retail paint may require three coats, which will increase the labour cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do I charge for drying time?
You charge for the time you are on site. If you have to wait hours for gloss to dry before a second coat, you should have another room prepped to switch to. If not, the waiting time is part of the job cost.
How much do I add for woodwork?
Doors, skirting, and architraves are incredibly time-consuming to sand and paint. Price woodwork per linear metre or per door, separate from the walls.