UK Renovation Budget Planner
Calculate interior and exterior decorating costs in pounds sterling (GBP). Compare surface preparation, emulsion, and woodwork painting with regional UK labour factors.
UK Cost Benchmarks
Average installed costs across typical specifications. Figures include materials and standard UK tradesperson labour.
| Specification / Option | Typical UK Fitted Range | Characteristics & Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Walls & Ceilings (Standard Emulsion) | £18 – £28 per m² | Light prep, minor filling, 2 coats contract/trade emulsion |
| Interior High-Prep / Detailed Woodwork | £28 – £42 per m² | Sanding, knotting, priming, gloss or satinwood on skirting and doors |
| Exterior Masonry Painting (2-Storey House) | £25 – £45 per m² | Power washing, crack repair, fungicidal wash, 2 coats masonry paint (inc. scaffold) |
HomeProjects.money editorial team reviewed this page on 6 August 2026. HomeProjects.money is an independent planning tool, not a contractor, surveyor or building-control body. Listed sources inform the context and checking process; calculator ranges remain editorial planning assumptions that must be tested against written local quotes.
Planning assumptions
Normal preparation, primer where needed, two finish coats and labour. Professional painting cost is mostly preparation and access, not litres or gallons of finish paint. Record substrate condition, repairs, colour changes, trim, occupied-room protection and the required finish standard.
Cleaning, scraping, filling, sanding, caulking, stain blocking and priming can exceed the time spent applying finish coats. Define the expected surface standard.
High exterior elevations, stairwells, furniture, flooring and occupied spaces require equipment and careful protection. Access assumptions should be visible in the quote.
Substrate, exposure, sheen, colour change and product performance determine primer and coat count. Brand names alone do not define a complete system.
Scope decisions
Cost comparisons are useful only when every contractor prices the same performance, preparation and finishing requirements.
Appropriate for sound, compatible surfaces with minor defects and little colour change.
Better for failed coatings, visible repairs, strong colour changes or higher finish expectations.
Needed for lead risk, mould sources, masonry defects, fire coatings or industrial substrates; normal decorating allowances do not apply.
Country requirements
The calculator never mixes UK and US prices. The guidance below also follows the selected country; local authorities and code officials remain the definitive source.
Exterior painting does not require planning permission unless the building is listed or in a designated conservation area where exterior colour restrictions apply.
Looking for US project planning in USD? Browse our US States & Cities Cost Directory or review our US Home Improvement Planning Guides.
Quote checklist
Common questions
Preparation determines adhesion and appearance and varies far more than the coverage rate of finish paint.
No. Testing, containment and licensed remediation are outside a normal painting allowance.
The quote should specify primer and finish coats by surface; colour and substrate may require additional coats.
Sources and checks
These sources support regulatory and market context. They do not publish the calculator's exact range and are not presented as contractor quotations.