Decorate a whole house (interior) cost UK 2026
The going rate for decorate a whole house (interior) in 2026 is £2,500–£7,000/house (labour only). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Decorate a whole house (interior) calculator
Market band source: Trade2Base.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect and prep every room | 16 h |
| paint | Walls and ceilings throughout, two coats | 70 h |
| paint | Clean up, touch in, rehang | 0.25 h |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall emulsion (5L) 5L | £17 Leyland Trade Vinyl Matt 5L — Budget trade matt | £30 Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt 5L — Dulux: 8–10 m²/L a coat; about 27 m² for two coats | £45 Dulux Trade Diamond Matt 5L — Scrubbable: kitchens, halls, rentals |
| Ceiling white emulsion (5L) 5L | £15 Trade brilliant white matt 5L — MyJobQuote: matt £5–£8 a litre | £22 Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt PBW 5L — Flat, hides roller marks | £32 Dulux Trade Diamond Matt white 5L — Bathrooms and kitchens |
| Filler, caulk, abrasives and tape job | £10 Filler, caulk, sandpaper — T2B: £60–£120 room materials incl. paint | £15 Toupret filler, decorator caulk, abrasives, tape — Crisp edges, no cracks | £22 Premium fillers, low-tack tape, dust-free sanding — Lived-in homes |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-27. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- House size? 2-bed · 3-bed · 4-bed big effect
- Woodwork too? walls & ceilings · walls, ceilings & woodwork big effect
- Wall condition? good · fair - some filling · poor - cracks and stains
- Room empty? empty · furnished
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Old lead-based paint | Pre-1970 paintwork (many layers, alligator cracking)? | Treat as lead: no dry sanding or burning off; wet-abrade or chemical strip, bag waste |
| Water or damp stains | brown rings, tide marks or mould on walls or ceiling | Seal stains with stain block; paint won't hide them. Fix any live damp first |
| Nicotine or smoke staining | yellow-brown film on walls and ceiling, especially above radiators | Sugar-soap wash and stain-block primer before emulsion |
| Artex or textured ceiling | swirl, stipple or popcorn texture on the ceiling | Textured coating: paint over it, never sand or scrape (pre-2000 may contain asbestos) |
| Mould on walls or ceiling | black spotting in corners, around windows or on bathroom ceilings | Treat mould and let it dry. Kill the mould and improve ventilation, or it comes back through the paint |
Questions
How much does decorate a whole house (interior) cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £2,500–£7,000/house (labour only), from Trade2Base. A worked example of 1 house comes to about £3,498–£4,292 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does decorate a whole house (interior) take?
The worked example of 1 house takes about 7.5 working days.
What changes the price of decorate a whole house (interior)?
Mainly house size, woodwork too, plus any prep found on site: old lead-based paint, water or damp stains, nicotine or smoke staining, artex or textured ceiling.