Updated 27 September 2026
Plasterboard and skim a ceiling cost UK 2026
The going rate for plasterboard and skim a ceiling in 2026 is £33–£50/m² (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Market band£33–£50/m²
Worked example, 12 m²£496
Time on site1 days
Plasterboard and skim a ceiling calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market band source: MyBuilder.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect floors, sheet and mask | 0.75 h |
| board | Fix plasterboard to ceiling (screwed, staggered) | 0.4 h per m² |
| prep | Scrim board joints and fix beads | 0.06 h per m² |
| skim | Skim ceiling, two coats | 0.35 h per m² |
| skim | Clean tools, bag waste, clear the room | 0.75 h |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plasterboard 12.5mm (2400×1200) board | £8 Standard board 12.5mm — T2B: £8–£12 a sheet | £9 Gyproc WallBoard 12.5mm — Tapered edge, easy to joint | £18 Gyproc Habito (high-impact) — Takes heavy fixings, resists knocks |
| Drywall screws and fixings per m² | £0 Drywall screws — T2B: fixings £20–£40 per partition | £1 Collated drywall screws — Faster with an autofeed gun | £1 Screws + ceiling board props hire — Safer overhead fixing |
| Scrim tape (90m roll) 90m roll | £3 Self-adhesive scrim 50mm — T2B: £4–£8 a roll | £5 Fibreglass scrim 90m — Stops joint and crack lines reading through | £7 Wide 100mm scrim — For long cracks and lath repairs |
| Finishing plaster (25kg) 25kg bag | £9 Own-brand finishing plaster — Fine for sound walls; shorter working time | £9 Thistle Multi-Finish 25kg — Wickes £11.25 inc VAT; 10 m² at 2 mm, sets in about 1.5 h | £12 Thistle Durafinish 25kg — Harder, more knock-resistant: halls, stairs, rentals |
| Dust sheets, polythene and masking job | £6 Polythene and tape — Checkatrade: quotes include area protection | £10 Dust sheets, poly and floor protector — Protects floors and furniture | £18 Self-adhesive floor film + zip door — 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
- Existing ceiling? overboard existing · take down old ceiling · bare joists (new) big effect
- Board? standard · moisture-resistant · insulated (thermal) · acoustic
- Room empty? empty · furnished
- Ceiling height? standard (to 2.5m) · high (2.5–3.2m) · stairwell or void
Good practice
- Thermal board: longer fixings, mechanical fixings per board
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Artex or textured coating | swirl, stipple, comb or popcorn texture on ceiling or walls | Knock off artex peaks, seal with PVA/grit primer. Textured coating: skim over it; test for asbestos before sanding or scraping (pre-2000) |
| Lath and plaster | Lath and plaster (timber laths, hairy lime behind)? | Lath and plaster: bond the old lime first; gypsum over lime can fail if the lime is loose |
Questions
How much does plasterboard and skim a ceiling cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £33–£50/m² (total, ex VAT), from MyBuilder. A worked example of 12 m² comes to about £475–£578 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does plasterboard and skim a ceiling take?
The worked example of 12 m² takes about 1 working days.
What changes the price of plasterboard and skim a ceiling?
Mainly existing ceiling, plus any prep found on site: artex or textured coating, lath and plaster.