Updated 27 September 2026
Coving cost UK 2026
The going rate for coving in 2026 is polystyrene: £5–£20/m · polyurethane: £10–£40/m · plaster: £25–£60/m (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Market band, plaster£25–£60/m
Worked example, 14 m£358
Time on site1 days
Coving calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market bands
| Option | Band | Source |
|---|---|---|
| polystyrene | £5–£20/m | MyJobQuote |
| polyurethane | £10–£40/m | MyJobQuote |
| plaster | £25–£60/m | MyJobQuote |
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect floors, sheet and mask | 0.75 h |
| fix | Cut and fix coving | 0.3 h per m |
| fix | Cut mitres at corners | 0.35 h per m |
| fix | Fill joints and caulk | 0.05 h per m |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coving adhesive tube/tub | £5 Coving adhesive tube — MyJobQuote: £5–£15 a tube, one or two a room | £6 Gyproc cove adhesive — Sets hard, fills joints | £10 Solvent-free fast grab — Holds heavy plaster cove while it sets |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-27. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- Coving? polystyrene · polyurethane · plaster big effect
- Corners (internal + external)?
- Room empty? empty · furnished
Questions
How much does coving cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is polystyrene: £5–£20/m · polyurethane: £10–£40/m · plaster: £25–£60/m (total, ex VAT), from MyJobQuote. A worked example of 14 m comes to about £334–£519 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does coving take?
The worked example of 14 m takes about 1 working days.
What changes the price of coving?
Mainly coving, plus any prep found on site: .
More plastering prices
Skim wallsSkim a ceilingSkim a room (walls and ceiling)Skim a whole houseReplaster (hack off, float and set)Plasterboard and skim a ceilingDry line walls (dot & dab)Plaster patch repairArtex ceiling (cover or remove)External renderRender patch repairPolished plaster or microcementLath and plaster repair (lime)