Updated 27 September 2026
Dry line walls (dot & dab) cost UK 2026
The going rate for dry line walls (dot & dab) in 2026 is £35–£65/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£35–£65/m²
Worked example, 30 m²£1,086
Time on site2 days
Dry line walls (dot & dab) calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market band source: Trade2Base.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect floors, sheet and mask | 0.75 h |
| board | Dot & dab boards to walls, cut round openings | 0.5 h per m² |
| prep | Scrim board joints and fix beads | 0.06 h per m² |
| skim | Skim walls, two coats, trowel off | 0.25 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 |
| Dot & dab adhesive (25kg) 25kg bag | £7 Own-brand board adhesive — T2B: board and adhesive extra to labour | £9 Gyproc DriWall adhesive 25kg — Standard dot & dab adhesive | £11 Gyproc adhesive + fixings for thermal board — Two mechanical fixings per thermal board |
| 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 |
| Angle and stop beads (3m) 3m bead | £2 Galvanised thin-coat angle bead — BookaBuilder: £2–£5 each | £3 Galvanised angle bead, 3m — Straight, knock-resistant corners | £5 Stainless bead (wet areas) — No rust spotting in kitchens and bathrooms |
| 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
- Board? standard · moisture-resistant · insulated (thermal) · acoustic
- Wall behind? brick · block · mixed or uneven · concrete or engineering brick big effect
- Finish? skim · tape & joint only
- Room empty? empty · furnished
Good practice
- Thermal board: longer fixings, mechanical fixings per board
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Damp or salts | Moisture meter: damp readings or white salts? | Don't plaster over live damp: find and fix the cause first |
| Sockets and switches on the walls | sockets, switches, light switches on the walls | Isolate and loosen faceplates before plastering; an electrician refits if boxes need moving |
Questions
How much does dry line walls (dot & dab) cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £35–£65/m² (total, ex VAT), from Trade2Base. A worked example of 30 m² comes to about £1,032–£1,282 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does dry line walls (dot & dab) take?
The worked example of 30 m² takes about 2 working days.
What changes the price of dry line walls (dot & dab)?
Mainly wall behind, plus any prep found on site: damp or salts, sockets and switches on the walls.