How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room in London? (2026 Guide)
The single most common question we're asked in North London is simply: what does it cost to have a room painted? The honest answer is that it depends — but not on anything mysterious. Below are the real 2026 price bands we're quoting across boroughs like Islington, Camden, Haringey and Barnet, and the practical reasons one quote will differ from another.
Typical 2026 prices in London
- Standard double bedroom (walls + ceiling, 2 coats): £320 – £520
- Living room / reception (walls + ceiling, 2 coats): £450 – £780
- Hallway, stairs and landing: £650 – £1,400 (access is the big variable)
- Kitchen or bathroom (moisture-resistant paint): £380 – £620
- Full skirting, architrave and one door: add £120 – £220
These figures assume walls are in reasonable condition, a mid-range trade paint (Dulux Trade, Johnstone's, Zinsser primer where needed), and one decorator working over 1–2 days per room. Premium finishes like Farrow & Ball, Little Greene or Paint & Paper Library typically add 15–25% to the materials line.
What actually pushes the price up
1. Preparation, not painting
In older London stock — Victorian terraces, Edwardian conversions, ex-local-authority flats — 60–70% of a decorator's time is prep. Filling cracks around old plaster, sanding gloss-heavy woodwork, stripping wallpaper that's been over-painted, or stabilising flaking distemper on a period ceiling all add real hours. A £320 bedroom becomes a £600 bedroom if the walls need lining paper or heavy filling.
2. Ceiling height and access
Standard 2.4m ceilings are quick. Hallways and stairwells in Georgian and Victorian houses often reach 3–4m over the stair void, which means proper staging or an access tower — that's the reason hallway quotes look disproportionately high.
3. Colour changes and dark-to-light
Going from a deep colour (or a bold feature wall) back to white or a pale neutral almost always needs an extra mist coat plus two top coats. Budget for three coats rather than two whenever you're lightening the room significantly.
4. Woodwork condition
Original Victorian skirting and architrave with 100 years of oil paint on it doesn't sand down in an hour. If you want a modern satin or eggshell finish on period woodwork, expect a full day per average room just on the trim.
How London Pro Painters quotes
We visit every job before quoting — remote quotes based on photos consistently under-estimate prep in London properties, and no one wins when a decorator arrives and the price changes on day two. Our written quote breaks out labour, materials, prep and any making-good separately so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
If you'd like a fixed written quote for your room or whole house, request one via our contact page — most North London jobs are quoted within 48 hours of the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to paint a whole house at once?
Yes — usually 10–20% cheaper per room. Set-up, dust-sheeting, and one mobilisation of materials get spread across more square metres. If you're planning to redecorate several rooms within 12 months, quoting them together saves money.
Do you supply the paint or should I?
Either works. Client-supplied paint is fine — we'll tell you exactly how much to order. On trade accounts we usually get 20–30% off retail on Dulux Trade, Zinsser and Farrow & Ball, so having us supply often costs the same or less.
How long will one room take?
A standard bedroom with reasonable walls is a full day for prep and mist coat plus a second day for the two top coats and reinstating. Kitchens, hallways and rooms with heavy prep run 3–4 days.
Need a decorator in North London?
Free written quotes across every North London borough — usually within 48 hours of the visit.