Decorator Quote Template UK: Prep, Coats and the Making-Good Line
Almost every decorating dispute comes down to the same thing: the client paid for the finish they could see in a photo, and the decorator priced the work they could see on the walls. The gap between the two is prep — filling, sanding, stripping, priming — and it's invisible in the final result but it's most of the labour. A good decorating quote makes that work visible on paper, so the client understands what they're paying for and you're not absorbing two days of filling you never charged for.
This guide gives you a template built for that, plus 2026 benchmark prices. For the fundamentals that apply to every trade, start with how to write a contractor quote that wins jobs.
What Makes Decorating Quotes Different
1. Prep is the job — so price it as a line, not a footnote The paint is a small part of the bill; the time goes on getting a clean, even surface. Walls with cracks, flaking paper, damp patches or old textured coatings need filling, sanding, stripping or priming first — and that can double the labour on a room. If prep is buried in a single "decorate lounge" line, the client compares your number to a quote that quietly assumed the walls were perfect, and yours looks expensive. Break prep out.
2. Say how many coats, and who supplies the paint "Paint the room" is the decorating trade's version of a blank cheque. Two coats of trade emulsion over a mist coat is a different job from one coat over a dark colour that grins through. State the number of coats, the brand/range and finish, and whether paint is supplied by you or the client. If the client is supplying, say so — because if their one tin doesn't cover, that's their problem, not a free extra visit.
3. Making good has a boundary — draw it Filling nail holes and hairline cracks is decorating. Re-skimming a blown ceiling or re-papering a wall is plastering or paper-hanging, and it's priced separately. The moment a client expects a plaster-perfect wall under a "repaint" price, you have a dispute. Name what's included and what gets quoted separately if found. (If the walls genuinely need re-skimming first, see the plasterer quote template for how that's priced.)
Decorator Quote Template
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[COMPANY NAME] — Painters & Decorators
[Address] | [Phone] | [Email]
[VAT No. if registered]
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DECORATING QUOTATION
Reference: [REF]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Valid until: [DD/MM/YYYY — 30 days recommended]
Prepared for:
[Client Name]
[Property Address]
[Postcode]
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PROJECT
[e.g. Redecoration of hallway, stairs and landing:
walls, ceilings and woodwork. Two coats trade
emulsion to walls and ceilings, satinwood to
woodwork, over full preparation.]
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SCOPE OF WORKS
Preparation
□ Protect floors, furniture and fittings; mask off
□ Fill cracks, nail holes and minor defects; sand smooth
□ [Strip existing wallpaper / wash down / sand back
flaking paint — as required]
□ Spot-prime bare plaster and stains; mist coat new
plaster
Walls & ceilings
□ [X] coats [brand/range, finish] emulsion to walls
□ [X] coats [brand/range, finish] emulsion to ceilings
Woodwork
□ Prepare and [X] coats [satinwood / eggshell / gloss]
to [skirting, architrave, doors, window boards]
Finishing
□ Remove masking, clean up, remove all waste
□ Final inspection with client
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PAINT SUPPLY
[Supplied by decorator — trade paint, included in
price below] / [Supplied by client — colours and
quantities to be confirmed before start]
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COST BREAKDOWN
£
Labour ([X] days) [XXXX]
Preparation (filling, sanding, priming) [XXXX]
Materials (paint, fillers, sundries) [XXXX]
Protection & waste removal [XXXX]
────────
Sub-total [XXXX]
VAT @ 20% [if registered] [XXXX]
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TOTAL [XXXX]
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INCLUDED
• Filling of cracks, nail holes and minor surface
defects
• [X] full coats as specified above
• Everyday protection of floors and furniture
EXCLUSIONS (NOT INCLUDED)
• Re-plastering or re-skimming of blown/uneven walls
and ceilings (quoted separately if found necessary)
• Wallpaper hanging (unless specified)
• Removal or refitting of curtain poles, blinds,
radiators or fitted furniture
• Repairs to rot, damp or structural defects
CONTINGENCY NOTE
This quotation is based on the surfaces as inspected
on [date]. Defects hidden under paper or existing
paint — blown plaster, damp, previous poor prep —
are only visible once work starts. Anything found
will be reported and priced in writing before any
additional work proceeds.
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PROGRAMME
Estimated start: [Date]
Estimated duration: [X] days
Rooms will be out of use during work and for
approximately [X] hours' drying between coats.
PAYMENT TERMS
Deposit ([20–25]%) on acceptance: £[XXXX]
Balance on completion: £[XXXX]
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How to Price Decorating Work
General UK benchmarks, checked 15 September 2026 against current UK cost guides (adjust for region, spec and access — London and the South East run 20–30% higher):
- Day rate, one decorator: £180–£280 outside London; £280–£460 in London and the South East
- Standard room (walls, ceiling, woodwork): £350–£600, typically 1–2 days including prep
- Small room (box room, bathroom): £180–£350
- Large living room with high ceilings and woodwork: £600–£1,000+
- Full repaint, two-bed home: £1,800–£3,500 outside London; £2,300–£4,500 in London
- Labour-only, interior walls: roughly £10–£20 per m²
These are sanity checks, not prices. Your rate should come from your own overheads and billable days — our free day rate calculator does that sum properly.
Common Decorating Quote Mistakes
Pricing the finish and forgetting the prep The client sees a smooth wall and assumes it was easy. Show filling, sanding and priming as their own line so the biggest part of your labour isn't invisible.
Not stating the number of coats One coat over a strong colour looks patchy and comes back as a complaint. Two coats over a mist coat on new plaster is standard — say which you've priced.
Leaving "who supplies the paint" open If the client buys the paint, put it in writing, including that a shortfall or wrong finish is on them. If you supply, name the brand and range so nobody imagines Farrow & Ball while you priced trade emulsion.
Silence on furniture and access A room full of furniture the client expected you to move, or a landing you can't close off, wrecks a day's programme. State what needs clearing and who does it.
Related guides
- How to write a contractor quote that wins jobs
- Plasterer quote template UK — when the walls need skimming before paint
- Handling "your quote is too expensive"
- Best quoting software for UK contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a painter and decorator charge per day in the UK?
£180–£280 a day for one decorator outside London, and £280–£460 in London and the South East (2026 figures). A standard room usually takes one to two days including preparation and drying between coats. Base your own rate on your overheads and real billable days, not the regional average.
How much does it cost to paint a room in 2026?
£350–£600 for a standard bedroom or living room including walls, ceiling and woodwork, from around £180–£350 for a small box room or bathroom up to £600–£1,000+ for a large living room with high ceilings. Heavy prep — stripping paper, filling, priming bare plaster — pushes it higher.
Should paint be supplied by the decorator or the client?
Either works, but the quote must say which. If you supply, name the brand, range and finish and include it in the price. If the client supplies, state that colours and quantities are confirmed before you start and that a shortfall means an extra visit at cost. Ambiguity here is the most common decorating dispute.
Does a decorating quote include making good the walls?
Filling nail holes, hairline cracks and minor defects is normally included. Re-skimming blown or uneven plaster and hanging new wallpaper are separate jobs, priced separately — say so on the quote and add a contingency note, because defects hidden under old paper or paint only show once work starts.
Stop Losing Decorating Work on Paperwork
Speqly turns your site photos into a professional, priced proposal in about 15 minutes — itemised costs, before/after visuals, and a one-tap accept button. Send it before the client has finished ringing round.
Stop Losing Jobs on Paperwork
Turn your site photos and notes into an editable estimate and a professional proposal. Review the quantities and prices, then send it for online acceptance.
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