Plasterer Quote Template UK: Price Per m², Get Paid for Prep

Plastering is the most per-m² trade there is — and that's exactly where quotes go wrong. A rate that's right for skimming sound plasterboard is a loss on blown walls that need hacking off, bonding and dubbing out. The fix isn't a higher blanket rate; it's a quote that separates surfaces, states the prep, and prices ceilings honestly.

Here's a template built that way, with 2026 benchmark rates. For the fundamentals of any winning quote, start with how to write a contractor quote that wins jobs.

What Makes Plastering Quotes Different

1. The rate depends on what's under the float Skim over new boards, skim over sound old plaster, and hack-off-and-rebond are three different jobs at three different rates. Quote them as separate lines even in the same room — a single "per m²" figure means you're averaging, and averaging means the bad walls eat the good ones.

2. Ceilings are not walls Overhead work is slower, harder and messier. UK rates carry a 15–20% ceiling premium — put it in the quote rather than absorbing it.

3. Drying time is a programme item Clients want to know when they can paint. A line — "allow [X] days drying before decoration; mist coat first" — answers the question before it's asked and marks you as someone who's done this before.

Plastering Quote Template

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[COMPANY NAME] — Plastering Contractors
[Address] | [Phone] | [Email]
[VAT No. if registered]
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PLASTERING 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. Re-skim of hallway, stairs and landing walls 
(approx. 48m²) and hall ceiling (approx. 9m²); board 
and skim to one water-damaged bedroom ceiling.]

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SCOPE OF WORKS

Preparation
□ Protect floors, fittings and adjoining rooms
□ Remove loose/blown plaster in marked areas
□ PVA / bonding agent to all surfaces as required
□ [Scrim/repair cracks; mesh over chases]

Plastering — priced by surface
□ Skim over sound existing plaster: [X] m² @ £[X]/m²
□ Overboard and skim ceiling(s): [X] m² @ £[X]/m²
□ Hack off, bond and skim: [X] m² @ £[X]/m²
□ [Beads to external corners / window reveals: X no.]

Finish
□ Trowel finish ready for decoration
□ Remove waste and leave rooms broom-clean

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COST BREAKDOWN

                                           £
Skimming (walls)                      [XXXX]
Ceilings                              [XXXX]
Hack-off / re-board areas             [XXXX]
Materials (board, skim, beads, PVA)   [XXXX]
Waste disposal                        [XXXX]
                                    ────────
Sub-total                             [XXXX]
VAT @ 20% [if registered]             [XXXX]
                                    ────────
TOTAL                                 [XXXX]

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EXCLUSIONS (NOT INCLUDED)
• Decoration (allow [X] days drying; mist coat first)
• Removal of asbestos-containing textured coatings — 
  surveyed and handled by a licensed contractor if 
  suspected
• Structural repairs behind failed plaster (reported 
  and priced before proceeding)
• Moving furniture / clearing rooms [unless stated]

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PROGRAMME
Estimated start:    [Date]
Estimated duration: [X] days on site
Drying time before decoration: allow [5–7] days 
(seasonal — longer in cold, damp conditions)

PAYMENT TERMS
[Under ~£1,000: payment on completion is normal.
Larger jobs: deposit (25%) on acceptance, balance on 
completion.]

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How to Price Plastering

UK benchmark rates, checked 31 August 2026 against current UK cost guides (London and the South East at the top of each range or above):

Skim over sound plaster or plasterboard: £10–£25 per m²
Overboard / board and skim: £18–£30 per m²
Ceilings: wall rate plus 15–20% (typically £20–£35 per m² to skim)
Standard room (4m × 3m) full re-skim: £450–£680 including materials
Day rate: £150–£300, reaching £350 in London

Small-job maths matters in this trade: a £120 "one wall" job with travel, setup, protection and cleanup can be a worse day than one £450 room. Set a minimum charge, and build your rate from your own costs with the free day rate calculator.

Common Plastering Quote Mistakes

One blended m² rate for every surface The blown wall you have to hack off and rebond costs you 3× the skim next to it. Separate lines or you're donating the difference.

Not naming the asbestos risk on textured coatings Artex applied before 2000 may contain asbestos. Never quote to remove or heavily sand it without a survey — the template's exclusion line protects you and flags real expertise to the client.

Silence on drying and decoration "When can I paint?" is the client's first question. Answer it in the quote and you've had a conversation your competitor hasn't.

Under-charging access Stairwells, high ceilings, tight hallways with scaffold towers — access time is work time. Price it.

Related guides

Speqly for Plasterers — quoting software built for your trade
Builder estimate template
How to write a contractor quote that wins jobs
Why contractors lose jobs on quoting

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does plastering cost per m² in the UK?

In 2026: £10–£25 per m² to skim sound walls, £18–£30 per m² for board and skim, with ceilings 15–20% above wall rates. A standard 4m × 3m room re-skim lands at £450–£680 including materials.

What day rate should a plasterer charge?

£150–£300 across most of the UK and up to £350 in London (2026). The right figure for you comes from your overheads, holiday and honest billable days — not the regional average.

How long before new plaster can be painted?

Allow roughly 5–7 days for a skim coat to dry through in normal conditions — longer in winter — then a watered-down mist coat before full paint. Put the drying allowance in your quote so the decorator (or the client) doesn't blame you for their peeling paint.

Should small plastering jobs have a minimum charge?

Yes. Travel, protection, setup and cleanup are the same for one wall as for one room. A stated minimum charge (commonly £150–£250) keeps small jobs worth doing and filters the clients who only ever wanted a patch-up at a patch-up price.

Stop Losing Plastering Jobs on Paperwork

Speqly turns your site photos into a professional, priced proposal in about 10 minutes — itemised costs, visuals, and a one-tap accept button. Measure up, photograph, send it from the van.

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