Painting budget estimator
Estimate the full budget (materials and a decorator's labour) for painting a room or area — for a materials-only quantity, use the Build paint coverage calculator instead.
Result
Estimated budget
How to use this calculator
- Measure the area to be painted.
- Enter a supply-and-fit rate per m² — the default is a rough typical decorator rate.
- Read the estimated total budget.
Assumptions
- The default £12/m² is a rough illustrative decorator rate covering 2 coats — actual rates vary by region, surface condition and number of coats.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Area to paint
areaM2 - Total area to be painted, in square metres.
- Supply + fit rate (check local quotes)
costPerM2Gbp - Combined materials and decorator labour rate per m² — varies by region and decorator.
Methodology
Total budget = area × supply-and-fit rate per m².
Worked example
20m² room at £12/m²
Inputs: areaM2=20, costPerM2Gbp=12
Result: £240 estimated budget
Practical guidance
- If you're doing the painting yourself, use the Build paint coverage calculator for materials-only cost instead of this labour-inclusive estimate.
- Ceilings and trim/woodwork are often priced separately by decorators — check what's included in any quote.
Common mistakes
- Using this labour-inclusive estimator when you actually just want DIY material quantity — use the Build paint coverage calculator for that.
FAQs
How much does it cost to have a 20m² room painted?
At a rough £12/m² supply-and-fit rate, about £240 — get local decorator quotes for an accurate figure.