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It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends. The cost of painting a house in Surrey swings widely depending on the size of the space, the condition of the surfaces, how much preparation is needed and the quality of the paint. Two rooms of identical size can differ by hundreds of pounds once you account for cracked plaster, woodwork or hard-to-reach ceilings.
That said, you do not have to go in blind. Below we explain what actually drives the price, give realistic guide figures for typical Surrey jobs, and show you how to compare quotes fairly. Treat every number here as an indicative starting point for budgeting, not a fixed quote — the only accurate price is one based on seeing the actual rooms.
What drives the cost of a painting job
Before the figures, it helps to understand the levers, because they explain why two quotes for the "same" job can differ so much:
- Size and ceiling height: more wall area means more time and more paint, and tall stairwells need access equipment.
- Condition and preparation: sound walls are quick; filling cracks, sanding, stripping wallpaper or treating flaking paint adds hours. Prep is often the biggest single variable.
- Number of coats: covering a dark or bold colour, or sealing bare plaster, can need an extra coat.
- Woodwork and detail: skirting, doors, window frames and coving are fiddly and slow compared with open wall.
- Paint quality: premium trade paints cost more per tin but cover better and last longer.
- Access: scaffolding for an exterior or a high hallway adds hire and time.
Guide prices for interior painting
The figures below are typical Surrey ballparks for a professional decorator, including materials, for walls and ceilings in reasonable condition. Heavy preparation or extensive woodwork pushes them up.
| Job | Typical guide price |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (walls & ceiling) | £350 – £600 |
| Living room or larger room | £450 – £800 |
| Hallway, stairs & landing | £550 – £1,000 |
| Kitchen or bathroom (incl. woodwork) | £400 – £750 |
| Whole three-bedroom house interior | £2,500 – £5,000+ |
As a rough rule, many Surrey decorators work to a day rate of around £150 to £250 per person, so a job's price largely reflects how many days it will take once preparation is included. A room that needs only a quick freshen-up sits at the bottom of these ranges; one needing filling, sanding and a colour change sits nearer the top.
Guide prices for exterior painting
Exterior costs depend heavily on access and the surface. Repainting masonry, render, soffits and fascias on a typical semi or terrace might run from around £1,500 to £4,000, with detached and larger period homes higher again once scaffolding and extensive preparation come into play. Surrey's weather makes the right product and timing matter as much as the price, which we cover in our guides to the best exterior paint for Surrey's climate and winter-ready exterior painting.
DIY versus hiring a professional
Doing it yourself saves on labour, and for a single room in good condition that can be a sensible call. But the saving shrinks once you factor in paint, brushes, rollers, filler, dust sheets and the value of your own time — and a poor finish on awkward woodwork or a botched colour change can cost more to put right than doing it properly first time. The bigger or more prep-heavy the job, the more a professional's speed, finish and equipment tend to pay for themselves.
How to get an accurate quote
For a price you can rely on, have a decorator see the rooms rather than quoting blind over the phone. A good quote should make clear what is included: the preparation, the number of coats, the type of paint, and whether materials are part of the price. Be wary of a figure that seems far below the rest, as it often means prep has been trimmed — and that is exactly where lasting quality is won or lost, as our guide on preparing walls for painting explains.
If you would like a clear, itemised price for your home, our painters and decorators cover Surrey and South West London, from Woking and Guildford to the London borders. Take a look at our interior and exterior painting services, then request a free quote and we will come and take a proper look.
