How Much Does It Cost to Paint a 3 Bedroom House UK? (2026 Guide)
Updated 26 May 2026 · ~6 min read · By a working Glasgow painter
Short answer: in 2026, painting the interior of an average UK 3 bedroom house costs £1,800 to £4,500. Exterior work runs £2,500 to £6,000. The wide range is real — it depends on prep work, paint quality, ceiling heights, and where in the UK you live.
I quote a lot of these jobs. People come to me asking what's "fair" — so this guide is the straight numbers without the gloss. I'll also walk you through what makes the price move up or down so you can read your own quotes properly.
What you're actually paying for
A painter's quote isn't just paint and brushes. A normal 3 bed interior is around 3-5 working days for a team of two. That's where most of the cost sits — labour at roughly £180-£280 per painter per day in 2026 across most UK cities (London adds 15-25%).
Materials are a smaller line: trade paint, fillers, sandpaper, dust sheets, masking tape, brushes and rollers. For a full 3 bed re-decoration, materials usually come to £250-£500 if your painter uses mid-range trade paint (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade, Johnstone's), and £500-£900 if you spec premium Farrow & Ball or Little Greene.
Room-by-room breakdown (interior)
These are average 2026 prices for walls + ceiling + woodwork in a standard 3 bedroom semi, including light prep (filling small holes, light sanding, one undercoat where needed, two finish coats):
| Room | Typical size | Cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | ~14 m² | £380 – £650 |
| Second bedroom | ~12 m² | £320 – £580 |
| Third bedroom / box room | ~8 m² | £220 – £420 |
| Living room | ~18 m² | £450 – £800 |
| Kitchen / diner | ~12 m² | £280 – £550 |
| Bathroom | ~5 m² | £180 – £350 |
| Hall, stairs, landing | varies | £450 – £900 |
Add it up and you'll see why a complete interior re-paint lands around £2,300-£4,250 for the average UK 3 bed.
Want a number specific to your house?
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Exterior painting — the bigger ticket
Exterior work is more weather-dependent and prep-heavy. For a standard 3 bed semi-detached in the UK, painting render, soffits, fascias, and windows runs £2,500-£6,000. Variables that push it up:
- Scaffolding hire (£400-£900 for a week on a 3-storey)
- Render condition — flaking, algae, hairline cracks all need treating first
- Number of windows and whether they're timber or uPVC
- Whether you want masonry paint (£35-£60 per 5L trade) or a breathable mineral coating (£70-£120 per 5L)
What makes prices move
1. Prep work
This is the biggest hidden cost driver. A wall that's been wallpapered for 20 years, or one with old gloss that's chipping, will need a full day's preparation before paint goes on. Good painters quote the prep separately. Cheap painters skip it — and you'll see brush marks, flaking, and bleed-through within 6 months.
2. Paint quality
Trade contract matt (£25 per 5L) vs durable kitchen/bathroom paint (£40-£55 per 5L) vs Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion (£68 per 2.5L). A 3 bed interior needs roughly 25-35 litres of paint total. Premium paint adds £400-£700 to a job.
3. Ceiling height
Standard 2.4m ceilings are quick. Victorian houses with 3.0-3.2m ceilings need taller ladders, longer rollers, and more cutting-in time — expect 15-20% more.
4. Location
London and the South East are 15-30% above the UK average. Scotland, Wales, and the North East are usually 5-10% below. Glasgow (where I'm based) sits roughly at the national average.
5. Two coats vs three
Going from a dark colour to white, or covering a stain, sometimes needs three coats. That's an extra half-day of labour and one more tin of paint.
VAT — read this before signing
If your painter is VAT-registered (turnover above £90,000 in 2026), 20% VAT is added on top. Many small one-man bands are below the threshold and don't charge VAT — that's a legitimate £200-£800 saving on a typical 3 bed job. Always ask: "Is this quote inclusive of VAT?" before you compare two quotes side by side.
Quote vs estimate — they're not the same
An estimate is a best guess. The final bill can be higher if something turns up (rotten woodwork, more prep than expected).
A quote is a binding figure. If your painter writes "quotation" at the top of the document and signs it, they're committing to that price barring scope changes you agree to in writing.
Always get a written quote, not a verbal estimate, for anything over £1,000.
How to get a fair price (4 quick tips)
- Get three quotes. Don't just take the cheapest — look at what each painter includes for prep and how many coats they specify.
- Ask to see two recent jobs. Any decorator with self-respect has photos.
- Check they have public liability insurance (£2 million minimum). Ask to see the certificate.
- Pay in stages. A reasonable structure is 25% deposit on materials, 50% midway, 25% on completion. Never pay 100% up front.
A worked example
3 bedroom semi-detached, Glasgow, full interior including hallway, stairs, landing. Walls + ceilings + woodwork. Dulux Trade matt, mid-grade satinwood on skirtings and doors. Light prep — no major filling, no wallpaper stripping.
Labour: 2 painters × 4 days × £230 = £1,840
Materials: ~£340
Total (no VAT): ~£2,180
That's a reasonable 2026 number for a clean, well-prepared mid-range job in Scotland. Add 20-25% for London. Add £400-£800 if walls need full stripping, filling, and skimming.
Skip the back-and-forth.
Use our free Painting Quotation Calculator to get a costed estimate in two minutes — room by room, materials included, no sign-up. Built by working UK painters for real-world quoting.
Related questions
- How long does it take to paint a 3 bed house? — Usually 3-5 working days for two painters, interior only.
- Can I paint it myself to save money? — Yes, materials alone are £300-£500. Budget 5-7 weekends for a competent DIY job.
- What's the cheapest time of year? — November to February. Painters have fewer outdoor jobs and often discount 10-15% for interior winter work.
Prices in this guide are based on 2026 quoting practice across the UK and our own work in Glasgow. They're a reasonable starting point — your local market and the condition of your house will shift the number. Always get a written quote before committing.