How Much Does It Cost to Paint a 4 Bedroom House UK? (2026 Guide)
Published 23 June 2026 · ~6 min read · By a working UK painter
Short answer: in 2026, painting the interior of an average UK 4 bedroom house costs £2,400 to £5,800. Exterior work runs £3,200 to £7,500. A 4 bed is typically 25–35% more than a 3 bed — not just the extra bedroom, but bigger reception rooms, a second bathroom and a larger hall, stairs and landing.
This is the straight 2026 number without the gloss, plus what makes the price move so you can read your own quotes properly. If you've got a smaller place, see our 3 bedroom house painting cost guide — this page scales the same approach up.
What you're actually paying for
A painter's quote isn't just paint and brushes. A full 4 bed interior is around 5–7 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, brushes and rollers. For a full 4 bed re-decoration, materials usually come to £350–£650 with mid-range trade paint (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade, Johnstone's), and £700–£1,200 if you spec premium Farrow & Ball or Little Greene. A 4 bed interior needs roughly 35–45 litres of paint in total.
Room-by-room breakdown (interior)
Average 2026 prices for walls + ceiling + woodwork in a standard 4 bedroom detached or semi, including light prep (filling small holes, light sanding, one undercoat where needed, two finish coats):
| Room | Typical size | Cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | ~15 m² | £400 – £700 |
| Bedroom 2 | ~13 m² | £340 – £600 |
| Bedroom 3 | ~11 m² | £300 – £550 |
| Bedroom 4 / box room | ~8 m² | £220 – £420 |
| Living room | ~20 m² | £450 – £850 |
| Dining room | ~14 m² | £350 – £650 |
| Kitchen / diner | ~14 m² | £300 – £600 |
| Bathroom × 2 (incl. en-suite) | ~5 m² each | £180 – £350 each |
| Hall, stairs & landing | varies | £500 – £1,000 |
Add it up and a complete interior re-paint lands around £3,000–£5,500 for the average UK 4 bed.
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Exterior painting — the bigger ticket
Exterior work is more weather-dependent and prep-heavy. For a standard 4 bed detached, painting render, soffits, fascias and windows runs £3,200–£7,500. Variables that push it up:
- Scaffolding hire (£500–£1,200 for a larger detached over a week or two)
- Render condition — flaking, algae and hairline cracks all need treating first
- Number of windows and whether they're timber or uPVC
- Masonry paint (£35–£60 per 5L trade) vs a breathable mineral coating (£70–£120 per 5L)
What makes prices move
1. Prep work
The biggest hidden cost driver. Walls that have been papered for years, or old gloss that's chipping, need a full day's prep per area before paint goes on. Good painters quote prep separately; cheap ones skip it and you see brush marks and flaking within 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). On a 4 bed, premium paint can add £600–£1,000 to the job.
3. Ceiling height
Standard 2.4m ceilings are quick. Older houses with 3.0m+ ceilings need taller access and more cutting-in time — expect 10–20% more. (For Victorian flats specifically, see our tenement flat painting cost guide.)
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.
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 £400–£1,200 saving on a typical 4 bed job. Always ask: "Is this quote inclusive of VAT?" before comparing two quotes.
A worked example
4 bedroom detached, full interior including hallway, stairs and landing. Walls + ceilings + woodwork. Dulux Trade matt, mid-grade satinwood on skirtings and doors. Light prep — no major filling or wallpaper stripping.
Labour: 2 painters × 6 days × £230 = £2,760
Materials: ~£480
Total (no VAT): ~£3,240
That's a reasonable 2026 figure for a clean, well-prepared mid-range job. Add 20–25% for London. Add £600–£1,200 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 much more than a 3 bed? — Roughly 25–35%, driven by the extra bedroom, larger reception rooms and a bigger hall, stairs and landing.
- How long does it take? — Usually 5–7 working days for two painters, interior only.
- Can I paint it myself? — Yes; materials are £400–£700. Budget 7–10 weekends for a competent DIY job.
- What's the cheapest time of year? — November to February, when painters discount 10–15% for interior winter work.
Prices in this guide are based on 2026 quoting practice across the UK and our own work. 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.