How much does it cost to paint a room?
An honest, up-to-date guide to what painters and decorators charge in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the surrounding Gloucestershire and Worcestershire villages — with real 'from' prices for the most common jobs.
Short answer: most single rooms start from £250 and a standard bedroom from £350. Whole-house interiors start from £3,500. Every job is quoted in writing after a free visit — no hidden extras.
Room-by-room pricing.
'From' prices below assume sound walls, standard ceiling heights and one colour change. Prep, materials and dust sheets are included. Anything unusual — heavy filling, damp, premium paint — is priced separately and always confirmed in writing before I start.
| Room | Typical size | From | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small room (box room, WC, small nursery) | Up to ~8 m² | £250 | 1 day |
| Standard bedroom or home office | 10–14 m² | £350 | 1–2 days |
| Large bedroom or reception room | 15–20 m² | £495 | 2 days |
| Living room / lounge-diner | 20–30 m² | £650 | 2–3 days |
| Hallway, stairs & landing | Varies — usually complex | £795 | 2–4 days |
| Kitchen / kitchen-diner (walls & ceiling only) | 12–20 m² | £425 | 1–2 days |
| Bathroom (walls & ceiling) | 5–8 m² | £295 | 1 day |
| Whole 3-bed semi (interior redecoration) | Full house | £3,500 | 10–14 days |
Prices correct as of July 2026. All figures include VAT where applicable.
How much do painters and decorators charge?
Across Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, professional painters and decorators typically charge between £180 and £280 a day, or price by the job. Sole traders working locally tend to sit at the lower end; larger firms with a team and overheads sit higher.
I price by the job so the cost you're quoted is the cost you pay — if the work takes an extra half day because of unexpected prep, that's on me, not you. This also makes it much easier to compare quotes side by side.
A useful sanity check: for a standard bedroom, most reputable decorators in the area will quote somewhere between £300 and £450. Anything much cheaper usually means minimal prep or contract-grade paint on top of existing colour; much higher usually means premium paint or specialist finishes.
For the exact figure for your room, the fastest way is a free on-site visit — fifteen minutes to look at the walls and woodwork and I'll email a written quote the same day.
Six things that change the cost.
- Room size and ceiling height
The single biggest factor. A tall Victorian ceiling can double the wall area of a modern-build room with the same footprint.
- Wall and woodwork condition
Filling nail holes and light cracks is included. Extensive filling, stain blocking, damp treatment or replastering adds time and material cost — always priced up front.
- Colour change and coverage
Going from a dark colour to a light one, or covering strong reds and yellows, usually needs an extra coat. Same-shade refreshes are quicker and cheaper.
- Paint specification
Contract-grade emulsion is the cheapest; premium brands like Farrow & Ball or Little Greene cost more per litre but give a longer-lasting finish. I'll quote to your preference.
- Woodwork and trim
Skirting, architraves and doors take longer than walls per square metre. Rooms with lots of joinery — panelling, built-in cupboards — cost more than four bare walls.
- Access and prep
Hallways, stairs and landings need towers or platforms. Furniture-heavy rooms need extra moving and protection. Both add to labour, not paint.
Pricing in Tewkesbury & nearby areas.
The 'from' prices above apply directly across the areas I cover. A few notes on how location affects the quote:
- Tewkesbury
Local base — no travel charge on quotes or work inside Tewkesbury, Ashchurch, Northway and the surrounding villages.
- Cheltenham
Regular working area. Prices in the table apply directly; period properties in Montpellier or Pittville may need a bespoke quote.
- Gloucester
Covered as standard. Add roughly 5–10% on smaller single-room jobs to reflect the round trip.
- Evesham & Pershore
Covered across the Vale of Evesham. Small jobs are priced from the table; larger redecorations get an on-site quote.
- Malvern & Ledbury
Happy to travel. Larger jobs (2+ days) are priced as if you were in Tewkesbury; day rates for single rooms may include a small travel allowance.
A real quote: 3-bed semi in Tewkesbury.
As an example, here's how a recent whole-house redecoration broke down for a client moving into a three-bedroom semi in Tewkesbury:
- Master bedroom — walls, ceiling, woodwork, full colour change£495
- Two smaller bedrooms — same-shade refresh£680
- Lounge-diner — feature wall & woodwork£795
- Hallway, stairs & landing — access with tower£895
- Kitchen & bathroom — walls and ceiling only£635
- Total (12 working days)£3,500
Illustrative example. Your quote will vary with room sizes, condition and paint choice.
Painting cost FAQs.
Get an exact price for your room.
Every quote is free, written and no-obligation. I usually respond the same day and can often visit within a few days.