One of the most common questions we get from Brighton homeowners is: “How much should I expect to pay for painting and decorating?” The honest answer is that it depends — but this guide gives you real price ranges based on jobs we complete regularly across Brighton and Hove, so you can budget accurately before calling anyone.
What affects painting and decorating costs in Brighton?
Several factors push prices up or down:
- Room size — a Brighton box room costs half what a Hove bay-fronted reception room costs
- Wall condition — hairline cracks, blown plaster, or nicotine-stained walls need more prep time
- Number of coats — going from dark to light (or vice versa) typically needs 3 coats, not 2
- Period features — Victorian cornicing, deep skirting boards, and picture rails add masking time
- Ceiling height — Brighton’s period terraces often have 9–10ft ceilings; anything over 8ft slows the job
- Access — stairwells, landings, and split-level flats take longer to set up safely
Room-by-room painting costs in Brighton (2026)
These are real price ranges based on jobs completed in Brighton and Hove. Prices include labour and basic preparation (filling, sanding, one coat of primer where needed). Paint is billed at cost.
| Room / job | Typical price range | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom (box room) | £150–£200 | Walls + ceiling, 2 coats |
| Standard double bedroom | £200–£320 | Walls + ceiling, 2 coats |
| Large bedroom or bay-fronted room | £300–£450 | Walls + ceiling + bay, 2 coats |
| Lounge / reception room | £280–£500 | Walls + ceiling, 2–3 coats |
| Kitchen (walls only, around units) | £150–£280 | Walls + ceiling, 2 coats |
| Bathroom | £150–£250 | Walls + ceiling, moisture-resistant paint |
| Hallway (1-bed flat) | £180–£300 | Walls + ceiling + stairwell section |
| Full 2-bed flat repaint | £900–£1,400 | All rooms, hallway, doors |
| Full 3-bed Victorian terrace | £1,800–£3,000 | All rooms + period features |
Woodwork and trim pricing
Doors, skirting boards, and architraves are often quoted separately because the prep work (stripping, filling, sanding) is time-intensive:
- Internal door (both sides, gloss or eggshell): £60–£100
- Skirting boards per room (strip, fill, 2 coats): £40–£80
- Window frame (interior): £30–£60
- Full room woodwork package (door + skirtings + architraves): £120–£200
Why Brighton jobs often cost slightly more than national averages
National cost guides quote average UK prices, but Brighton has specific features that add time and therefore cost:
Period properties with original features
Much of Brighton’s housing stock is Victorian and Edwardian — Hanover, Preston Park, Seven Dials, and Kemptown are full of terraces with original cornicing, deep skirting boards, ceiling roses, and picture rails. Each of these needs careful masking, cutting in, and often two-brush work that takes twice as long as painting a plain modern room.
Expect period features to add 15–25% to a standard room quote.
High ceilings
Pre-war Brighton properties typically have ceiling heights of 9–11ft. Anything above 8ft requires a scaffold board setup for safe ceiling work — that adds 30–60 minutes of setup time per room.
Coastal damp and blown plaster
Properties within a kilometre of the seafront — Kemptown, Brunswick, and the Seafront itself — are more likely to have damp-affected plaster that needs treating before painting. Painting over blown or salt-damp plaster without proper prep means your new paint peels within 6–12 months. Good painters address this upfront; expect a line item for damp treatment in quotes for coastal properties.
What does a Brighton decorator charge per day?
Day rates for decorators in Brighton range from £180–£280 per day depending on experience and the type of work. However, most professional decorators — including us — quote by the job rather than by the day. A fixed job price means you know the total cost upfront, regardless of whether the job runs a little over or under the estimated time.
Be cautious of very low day rates. A decorator charging £120/day who takes 5 days costs more than one charging £220/day who completes the job in 2.5 days — and the prep quality is usually reflected in the rate.
Is paint included in the price?
It varies by decorator. We bill paint at trade cost — typically 15–25% below retail — and itemise it separately on your quote. For an average bedroom, expect paint materials to add £40–£80 on top of the labour price.
If you want a specific brand or finish (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Dulux Heritage), tell us upfront — we source these to order and can advise on quantities. Premium paints cost more per tin but typically cover better and last longer, which can reduce the number of coats needed.
How to get an accurate quote
The fastest way is to send us a few photos by WhatsApp — one of each room, one showing any damage or peeling, and one of the skirting boards if you want woodwork included. We can usually give a written ballpark quote within a couple of hours based on photos alone.
For larger projects (whole house repaints, period properties with extensive woodwork, or any job over £800), we’ll do a free on-site visit before confirming the final price.
See our full painter and decorator prices guide for a detailed breakdown, or explore all our painting and decorating services.
Red flags when getting painting quotes in Brighton
- No mention of prep — any quote that skips filling, sanding, and priming will look great on day one and peel within a year
- Cash only, no receipt — makes it hard to dispute poor work
- Unusually low price — £80 to paint a room usually means no undercoat, cheap paint, and one thin coat
- No public liability insurance — ask to see it; any professional decorator carries it
- Vague quote with no breakdown — you should know what rooms, what paint, and what preparation is included
Summary: typical painting costs for Brighton homes
- Single bedroom: £150–£320
- Full 2-bed flat repaint: £900–£1,400
- Full 3-bed Victorian terrace: £1,800–£3,000
- Period features (cornicing, deep skirtings): add 15–25%
- Day rate if quoting by time: £180–£280/day
We cover all of Brighton and Hove — BN1, BN2, BN3 — with no call-out charge and written quotes on every job. Send us a WhatsApp photo for a same-day estimate, or call 01273 044551.