Most homeowners in Surrey have no idea what painting actually costs. They ring round three painters, get three wildly different quotes, and end up choosing whoever has the best reviews and comes recommended — because nobody wants to gamble with their home.
We've been interior painting and decorating homes across Croydon, Purley, Kenley and the surrounding areas for over 15 years. In that time, we've quoted on everything from single bedrooms in Purley flats to full Victorian terraces in Caterham. We know what good work costs, and we know the shortcuts cheap painters take that you'll regret in six months.
This guide gives you honest, realistic pricing for 2026. No hidden costs, no surprises, and no nonsense.
What Affects the Cost of Painting a Room?
Before we get to the numbers, understand what you're actually paying for. Two painters might quote £300 and £800 for the same room — and both could be fair prices, depending on what's included.
The Room Itself
| Factor | Low Impact | High Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small box room (2m × 2m) | Large living room (5m × 4m) |
| Condition | Smooth, clean walls | Cracks, peeling paint, damp patches, wallpaper to remove |
| Height | Standard 2.4m ceilings | 3m+ ceilings, stairwells |
| Features | Plain walls | Bay windows, fireplaces, picture rails, lots of furniture to protect |
A small bedroom with no preps and one coat refresh on ceiling, walls and woodwork could take a day. A large living room with a lot of preps on surfaces could take up to 6 days — and costs accordingly.
The Finish You Want
Not all paint jobs are equal. Here's the difference:
Basic refresh — One coat of emulsion on surfaces, same colour and same finish. Quick and cheap. To achieve best results it's best to use the best quality paints to achieve better coverage, such as Dulux Trade vinyl matt on walls or Dulux supermatt white emulsion for ceiling, or Johnson Aquaguard durable satin on woodwork for instance, but we'll use any paint of your choice.
Standard repaint — Two coats, thorough prep (sanding, filling, priming if needed), attention to detail. This is what we deliver as standard.
The finish you choose changes the price more than the paint itself.
Important: These are guide prices only. Every job is different — wall condition, access, paint choice, and prep work all affect the final cost. The only way to get an exact price is a free, no-obligation visit.
Paint Quality
We use any paint you want to choose — trade paint covers better, lasts longer, and doesn't need touching up every year. Most manufacturers provide different quality level paints.
- Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt — around £50 per 5 litres
- Crown Trade Clean Extreme — £50 to £60 per 5 litres (scrubbable, great for kids' rooms)
- Farrow & Ball — around £80 per 5 litres for modern emulsion (premium, specific colour matching)
Dead matt are great at hiding blemishes but they are not washable. Vinyl trade are lightly wipeable. Diamond range are scrubbable. Eggshell and silk are the most resistant and scrubbable.
A standard room needs 5 litres of emulsion.
2026 Price Guide: Room by Room
These are realistic prices for homes in Surrey — Croydon, Purley, Kenley, Caterham, Coulsdon and surrounding areas. Prices include labour, materials (trade-quality paint), prep work, and VAT where applicable.
Bedrooms
| Room Size | Basic Refresh | Standard Repaint |
|---|---|---|
| Small (2m × 2.5m) | £250-£300+ | £500-£600+ |
| Medium (3m × 3.5m) | £300-£400+ | £650-£800+ |
| Large / Master (4m × 4m+) | £400-£550+ | £900-£1,200+ |
What's included: Walls and ceiling, woodwork (skirting, door, architrave), cutting in, two coats standard.
What's extra: Wardrobe interiors, feature walls, wallpaper stripping, plaster repairs.
Living Rooms
| Room Size | Basic Refresh | Standard Repaint |
|---|---|---|
| Small (3m × 3.5m) | £400-£500+ | £600-£800+ |
| Medium (4m × 4.5m) | £550-£700+ | £800-£1,000+ |
| Large / Open Plan (5m+ wide) | £700-£900+ | £1,000-£1,300+ |
Living rooms cost more because they're bigger, have more features (fireplaces, alcoves, bay windows), and the finish matters more — this is the room guests see.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
| Room | Basic Refresh | Standard Repaint |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen | £500-£700+ | £800-£1,000+ |
| Large kitchen | £700-£1,000+ | £1,200-£1,500+ |
| Bathroom | £400-£600+ | £700-£900+ |
Kitchens and bathrooms need specialist paint — moisture-resistant, scrubbable, mould-inhibiting. Don't use standard emulsion in a bathroom. It'll peel within a year.
Hallways, Stairs and Landings
It depends if it's a hallway over 2 floors and how much woodwork and prep is required. Usually around 4-5 days but they usually require preps.
| Area | Basic Refresh | Standard Repaint |
|---|---|---|
| Small hallway | £400-£600+ | £700-£900+ |
| Hall, stairs, landing (standard) | £800-£1,200+ | £1,200-£1,800+ |
| Hall, stairs, landing (large/Victorian) | £1,200-£1,800+ | £1,800-£2,500+ |
Ceilings Only
Sometimes you just need the ceiling done — after a leak, smoke damage, or because it's gone yellow.
| Room Size | Price |
|---|---|
| Small room | £200-£250+ |
| Medium room | £200-£300+ |
| Large room | £250-£400+ |
Woodwork Only
Skirting boards, doors, architraves, window frames — the details that make a room look finished.
| Scope | Price |
|---|---|
| Single room (skirting + door) | £200-£300+ |
| Single room (full woodwork) | £350-£500+ |
| Whole house woodwork | £1,500-£2,500+ |
It's a bit vague, it depends on level of preps and if they need to be primed and undercoated, whether there is carpet to protect, and how much woodwork there is.
Exterior Work
Again it depends on level of preps and access such as the need for a scaffold.
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| Front door repaint | £250-£400+ |
| Window frames (4-bed house) | £800-£1,500+ |
| Full exterior (3-bed semi) | £2,500-£4,000+ |
| Fence staining (6 panels) | £300-£500+ |
Exterior work depends heavily on prep — rotten wood needs replacing, flaking paint needs stripping. We always inspect before quoting.
What's Included in Our Quotes
When we quote, you get:
- Free, no-obligation visit — We look at the room, check the condition, discuss colours and finishes
- Protection — Dust sheets on all floors and furniture, masking tape protecting fixtures
- Prep work — Filling cracks, sanding, priming where needed (not just slapping paint over problems)
- Quality of materials — Some brands are more expensive than others, but we'll use any paint of your choice
- Two coats minimum — Walls and ceilings, and woodwork. Surfaces may need priming and undercoating
- Clean up — We leave the room spotless, fixtures rehung, furniture back in place
- Quality guarantee — If you spot a defect, we will come to rectify for free
What Costs Extra (And Why)
| Extra Work | Typical Cost | Why It Costs More |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper stripping | £100-£200+ per room | Labour-intensive, often reveals plaster problems |
| Plaster repairs / skimming | £200-£500+ per wall | Skilled trade, materials, drying time |
| Colour change (dark to light) | +£100-£200+ per room | Extra coats needed for coverage |
| Ceiling height over 3m | +20-30% | Scaffolding or extended poles, slower work |
| Furniture moving | £50-£100+ | Time and care needed |
| Out-of-hours work | +30-50% | Evenings or weekends |
| Specialist finishes (suede, metallic) | +£200-£500+ | Technique and materials |
How to Get an Accurate Quote
The only way to know exactly what your room will cost is to have a painter look at it. Photos help, but they hide things — cracks behind furniture, damp patches under windows, wallpaper that's been painted over three times.
When we visit, we look for:
- Wall and ceiling condition (cracks, peeling, damp)
- What colour it is now vs what you want (dark red to white needs more coats)
- Features that slow us down (bay windows, fireplaces, picture rails)
- Access (parking, stairs, narrow doorways for ladders)
- Whether you need colour advice or already have samples
We give written quotes, not verbal estimates. No surprises.
Why We're Not the Cheapest (And Why That Matters)
You can find painters on Facebook for £150 a room. Here's what that usually gets you:
- One coat of cheap paint
- No prep work (paint straight over cracks and peeling patches)
- No protection for your floors or furniture
- No guarantee — if it peels in three months, they're gone
- Cash in hand, no insurance — if they damage something or get injured, it's your problem
We are hard working professional tradesmen who charge fair price for good quality work and no nonsense. Our clients are satisfied with our work and they have recommended us over the years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you charge by the room or by the day?
We quote per job, not per day. A day rate encourages rushing. A fixed quote means we take however long it takes to do it properly — and you know the cost upfront.
Is paint included in your prices?
Yes. We use Dulux Trade or Crown Trade as standard. If you want Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, or another premium brand, we quote separately for materials.
How long does it take to paint a room?
A standard bedroom with good walls: 1-2 days. A living room with prep work: 2-3 days. We'll give you a timeline in the quote.
Do I need to move furniture?
We'll move light furniture (chairs, bedside tables) and cover everything with dust sheets. For heavy items (wardrobes, sofas), we ask you to move them to the centre of the room or another room if possible.
Can you work while I'm at work?
Absolutely. Most of our customers give us a key or leave us working while they're out. We're fully insured, police-checked, and have 150+ five-star reviews from people who've done exactly that.
Do I need to empty the room?
No. We work around your furniture. For wallpaper stripping or plaster work, it helps if fragile items are removed, but we'll guide you on what's needed when we quote.
What if I don't know what colour to choose?
We offer a free colour consultation with every quote. We bring samples, look at your light (south-facing rooms need different colours to north-facing), and suggest options that work with your furniture and flooring.
Do you cover my area?
We cover Croydon, South Croydon, Sanderstead, Purley, Kenley, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, Redhill and Whyteleafe. If you're just outside that area, still get in touch — we often travel for larger jobs.
Can you match a specific colour?
Yes. Bring us a sample (fabric swatch, photo, or paint chip) and we'll match it. Dulux and Crown both offer colour matching services, or we can mix by eye for heritage or period properties.
What happens if I'm not happy with the finish?
We fix it. No arguments, no extra cost. Our 24-month guarantee covers workmanship — if it peels, cracks, or fails because of something we did, we come back and put it right. In 15 years, we've had fewer than five callbacks, and every one was resolved the same week.
Ready for a Quote?
The figures above give you a ballpark. The only way to know exactly what your room will cost is to have us look at it.
Free, no-obligation quote. We visit, assess the room, discuss colours and finishes, and give you a written quote with a fixed price and timeline. No pressure, no surprises.
Ready for a Free Quote?
Based in Kenley, covering all of Surrey. Written quotes with fixed prices — no surprises.
Or email: info@recommended-tradesmen.co.uk
Last updated: May 2026. Prices are a guide based on typical Surrey properties. Every quote is tailored to the specific room, condition, and finish required.