Plastering prices
A lot of plasterers quote based on the size of the room – small, medium or large - or by the square metre. This is because of the number of plasterer boards and other materials they will need, as well as the amount of time it will take.
Our traders have told us how much they usually charge¹ for common plastering jobs around the home, both inside and outside, and by the size of the room.
Our figures are only a guide to average costs, and there are several factors that can affect how much you’ll be charged, including:
- where you live
- the age and condition of your property
- how long the job takes
- ease of access to the area that needs plastering, and the amount of space to work in
- whether your plasterer has to work at heights and use scaffolding, particularly for external rendering (plastering on outside walls).
Unless otherwise specified, prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT. You can also scroll down for more advice on how to choose the right platerer and things to consider when taking them on.
Find trusted plasterers near you. Only plasterers who have passed an assessment by our trading standards professionals, and who follow our Code of Conduct, can become Trusted Traders.
How much does it cost to plaster a room?
Costs are for removing existing plaster and starting again from scratch, creating a new base, skimming (adding the plaster coat), and finishing. Because of this, plastering a room from scratch is slightly more expensive then re-plastering - see below for examples of these.
|
Job
|
Details
|
Typical price quoted
|
Price range
|
Time to do job
|
|
Plaster small room
|
Room size approx 2.1m x 2.2m – walls only. Remove existing plaster, dry line, skim and finish.
|
£636
|
£595-£674
|
2–3 days
|
|
Plaster medium room
|
Room size approx 3.3m x 3m – walls only. Remove existing plaster, dry line, skim and finish.
|
£755
|
£575-£920
|
2–3 days
|
|
Plaster large room
|
Room size approx 6.1m x 5m – walls only. Remove existing plaster, dry line, skim and finish.
|
£1,300
|
£995-£1,375
|
3-4 days
|
Cost of re-skimming over plaster on internal walls
These costs are for skimming over an existing coat of plaster. If the plasterboard is in good condition but your walls need smoothing, you may be able to choose this option instead.
|
Job
|
Details
|
Typical price quoted
|
Price range
|
Time to do job
|
|
Re-skimming small room
|
Room size approx 2.1m x 2.2m) – walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster.
|
£440
|
£378-£496
|
1–1.5 days
|
|
Re-skimming medium room
|
Room size approx 3.3m x 3m – walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster.
|
£480
|
£430-£550
|
1–2 days
|
|
Re-skimming large room
|
Room size approx 6.1m x 5m – walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster.
|
£650
|
£536-£690
|
2–3 days
|
How much does it cost to plaster a ceiling?
Plastering a ceiling is one of the trickiest types of plastering jobs and most specialist, requiring the right tools too. That's why the costs aren't disimilar to replastering an entire room.
All plastering prices below include overboarding - fixing a new plasterboard ceiling over the existing ceiling. This method is used to provide a smooth surface, while avoiding the mess and complications of removing the existing ceiling.
|
Job
|
Details
|
Typical price quoted
|
Price range
|
Time to do job
|
|
Plaster small ceiling
|
Room size approx 2.1m x 2.2m). Overboard* existing ceiling and plaster new surface.
|
£275
|
£210-£352
|
6–10 hours
|
|
Plaster medium ceiling
|
Room size approx 3.3m x 3m. Overboard existing ceiling and plaster new surface.
|
£342
|
£270-£435
|
8–12 hours
|
|
Plaster large ceiling
|
Room size approx 6.1m x 5m. Overboard existing ceiling and plaster new surface.
|
£540
|
£410-£736
|
2–3 days
|
Cost of exterior rendering
As well as the size of property, prices for plastering the outside of a house depend on how many storeys the building is. Again, this job requires skill and the right equipment, hence the cost.
|
Job
|
Details
|
Typical price quoted
|
Price range
|
Time to do job
|
|
Render exterior walls of a standard two-bedroom bungalow
|
Flat render, sponge finish. Assumes no scaffolding is needed.
|
£2,600
|
£2,158-£2,940
|
4–6 days
|
|
Render exterior walls of a standard three-bedroom, semi-detached, two-storey house
|
Flat render, sponge finish, including scaffolding.
|
£4,800
|
£3,840-£5,300
|
5–8 days
|
|
Render exterior walls of a standard four-bedroom, detached, two-storey house
|
Flat render, sponge finish, including scaffolding.
|
£7,300
|
£6,320-£7,800
|
1–2 weeks
|
DIY or hire a plasterer?
Plastering is a skill, and it’s well worth using a professional unless you’re very confident with DIY - you don't want to have to pay extra to call someone in to correct your mistakes.
It is a job that also requires specialist tools, such as scaffolding when rendering a buiilding. Plus, a professional will be quicker, so the job will be finished in good time and to a high standard.
Find reliable plasterers near you who have not only been through our rigorous checks, but also had positive feedback from their customers.
How to save money when hiring plasterers
It’s easier for plasterers to work in unfurnished rooms. It’s likely that the job will take longer, and cost more, if rooms are not empty. So if you’re able to clear rooms, either completely or as much as possible, before the plasterer starts, this may help to keep costs down.
This might include removing radiators. Speak to your plasterer about how this should be tackled, as you may need to call in a heating engineer to remove them in advance.
Removing ‘blown’ (loose) plaster beforehand can also add to the costs of labour and rubbish disposal. Discuss with your plasterer whether you could save money by following their instructions to remove blown plaster before they arrive.
Finding a good plasterer
The first step toward perfect plastering is avoiding the temptation to do it yourself. It's a highly-skilled trade, with its own tools, scaffolding and techniques. Poor plasterwork can cost more to fix than hiring a professional in the first place.
The best plasterers will come highly recommended by friends, family, neighbours or other customers. Look for plastering companies with lots of reviews and check their profile photographs and company websites. Ask yourself:
- Have they undertaken work similar to yours?
- Do they specialise in a particular type of plastering, such as lime plastering, rendering or coving?
- Do they hold an NVQ or City & Guilds qualification in plastering?
- How long has the plastering business been trading?
As most plastering jobs will involve the company visiting your house for more than a day, check reviews for evidence of a friendly and professional approach.
Have previous customers mentioned that furniture and flooring was covered while the work was undertaken? Were they comfortable with having the plasterers around the house?
If you need a plasterer, check the Which? Trusted Traders site. Which? Trusted Traders has accredited plasterers working in your area.
Getting plastering quotes
A plastering company might give you an estimate on the telephone, based on your description of the size and nature of the job, but it would be unusual for them to give you a fixed quote at this stage.
Good plasterers will want to see your property before they give you a quote. This allows them to see the condition of the area being plastered and to tell you about your options.
See our guide to avoiding cowboy traders and disputes if you’re unsure of the difference between a quote and an estimate.
As with hiring all tradespeople, it’s a good idea to get at least three quotes for any plastering job, large or small.
You should aim to get quotes that are directly comparable – they should include all aspects of the work, such as travel and parking, removal of existing plaster, disposal of waste and scaffolding costs for exterior rendering jobs.
They should also explain any guarantee or warranty that applies – what is covered and how long that lasts.
Check that your prospective plasterers have insurance that covers them for any damage inadvertently caused to your property.
Hiring and paying a plasterer
Before any work commences, you should be clear about the work that will be carried out, the cost of each part of the job, the likely completion time and how payment will be made.
You can reasonably ask to see the plasterer’s insurance documents and shouldn’t be afraid to clarify what happens in the event of the job not being done to a satisfactory standard or taking longer than expected.
Good plasterers won’t mind discussing what happens if things go wrong and should be able to produce terms and condition that would apply in these instances.
The size and nature of the work will determine whether you may need to pay a deposit. Never pay more than 25% of the total cost upfront and ensure that the final instalment is payable upon acceptance of the work.
You can withhold the final payment if things aren’t right. Your plasterer should want to work with you to ensure that you are happy with the finish they provide.
More on this
¹Costs were checked and updated in 2018.
