FREE TOOL · 2026 PRICES
Plastering CostCalculator
Estimate plastering cost for any room or area — skim coat, full re-plaster, artex removal, or external render — using 2026 UK trade pricing.
Plastering cost calculator
Measure only the surface to be plastered — walls only, or walls + ceiling. Exclude doors and windows.
Plastering estimate
Total Estimate
£160–£300
20 m² · Skim coat
Cost per m²
£8–£15
National average
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All job types — per m² reference (National average)
Common room sizes — national average
| Room | Skim coat | Full re-plaster |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom (12 m²) | £96–£180 | £240–£420 |
| Average bedroom (16 m²) | £128–£240 | £320–£560 |
| Living room (25 m²) | £200–£375 | £500–£875 |
| Kitchen (15 m²) | £120–£225 | £300–£525 |
National average prices. Apply regional multiplier from the calculator above for your area.
How Much Does Plastering Cost in the UK?
UK plastering costs range from £8 to £45 per m² depending on job type and region. Use the calculator above for a tailored estimate — here is what each job type typically costs at the national average.
| Job type | Cost per m² | Bedroom (16 m²) | Living room (25 m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skim coat | £8–£15 | £128–£240 | £200–£375 |
| Artex removal + skim | £15–£25 | £240–£400 | £375–£625 |
| Plasterboard + tape & joint | £12–£22 | £192–£352 | £300–£550 |
| Full re-plaster | £20–£35 | £320–£560 | £500–£875 |
| External render | £25–£45 | — | — |
National average prices, all-in (labour + materials). Regional adjustments: London +35%, South East +15%, North/Scotland/Wales −15%. Use the calculator above for a region-adjusted estimate.
Does plastering cost include materials?
Yes — UK plasterers almost always quote all-in prices. Finish plaster, plasterboard, scrim tape, and corner beads are included. Materials make up 25–35% of the total cost; the rest is labour.
What is the cheapest type of plastering?
A skim coat over existing plaster or plasterboard is the cheapest at £8–£15/m². It is suitable when the existing base is sound — cracks filled and walls fully dry.
How much to plaster a whole house?
A 3-bed house skim-coat only (approx. 200–280 m²) costs £1,600–£4,200. A full strip-and-re-plaster of the same house runs £4,000–£9,800. Always get 2–3 quotes for larger jobs.
Why is London plastering so much more expensive?
Plasterer day rates in London run 35% above the national average due to higher living costs and demand. In the North East, Scotland, and Wales, rates run about 15% below the national average.
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How plastering costs are calculated
Plastering is priced per m² with variations for job type and regional labour rates. Getting the area right and choosing the correct job type are the two biggest factors.
Measure the area accurately
Measure the total surface area to be plastered — walls only, or walls and ceiling. Deduct door and window openings (a standard door is about 1.8 m², a window about 1.5 m²). For a 4×4m room with 2.4m ceilings, the wall area is about 38 m² before deductions — not the floor area.
Choose the right job type
The biggest cost driver is whether you need a skim coat (cheapest — over existing sound plaster or plasterboard) or a full strip and re-plaster (most expensive — remove old plaster, dot & dab new boards, then skim). Artex removal sits in between, with an additional cost if the artex tests positive for asbestos.
Apply regional labour rates
Plasterer day rates vary significantly by region. London trades command 35% above the national average; Scotland, Wales, and the North East run 15% below. This calculator applies a regional multiplier to the base per-m² rate so your estimate reflects local market conditions.
Materials are included in the rate
All rates shown are all-in, including materials. Finish plaster, plasterboard, bonding, beads, and scrim tape are included. Materials typically make up 25–35% of the total. For external render, the rate includes the render mix but excludes scaffolding — add £600–£1,500 for a typical house.
WORKED EXAMPLE
Plastering a living room in Manchester
A 5×4m living room with 2.4m ceilings, deducting 1 door and 2 windows, gives approximately 32 m² of net wall area. In Manchester (North West, 0.9× multiplier):
Room dimensions
5×4m · 2.4m ceiling
Net wall area
≈32 m²
Skim coat (NW)
£230–£432
Full re-plaster (NW)
£576–£1,008
Skim coat recommendation
£230–£432
32 m² · North West · £7.20–£13.50/m² after regional adjustment
Use the calculator above with your room dimensions and region for a tailored estimate. Always get 2–3 quotes from local plasterers for large jobs.
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Key figures
Official statistics on plasterers' pay, self-employment and material costs, with a link to each source.
£34,877
Median annual pay for full-time employed plasterers in the UK, April 2026 (provisional). Self-employed rates have to cover overheads and unpaid time on top.
35,800
Plasterers in the UK who are self-employed, out of 45,100 in work.
Source: ONS Annual Population Survey (Nomis), Jul 2025 to Jun 2026
+6.4%
Rise in UK construction material prices (the 'All work' index), August 2026 compared with August 2025.
Source: Department for Business and Trade, Building materials and components, September 2026
41,200
Extra construction workers the UK needs each year from 2026 to 2030.
Last reviewed: . Figures are the latest official releases at that date; follow each link for the full data and any later update.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about plastering costs and processes in the UK.
How much does plastering cost per m² in the UK 2026?
Plastering costs in the UK in 2026 range from £8–£45 per m² depending on the type of work. A basic skim coat over existing plaster costs £8–£15/m². Full re-plaster (removing old plaster, plasterboarding and skimming) costs £20–£35/m². Artex removal and skim costs £15–£25/m². External render runs £25–£45/m². These prices include labour and materials but exclude scaffolding for external work.
How much does it cost to plaster a bedroom in the UK 2026?
Skimming an average bedroom (16 m²) costs £128–£240 in the UK in 2026. A full re-plaster of the same room (stripping old plaster, plasterboarding and skimming) costs £320–£560. These prices include the plasterer's labour and materials. London and South East prices run 15–35% higher than the national average.
How much does it cost to re-plaster a whole house?
Re-plastering a typical UK 3-bedroom house (all rooms, roughly 200–280 m² total wall area) costs £4,000–£9,800 for a full strip and re-plaster. Skim coating only (if existing plaster is sound) costs £1,600–£4,200. Most plasterers price per room or per m² — use the calculator above to estimate your area and choose the right job type.
Does plastering price include materials?
Yes — most UK plasterers quote all-in prices including materials (plasterboard, bonding, finish coat, beads, scrim tape). Materials typically make up 25–35% of the total cost. The remainder is labour. For a standard skim coat job, a bag of finish plaster costs £8–£12 and covers approximately 5–7 m² at one coat thickness.
Does artex contain asbestos and does that affect the plastering cost?
Artex applied before 2000 may contain chrysotile (white) asbestos. Before any artex removal, a sample test is recommended (typically £30–£100). If asbestos is present, a licensed contractor must remove it — adding £300–£800+ to the job depending on area. Post-2000 artex is asbestos-free. If artex contains asbestos, encapsulation (skimming over it) is sometimes preferable to removal and avoids the licensed contractor requirement.
How long does plastering take to dry before painting?
Fresh plaster takes 2–4 weeks to fully dry and cure before painting, depending on ventilation and temperature. The surface should be a consistent pale colour with no dark patches before applying paint. A mist coat (watered-down emulsion, 10:1 paint to water) is recommended as the first coat to seal the new plaster. Painting before the plaster is fully dry causes the paint to crack and peel. In winter or poorly ventilated rooms, allow 4–6 weeks.
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