A proper interior painting quote in London covers far more than a price per room. It should set out labour, materials, preparation work, the number of coats, protection for your belongings, waste removal, and the payment terms, all written down clearly before anyone picks up a brush. A vague, one-line quote is the biggest warning sign in this trade, and it usually means hidden extras later.
Labour Costs and How They’re Worked Out
Labour makes up the bulk of any painting quote. Decorators in London either charge a day rate, typically £250 to £450, or a fixed price for the whole job based on room size, wall condition, and how many people the work needs. A proper quote states which method applies and how many days or hours the job is expected to take. If a decorator won’t commit to a rough timeframe, that’s usually because they haven’t assessed the room properly.
Some quotes separate labour by task: filling and sanding as one line, priming as another, two topcoats as a third. This level of detail helps you compare quotes fairly. A cheap headline figure sometimes hides a smaller scope of work underneath.
Materials: Paint, Primer, and Everything In Between
A solid quote states whether it’s supply and apply or labour only. Supply and apply means the decorator sources and pays for the paint, primer, filler, sandpaper, masking tape, and sundries, then builds that cost into the total price. Labour only means you buy the paint yourself, which can save money if you already have a brand in mind, but it shifts the responsibility for quantity and colour matching onto you.
The quote should also name the paint brand and finish, not just “paint” as a generic line. Trade emulsion from a standard supplier costs far less than a premium brand such as Farrow & Ball or Little Greene, and swapping between the two mid-job causes disputes that a clear quote avoids entirely. Woodwork finishes matter too. Gloss, satin, and eggshell all behave differently and cost different amounts, so a decent quote names the finish for skirting boards, doors, and frames rather than lumping everything under “paint”.
Preparation Work, Line by Line
Preparation often takes longer than the painting itself, yet it’s the part most commonly left vague or missing entirely from cheap quotes. A thorough quote lists filling cracks and holes, sanding rough patches, washing down greasy surfaces such as kitchen walls, and priming bare plaster or stained areas before any topcoat goes on. Period properties in areas like Islington or Clapham often need more of this work than a modern new-build flat, and a good decorator flags that during the site visit rather than after the job has started.
If a wall has damp, mould, or flaking old paint, the quote should say how it will be treated. Skipping this step is the fastest way to end up with peeling paint six months later.
Number of Coats and Surfaces Covered
Two coats is the industry standard on a previously painted wall, and any quote offering “one coat” for a full colour change deserves a closer look. The document should state exactly which surfaces are included: walls, ceiling, skirting boards, door frames, radiators, and any built-in shelving. Ceilings in particular get left off cheaper quotes. They take extra time and often need a different finish to the walls.
Protecting Your Home During the Job
A professional quote includes covering floors, furniture, and fittings with dust sheets and plastic sheeting, along with masking skirting boards, sockets, and window frames before painting begins. It should also state who moves furniture: most painters shift light and medium items themselves, but heavier or fragile pieces sometimes sit outside standard cover. This detail matters, because damage disputes almost always trace back to something the quote never mentioned.
Waste Removal and Final Clean Up
Old paint tins, dust sheets, masking tape, and packaging need to go somewhere once the job finishes. A complete quote states whether the decorator removes this waste themselves or leaves it for the homeowner to deal with. The best quotes also mention a final clean, wiping down surfaces and vacuuming any dust before the team leaves, rather than packing up and heading straight out the door.
Insurance, Guarantees, and Payment Terms
Public liability insurance protects you if something gets damaged during the job, and a reputable decorator names their cover level without hesitation. Many quotes also include a workmanship guarantee, typically covering peeling, cracking, or poor coverage for a set period after completion. Payment terms deserve equal attention: a deposit, staged payments for larger jobs, and the final balance on completion should all appear in writing, along with whether the price includes VAT.
The Bottom Line
A genuine painting quote in London reads like a proper document, not a single number on a text message. Labour, materials, prep work, coats, protection, waste removal, insurance, and payment terms should all sit on the page before you sign anything. Anything missing from that list is worth asking about directly, since the gaps in a quote almost always turn into the extras on the final bill.
