Price per square metre
Decorators don't always quote by the square metre, but it's a useful way to compare. A typical ceiling in sound condition, painted with two coats of white matt emulsion, is usually somewhere around £5–£9 per m². Stained, cracked or very high ceilings can be £10–£15 per m² or more.
| Ceiling | Typical cost per m² | Typical cost per room |
|---|---|---|
| Small room (8–10 m²) | £6 – £12 | £80 – £150 |
| Bedroom (12–15 m²) | £5 – £10 | £100 – £200 |
| Living room (18–25 m²) | £5 – £9 | £140 – £250 |
| Stained ceiling needing stain block | £8 – £14 | +£40 – £100 |
| New plaster (mist coat and two coats) | £7 – £12 | Varies by size |
| High stairwell ceiling | £10 – £18 | Depends on access |
Indicative ceiling painting costs (2026, labour and paint)
Why ceilings take longer than walls
Painting overhead is slow, tiring work. Decorators use extension poles for the main area but still have to cut in along every edge, around the light fitting and along coving. Paint that's applied too thickly can drip or show roller marks in the light, so it's applied in careful, even coats.
Ceilings also show every flaw. Light from windows rakes across them, highlighting patchiness and cracks. A good finish usually means two full coats, and sometimes filling and sanding first.
Stains and cracks
Water stains, smoke damage and nicotine will bleed through ordinary emulsion, sometimes even after several coats. They need a stain-blocking primer first, which adds time and materials. Fine cracks along plasterboard joints are common and can be filled and sanded, but if a crack keeps coming back or the ceiling sags, it may need more than a decorator.
Our guide to painting ceilings has more on preparation, and if your ceiling has an old textured finish, see how much it costs to remove Artex.
Rather leave it to a professional?
Ceiling only, or the whole room?
It's usually more cost-effective to paint the ceiling at the same time as the walls. The decorator has already moved and covered the furniture, and the ceiling is painted first so that any drips or splashes on the walls are covered by the wall coats. If you only want the ceiling painted, expect the price to be a little higher per square metre because of the set-up time.
High ceilings and stairwells
Ceilings above a stairwell or in a period house with high ceilings need platforms, step-ups or a small tower. That takes time to set up and move. Our guide to painting a hallway and staircase explains what's involved.
When you're ready, get quotes from local interior decorators.
