Skirting Board Painting Cost

Wondering if there's a special type of skirting board paint?

You're in the right place. To get the best finish on your skirting boards, go for a wood/trim paint such as gloss, satinwood or eggshell. Regular wall emulsion isn’t hardy enough for skirting and will mark more easily.

Skirting boards, window sills, and door frames are often neglected when decorating, but freshening them up can make a world of difference in your home.

You don’t have to repaint the skirting every single time you decorate a room. Skipping it once can save a bit of time and money. But if it’s been left for a few rounds of decorating, it starts to drag the whole room down – bright new walls next to yellowed, chipped skirting always look a bit unfinished.

So, what's the cost of painting skirting boards?

On average, you're looking at paying £200 to have your skirting boards refreshed. This guide will cover everything you need to know about painting skirting boards, including supply and additional costs, and how to find and hire a local decorator.

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How Much Does Painting Skirting Boards Cost?

Looking for the right paint for skirting boards?

Painting skirting boards can be a tricky job - especially when there are freshly painted or wallpapered walls to avoid. While the materials may be fairly inexpensive, painting still takes a lot of time, care, and attention.

On average, the cost of painting skirting boards is around £200 for a standard 3m x 3m room, with materials costing £50, and labour accounting for the remaining £150. The work shouldn’t take much longer than 1 or 2 days, depending on the complexity and size of the job.

Some painters quote by linear metre instead of by room. You're looking at £8 to £12 per metre for boards in decent condition, or £15 to £20 if they need proper restoration work. A typical 3m x 3m room has about 11 to 12 metres of skirting, but most decorators charge a minimum of £150 to £250 for small jobs.

Most painters will happily do the skirting at the same time as the walls and ceiling. Because they’re already set up with dust sheets, brushes and rollers, adding the boards usually means a bit of extra time rather than a whole new job. It’s far more cost-effective to have it done as part of a full room redecoration than to call someone back just for the skirting.

Throughout this skirting board paint guide, we'll explore different factors to give you a better idea of how much you’re likely to pay for this job, helping you make cost-effective decisions.

Painting Skirting Prices

Should I Paint My Skirting Boards, or Replace My Skirting Boards?

Because the prices are so close, it’s worth pausing to decide if a quick repaint is enough or whether it’s time to swap the boards completely.

• How bad is the damage? If you have missing sections, deep gouges, swelling, or water damage from leaks or damp, it makes more sense to replace the skirting rather than keep patching it up.
• Do you still like the style? If the profile looks dated or doesn’t suit the rest of the room, new skirting can lift the whole space in one go. If you like the shape and it’s sound, a fresh coat of paint is probably enough.
• Are you already redecorating? If you’re changing flooring or fully redoing the room, replacing the boards at the same time is much easier. Then start again with clean, straight lengths.

In terms of cost, there isn’t a huge gap between the two options:

• For an average-sized room, replacing skirting boards costs £250.
• Painting skirting boards costs around £200 for an average-sized room.

If your boards are straight, solid and a style you’re happy with, painting is less invasive and keeps the job simple. You’ll get a neat refresh without any carpentry work or dust from ripping boards off the wall.

If the skirting is distorted, rotten, badly chipped or has been bodged over the years, replacing is usually the better investment. You’re getting brand new boards that should last for years, and you won’t be paying twice later on for both painting and eventual replacement.

Not sure which option to go for? You can always get costs for painting and prices for replacing the skirting, then compare the quotes and disruption side by side.

Supply Only Costs

If you’re buying the paint yourself, you’ll pay between £18 and £25 per litre for top-quality skirting board paint. One litre is usually enough to do the skirting in a small room and have some left over, even with two coats – skirting doesn’t use much paint. It still depends on how much skirting you’ve got, though.

• Avoid using normal wall paint. While emulsion might look fine at first, it scrapes easily and won’t stand up to knocks from hoovers, toys or shoes. It’ll need redoing much sooner, so it’s a false economy.
• Stick to gloss, satinwood, or eggshell. These are sturdier, more hard-wearing options. They protect against chips and scrapes. Gloss gives the brightest shine, while satinwood has a softer sheen. As for eggshell, it offers a more subtle, modern look.
• Wood stain or varnish can work too. Especially if you’ve invested in nice solid timber. Stains keep the grain visible for a natural finish. That said, they don’t hide marks or imperfections quite as well as paint does.
• Water-based paints are faster-drying and lower in odour. Oil-based paints, on the other hand, still give a slightly tougher finish. Doing it yourself? A quick-dry satinwood is the simplest to use.
• Don’t skip primer or undercoat if the surface needs it. Bare wood, shiny old gloss or stained areas should be primed/undercoated so the top coat sticks and old colour doesn’t bleed through. What’s more, it makes the final coat smoother and longer-lasting.

Picking the perfect paint matters. It’s the layer that takes the most knocks in your home. Spending a few pounds more on a resilient finish will save you time and trouble later.

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Labour Cost to Paint Skirting Boards

The majority of skirting board painting costs are the labour costs, which account for about 75% of the overall price. This is because painting skirting boards is labour-intensive, which adds time to the job.

Skirting is looked after by a painter and decorator. If you’re having new boards fitted as well, a carpenter or joiner will install them first, then the decorator comes in afterwards to prime and paint them.

So, even if skirting board painting looks quick and simple, it usually takes longer than people expect because of all the prep and careful cutting-in.

You will pay different rates for labour in different areas of the UK, with London being the highest.

The average day rate for a painter is around £175, with this rising in big cities like London and Manchester.

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Factors That Impact Painting Skirting Board Costs

There are a few things that have a big say in what you end up paying to get your skirting painted. Some you can’t really change, but others you can plan around to keep the bill down.

Size of Room

The more wall length you have, the more skirting there is to prep, mask and paint. Bigger rooms and long corridors take longer, so the labour cost goes up.

If you have a lot of skirting to do, it’s often cheaper to have it all done in one hit rather than room by room. You’ll get a better total rate because the decorator isn’t stopping and starting over several small visits.

Location

Where you live makes a difference. Decorators in big cities and high-cost areas charge more per day than those in smaller towns or rural areas.

In quieter areas, some traders are more open to negotiating if you’re giving them a decent run of work. So, be sure to get a few quotes so you can see what’s normal for your postcode.

Paint Quality

Skirting takes a lot of knocks. So, the paint needs to be tough. Economy products might look fine on day one but scuff and yellow faster. That’s bad news – you’ll be repainting sooner than you thought.

You’ll pay more at first for trade-quality gloss, satinwood or eggshell, but it gives a better finish and lasts longer. That can work out less pricey over a few years than having to redo everything with budget paint.

Bundling with Other Decorating Work

Painting skirting on its own is charged as a small, standalone job. So, of course, the price feels somewhat high for the time on site. If you add it to other work, it’s much better value.

Let’s say you’re already paying for the cost of painting a bedroom. Be sure to ask the decorator what they’d charge to include the skirting in the same visit. Because they’re already set up with dust sheets, rollers and brushes out, they don’t need to charge another full minimum job fee just for the boards.

It’s the same story for hallways and landings. If you’re looking at the overall cost of painting a staircase, it’s a good time to get any adjoining skirting freshened up too.

When work is bundled like this, countless decorators will shave a bit off the per-room or per-area rate because they’re saving on travel and setup. Bear in mind that combined jobs can come in 10–20% cheaper than booking each task separately.

Replacing Skirting Boards with Other Work

Fitting new flooring as well? Have the flooring laid first. Next, get the new skirting installed on top. That way, the boards sit gracefully on the finished floor. Any small gaps are hidden, and you’re not paying someone twice to work around old boards.

Skirting should also go in before you paint or wallpaper. Get the new boards fitted, then decorate the walls. Lastly on your list, have the skirting painted. It keeps splashes off the finished boards, makes cutting in simpler, and lets one decorator handle everything in a single, more cost-effective run.

What's Involved in Painting Skirting Boards?

Wondering what goes into glossing skirting boards?

Once your room is cleared of furniture, here's what your painter will need to do to paint your skirting boards:

Before Painting

• Protecting Surfaces — Your floors get protected from paint or varnish with dust sheets. The skirting boards are sanded with 180-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface. This will help the paint or varnish adhere.
• Cleaning — The dust gets vacuumed up before painting starts to prevent it from mixing with the paint and ruining the finish. The skirting boards are cleaned with a slightly damp sponge to remove any dust, then left to dry.
• Priming — Next, the wall above the skirting boards and the floor beneath them get masked to stop drips. Then primer or undercoat is applied to the skirting boards (or skipped if they’re already properly primed/undercoated).

During Painting

• First Coat — The paint gets applied, brushed in one direction to ensure a consistent look.
• Drying — Leave it to dry for as long as the tin says – usually 4–6 hours for water-based paint and overnight for oil-based – before you put the next coat on. Good ventilation helps it cure properly. If there are any imperfections from the first coat, they're lightly scrubbed away with sandpaper, and any dust removed before painting again.
• Second Coat — The second coat is applied, and left for a further 24 hours to dry fully.

Checklist: Hiring a Skirting Board Painter

There are some things to keep in mind when hiring a painter or decorator to paint your skirting boards - here's what you need to know:

• Have you compared multiple quotes? Use MyJobQuote to get multiple quotes from different traderpeople. This gives you the chance to compare their costs and find the best local skirting board painting prices.
• What's included in their quote? Ask for an itemised quote so you can see what's included and what isn't.
• Can you see their previous work? Take a look at the contractor's previous work, looking at photos or videos of their past projects to get an idea of their quality.
• Do they have good reviews? Read through the contractor's customer reviews on MyJobQuote to see what other homeowners are saying.
• Are they insured? Check the contractor has relevant insurance before agreeing to work with them.

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