Painting the exterior of your home does two jobs at once: it transforms how the property looks, and it protects the structure against the UK's demanding weather. Getting it right matters — and so does understanding what you'll actually pay before you commit.
This guide walks through every cost factor, whether you hire a professional or take it on yourself: average prices by property size, how labour and materials split, what preparation adds, and the practical ways to keep the bill down without cutting corners.
What Is the Average Cost to Paint a House Exterior in the UK?
Costs vary with property size, but useful benchmarks exist. A small terraced house (1–2 bedrooms) typically runs £1,000–£2,500 — less paint, less labour, and usually simpler access on single-storey homes. A semi-detached (2–3 bedrooms) lands around £2,500–£5,000, with more external wall area to cover. A detached house (4+ bedrooms) generally sits between £5,000 and £15,000, reflecting both the larger surface area and the tougher access on multi-storey or architecturally detailed properties.
These figures assume a professional job including labour, materials and a reasonable degree of surface preparation. Your final price shifts with the condition of the walls, the complexity of the job and your location. The three biggest drivers of variation: location (labour rates run higher in London and the South East than the Midlands or North), complexity (intricate or hard-to-access properties cost more), and surface material (rough finishes like pebbledash or textured render use more paint and more time). Always budget a contingency for hidden repairs — damaged render or rotten timber often needs fixing before a brush touches the wall.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Exterior House Painting?
Size of the property. The most obvious driver. Painters often price by the square metre — in the UK that runs roughly £30–£100/m² depending on the factors below. The greater the wall area, the higher the cost.
Type of exterior surface. Brick needs a breathable masonry paint and, being porous, drinks more paint than smooth surfaces. Smooth render is straightforward; textured or pebbledash render takes far longer. Timber cladding often needs sanding, priming and a specialist wood paint. Pebbledash is notoriously hard to cover with ordinary masonry paint at all — which is why many owners move to a spray-applied wall coating instead.
Condition of existing paint and walls. Peeling or cracked paint means more prep — scraping, sanding, priming back to bare material, and repairing any damaged render or woodwork before painting can begin.
Accessibility and complexity. Eaves, dormers and awkward access all add labour. Anything above single storey usually needs scaffolding, which alone adds £400–£2,000.
Weather. Exterior painting is weather-dependent, and in the UK that's a real cost factor — cold, wet or windy spells stretch timelines and labour.
How Much Is Labour vs Materials?
Labour is the single biggest expense — on average around 70% of the total, with materials making up the remaining ~30%.
Labour: most UK painters charge £150–£200 per day, higher in London and the South East. A medium semi-detached typically takes 5–7 days including prep, priming and two coats; a larger or more complex home can run beyond 10 days.
Materials: quality masonry paint (Dulux Weathershield, Sandtex and similar) costs £20–£60 per 5L; primer £15–£30 per 5L; brushes, rollers and a possible spray gun another £50–£200. A medium semi usually needs 20–30 litres, so £200–£400 on paint alone.
Scaffolding: for multi-storey homes, £400–£2,000 depending on location, complexity and hire duration.
Does the Type of Paint Affect the Cost?
Significantly — and cheaper isn't always cheaper over time. Acrylic (water-based) masonry paint (£20–£50 per 5L) is the popular UK choice: durable, crack-resistant, breathable, good on brick, render and timber. Oil-based paint (£25–£50 per 5L) gives a smooth, hard-wearing finish on metal and wood trim but is slower to dry and higher in fumes. Eco-friendly, low-VOC paint (£40–£70 per 5L) costs more but appeals for its health and environmental profile. Specialist surfaces — timber, pebbledash, metal — each need their own product, and textured surfaces often need a thicker, spray-applied coating for proper coverage.
Most previously-unpainted or weathered surfaces need two coats, raising both material and labour cost — and cheaper paint often needs more coats, wiping out the upfront saving. Investing in a high-quality, weatherproof exterior wall coating can extend the lifespan of the job by years.
How Often Should You Repaint in the UK?
Exterior paint lasts 5–10 years on average, depending on surface, application quality and local weather. Brick holds paint longest (7–10 years). Timber needs repainting more often (every 3–7 years) as it's prone to rot and water damage. Smooth render lasts 5–7 years; pebbledash typically 5–6 years and can trap moisture, encouraging moss and mildew. Coastal salt, high winds and urban pollution all shorten paint life — regular cleaning and spot repairs help extend it.
The figure most homeowners overlook: because masonry paint needs redoing every 5 years or so, the cumulative 20-year cost of repainting a semi is roughly £6,000–£14,000 — several times the single-job price. A one-off, 20-year-guaranteed wall coating is applied once and never repainted, which is why the long-term maths increasingly favours it. See the full wall coatings vs masonry paint comparison →
Do You Need Prep Work — and How Does It Affect Cost?
Professionals often say 80% of a good paint job is preparation. Proper prep is what makes paint adhere and last; skipping it causes premature peeling. Expect: surface cleaning (power washing runs £150–£500 professionally, or ~£40/day to hire a washer yourself); scraping and sanding back any flaking paint; priming bare wood, new render or metal (£20–£50 per 5L); repairing cracks, mortar gaps or rotten timber before painting (filler £5–£15 per tub, larger repairs more); and masking windows, doors and trim for a clean finish. Prep can add several days and £300–£1,000 — but skipping it means repainting sooner.
Should You Hire a Professional or DIY?
Hiring a professional brings expertise and a longer-lasting finish, safe working at height with proper equipment, and speed — but labour is ~70% of the cost, so expect roughly £1,000–£4,000 depending on size. DIY can save hundreds or thousands in labour and is satisfying if you have the skills — but it's time-consuming (often several weekends), harder than it looks to get an even, lasting finish, and genuinely dangerous above single storey. If your home is two-plus storeys and you're not confident at height, leave it to a professional.
How Long Does It Take?
A professional team usually needs 3–10 days: a small terrace or bungalow 3–5 days, a medium semi 5–7 days, a large or detailed detached home 7–10 days. UK weather can extend all of these — paint needs dry conditions to cure between coats. DIY jobs take longer still.
Best Ways to Save Money on Exterior Painting
Get at least three quotes and compare on reputation and materials, not just price. Time it for spring or autumn when painters are less booked. Do some prep yourself (cleaning, light scraping) to cut labour — but only if you'll do it properly. Buy paint in bulk where you can calculate quantities accurately. Use high-quality paint — it needs fewer coats and lasts longer, saving money over time. Watch for DIY discounts and end-of-season offers on materials.
The Bottom Line
Painting your exterior enhances and protects your home, and understanding the cost drivers — size, surface, prep and paint quality — lets you plan without nasty surprises. But it's worth weighing the whole picture: a paint job lasts up to 10 years, whereas a spray-applied exterior wall coating is applied once and guaranteed for 20 years, with no repeat repainting cycle. For many UK homeowners, once the long-term costs are laid side by side, the coating is the more economical choice.
Want a fixed, all-in price for your specific property — with no repainting ever again?
Check If Your Property QualifiesTakes less than 60 secondsFrequently Asked Questions
Typically £2,500–£5,000 including scaffold for the upper elevation, assuming two coats of quality masonry paint over properly prepared walls. Over 20 years, repainting every 4–5 years adds up to a cumulative £6,000–£14,000 for the same property.
Standard masonry paint lasts 3–5 years on UK exteriors before peeling, fading or algae growth makes repainting necessary. Premium elastomeric paint can reach 5–7 years; coastal and north-facing walls often need it sooner.
Not always — and it's frequently left off headline prices. For any two-storey property, scaffold hire, erection and dismantling typically adds £800–£2,500. Always confirm whether it's included.
Yes — a spray-applied exterior wall coating. It's applied once, is fully waterproof and self-cleaning, and is guaranteed for 20 years, removing the repeat-repainting cycle entirely.
