What Is Self-Employed Painter and Decorator Hourly Rate?

London, UK – 26th September, 2025 – self-employed painters and decorators, the unsung heroes of the glamorised world of house makeovers and business facade makeovers, are the ones who are turning plain walls into glowing masterpieces. With the UK construction industry recovering positively and with a 4.2% growth prediction in 2025, fueled by housing shortages and green renovations, the number of people in demand in these trades is never higher than ever.

But what is the average of what a self-employed painter and decorator makes per hour? Against the background of increasing material prices and regional variation, the mean hourly rate oscillates between PS30 and PS37, but may range crazily between PS12 in the remote stations and PS40 in the major cities.

Illustrated with the latest industry data as gathered by Checkatrade, Protectivity, and HaMuch, this comprehensive guide breaks down the numbers, influencing factors, and provides advice on how to approach the trade and the client in this rainbow market. The beautiful promise of the self-employed time of painting and decorating comes into focus: flexibility, creative liberty, and possible profitable results.

In contrast to salaried positions, where working decorators earn £ 14- £ 16.50 per hour on average, self-employed professionals take home more of the entire client payment, minus expenses – something which can be £ 25,000- £ 50,000 per year full-time. However, it is no kid stuff to get the right rate, and it requires a combination of market wisdom and self-promotion. One of the decorators in London jests that it is not only about the brushstrokes, but also about stroking the right price.

The National Average: PS30-PS37 Per Hour – But What Does That Really Mean?

Principally, the self-employed painter and decorator’s hourly rate is equivalent to the skilled labour worth in space transformation. Checkatrade 2025 survey of more than 2,000 trades, the benchmark is PS37 per hour when working alone, which equates to PS296 per eight-hour day. This amount includes prep, painting, finishing touches, and the cleanup – factors that need to be considered but will be overlooked by DIY enthusiasts.

The analysis of protectivity is very similar and places the average of non-limited company owners (who bake in overheads, such as VAT and subcontractor payments) at PS37 and PS48 as a sole trader. Based on real-time quotes, HaMuch will report a larger PS24-hour base, minus materials, that can be added PS10-PS20 per job to paints, rollers and drop cloths. In context, this is an average living room redecoration (two coats, trim included) of PS400-PS600 or 10-16 hours labour.

These rates would reflect a 5-7% rise in 2024, which will be supported by inflation and the increase in green projects – think low-VOC paints and eco-wallpapers commanding premiums. Nevertheless, averages obscure the difference between the bucciarelli and the experienced constructors: an apprentice decorator starting with his or her initial efforts could earn PS15-PS20, and an expert with City and Guilds qualifications could earn PS35-PS45.

The perception of the clients is all over the place, as the Reddit posts on r/AskUK show, as one of the Manchester house owners was shocked by PS250 a day (approximately PS31/hour of eight hours a day), and another one found PS400 per small room a bargain.

Regional Breakdown: Between London Premiums and Northern Bargains

The great equaliser – or divider – of decorator earnings is location. Urban honeypots swell the rates because of the increased cost of living, intense competition and high-end clientele, whereas country or northern gigs provide more predictable volume at thinner margins.

PS35-PS40 per hour, according to the 2025 regional audit of PS35-PS40 in London and the South East, by the UK Startup Mag. The speed at which capital is consumed – imagine the luxurious apartments in Kensington or the office upgrades in Canary Wharf – is more than enough to warrant the increase, and PS325-PS384 a day is becoming the norm. The locales, such as Bristol, located in the South West, show PS28-PS35 that combine both the coastal setting and the commuter need.

Driving northwards, the Midlands and North England sink to PS25-PS32 per hour. Manchester industrial conversions and Leeds student lets have books, but the lower overheads made decorators such as those on Screwfix forums report PS120-PS200 a day (PS15-PS25/hour after deductions). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland come next at PS20-PS28, where expansive scenery can absorb profits – a van can go through PS50 a day in the Highlands.

The point that this patchwork makes is that rates are not arbitrary. Following the advice of Protectivity, research local competition through websites such as MyBuilder; any reduction by 10 per cent can win the work, but charging too much can lead to a dry spell.

It Depends on Factors: Experience, Specialism, and the X-Factor

Not all brushwork is equal. None can beat experience: PS12-PS20 are newcomers, PS25-PS35 are middle-aged (5-10 years), and PS40+ are the experienced. Certifications NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating or CSCS cards – this will add PS5-PS10 premiums, which will indicate signalling reliability to both insurers and clients.

Earnings are maximised through specialisms. Eco-decorators with limewash or recycled paints are also charged a 20 per cent. higher and are riding the green renovation wave. Business jobs – hotels, stores – charge PS35-PS45/hour, fast and large scale, as compared to home PS25-PS35. Unorthodox activities such as door sanding (PS50 flat) or wallpaper hanging (PS30/hour) are different, although including services together (e.g. full-room bundles) increases take-home by 15-20%.

Costs cut the gross: Tools (PS500 startup), insurances (PS300/year public liability), and marketing (PS100/month on Google Ads) minimise 20-30%. The self-employed decorators will also need to set aside 25% on taxes through self-assessment, and the net hourly rate will be left at PS25-PS30. In one Screwfix advert, it said that PS15 gross was like flipping burgers after scrubbing brushes on Saturdays.

Client dynamics play in, too. Repeat buy or referral business cuts acquisition expenses, which gives 10 per cent leeway. The peak seasons (spring/summer) will experience 15 per cent increases, and the winter offloads will require discounts.

Earning Potential: Sole Trader to Six-Figure Sole

At 40-50 weeks per year among full-timers, the PS37/hour, it would earn PS50,000- PS60,000 gross, more than the PS34,000 average at PayScale. Scale up: When an apprentice (paid PS10/hour) is hired, the capacity doubles to push the revenues up to PS80,000+ for small firms.

Yet, sustainability matters. Protectivity is a warning of burnout; PS5,000-PS10,000 steady extras can be made through property maintenance or online tutorials. There are success stories: last year, the Instagram reel segment of transformation turned a guy in Birmingham into the so-called “Brush Boss,” bringing in PS70,000 on PS40/hour sales of branded transformations.

Tips for Tradespeople: Setting and Maximising Your Rate

New to the game? Begin at PS20-PS25, create a portfolio by means of free jobs with mates and ascend the ladder. Quote visibly: Hourly on smalls, fixed on large to prevent scope creep. Invoice using apps such as TradeLog – immediate payments are better than 30 days.

Clients: Vet through Checkatrade (target 4.8 stars and above). Agreement on materials in advance; eco-swaps lead to a 10% saving. In 2025, allocations are budgeted at PS300-PS500 per room, inclusive of 5% inflation.

Ultimately, the self-employed painter and decorator per hour is not a lump of self-employed housepainter and decorating – it is a mosaic of talent, deftness and the art of negotiation. At PS30-PS37 nationally, it is rewarding to strike wisely. These colour guardians are not merely wall-painting, as the UK is heading towards net-zero by 2050, but they are laying down business highways. Ready to quote? And your second masterpiece – and paycheque – lies ahead.