Painting and Decorating Service Pricing Guide

To find your daily rate, add your personal annual salary goal to your business overheads like insurance, van upkeep, and tools, then divide that total by the number of days you actually plan to work per year. Most trade professionals aim for 200 working days a year to account for holidays, weekends, and administrative days. This calculation ensures all business expenses are fully covered before you even factor in materials.

You should use a combination of these methods depending on the job. Day rates work best for unpredictable prep work or small, detailed jobs, while square-meter pricing is ideal for large, open interior spaces where speed yields high profit. Charging a flat project rate based on unit measurements is generally the most professional approach and gives clients clear expectations up front.

Painters typically add a 15% to 20% markup on the trade prices they pay for paint and materials. This markup covers your time spent selecting, purchasing, and transporting the supplies to the job site. It also protects your business if you end up needing more paint than initially estimated.

You must apply an access surcharge, typically adding 15% to 30% to the base rate of the affected walls or ceilings. This surcharge accounts for the extra time spent moving ladders, setting up towers, and working at height safely. You must also pass the direct hire costs of scaffolding or specialized lifts directly to the client as a separate line item.