Does your plastering look worn out, or does fresh paint never seem to last long? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, maybe it’s time you re-plastered your room.
Unless you have experience with wet plastering, I recommend hiring a professional. Wet plastering (as opposed to dry-lining) is a real skill, so it often pays to use the pros.
This guide discusses the costs associated with plastering and the advantages of hiring a recommended professional.
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DIY or Pro?
The points below highlight why it makes more sense to hire an experienced professional to plaster your walls:
- Plastering is a difficult skill that can’t be mastered by watching a few YouTube videos. You need to hire a recommended pro with years of experience for a great finish.
- A professional plaster will complete the job much faster than an amateur. Remember to value your time!
- Plastering requires using specialised tools and equipment you wouldn’t want to purchase just for the occasional plastering job.
- A pro plasterer should provide a solid guarantee and have insurance. Make sure they prove this before hiring them.
Considering all the above points, it becomes clear that professional plasterers are well worth the money. However, do plenty of research to find the right one. Rated People is a good place to start your search.
How Much to Plaster a Room in 2023
Plasterers will often provide a quote based on the size of the area in square meters. I prefer this ‘cost per square meter’ method as you can compare quotes accurately.
Room size is another costing method used by plasterers, as they often provide a quote for small, medium or large rooms.
The 3 Typical Types of Plastering Jobs
Typical plastering jobs are listed below, along with a rough time and cost estimate. Please note that these estimates include materials and labour but exclude VAT.
Also, these costs will vary across the country. Unsurprisingly, London is the most expensive.
1. Re-plaster Walls (skimming)
This job involves skimming over the original plaster to improve the finish.
For a small room, you should be looking to pay around £400. A medium room should cost about £500, and a large room will cost you approximately £650.
The average time to complete the job is between one to three days, depending on the room size.
2. Fresh Plaster
This job involves stripping off the original plaster and often includes dry lining. Therefore, this job takes much longer than skimming.
Prices for small, medium and large rooms cost around £650, £850 and £1,200 respectively.
Old plaster will require a skip for disposal, which may increase the overall cost. Ask the plasterer if he’s including skip hire in his quote.
A typical fresh plastering job will last between two and four days.
3. Plaster Ceilings
Plastering a ceiling is hard work, but using the right tools makes the job much easier.
Plastering a small ceiling should cost roughly £275. It should cost around £375 and £525 for medium to large rooms.
The time to complete the whole job can take anything from 6–12 hours for a small ceiling, 8–12 hours for a medium-sized ceiling, and 2–3 days for a large ceiling.
How Much to Plaster a Room — 2023 Comparison Table
As mentioned, the numbers above are just rough estimates. For more details, please use the table below:
| Job | Room Size​ | Average Cost | Cost Range | Time |
| Re-plaster small room | Approx room size 2.13m x 2.16m. Walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5–8mm on top of existing plaster | £440 | £378–£496 | 1–1.5 days |
| Re-plaster medium room | Approx room size 3.3m x 3m. Walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5–8mm on top of existing plaster. | £480 | £430–£550 | 1–2 days |
| Re-plaster large room | Approx room size 6.1m x 5.03m. Walls only. Skimming/cosmetic finish 5–8mm on top of existing plaster. | £650 | £536–£690 | 2–3 days |
| Full new plaster small room | Approx room size 2.13m x 2.16m. Walls only. Remove and dispose of existing plaster. Dry lining and skim, cosmetic finish. | £636 | £595–£674 | 2–3 days |
| Full new plaster medium room | Approx room size 3.3m x 3m. Walls only. Remove and dispose of existing plaster. Dry lining and skim, cosmetic finish. | £755 | £575–£920 | 2–3 days |
| Full new plaster large room | Approx room size 6.1m x 5.03m. Walls only. Remove and dispose of existing plaster. Dry lining and skim, cosmetic finish. | £1,300 | £995–£1,375 | 3–4 days |
| Plaster small ceiling | Approx room size 2.13m x 2.16m. Overboarding and plaster. | £275 | £210–£352 | 6–10 hours |
| Plaster medium ceiling | Approx room size 3.3m x 3m. Overboarding and plaster. | £342 | £270–£435 | 8–12 hours |
| Plaster large ceiling | Approx room size 6.1m x 5.03m. Overboarding and plaster. | £540 | £410–£736 | 2–3 days |
How To Use This Table
Targeting recommended plasterers, Which Magazine surveyed the average cost for standard plastering jobs and how long each should take. All their prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.
Armed with the information above, you should know what questions to ask, the rough price you can expect to pay, and approximately how long each job will take.
Also, here’s a good calculator for calculating the rough costs for your specific situation.
Where Your Money Goes — Labour vs Materials Cost
- Labour = 40%
- Materials =13%
- Running Costs and Pre-Tax profit = 47%
General Advice and Tips
In addition to the information provided above, here are some important tips & tricks to remember:
Plasterer Hiring Tips
- Get a fixed job quote, not a per-hour rate. A fixed cost will help you budget better and incentivise the plasterer to do the job ASAP.
- Ask the plasterer for references and photos of his previous work. The great thing about sites like Rated People is that you can browse through many plasterers and see all this info in one place.
- Get three separate quotes, but don’t just pick the cheapest. Pick the plasterer you feel is the best value for money when considering all factors (i.e. experience, recommendations, timekeeping, tidiness, general attitude and appearance)
- Plastering is very messy. A good plasterer should cover your room with sheets and tape. Make sure they do this before hiring them.
Preparing the Room for the Plasterer
- Clear rooms of furniture where possible
- If you need to move or add plug sockets, do this before plastering
- For deposing old plaster, either provide a skip or ask how much they charge. If you do let your plasterer take care of it, make sure they do it properly and don’t fly-tip
Other Important Tips
- Wait for the plaster to dry completely before painting. Please check out our guide on How To Paint New Plaster for more information
- If you’re only looking to repair a small spot, you may be able to patch-fix it yourself. Patch repairs are OK if you intend to paper over them. However, if you’re looking for a smooth finish to paint on, it’s probably best to skim the whole wall/ceiling
Don’t fancy doing this job yourself? Find top-rated plasterers in your area by clicking the button below:
FAQ — UK Plastering Costs
Below are the answers to frequently asked questions about plastering costs in the UK:
How much do plasterers charge per hour?
Roughly £35 to £50 per hour, including materials. This, of course, depends on where you are in the UK, with London being the most expensive area.
How much does it cost to plaster per square foot?
Roughly £5 per square foot, including materials and labour.
How much does it cost to skim-coat walls?
Small room = £440, Medium room = £480, Large room = £650.
How do I calculate plastering costs?
For a rough estimate, multiply the square feet by $5. The total estimate will include materials and labour.