Wallpapering Prices [Updated 2021]
Prices For 2021
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Part of Our Walls and Windows Price Guide
Wallpaper was very popular until the mid-1990s, when it then fell out of fashion and paint became more popular.
In recent years, wallpaper has seen something of a renaissance and is often used as a feature on specific walls in living rooms and bedrooms.
More and more people are now wallpapering entire rooms, and with so many good quality wallpapers on the market now, it’s easy to see why.
But, how much does it cost to wallpaper a room and how long does the work take?
We asked 32 decorators from around the UK how much they charge to wallpaper a front room measuring 5m x 4m – a typical living room in the UK.
The decorators provided us with written quotes for the work, which excluded the cost of the paper as we had already chosen it.
While each tradesperson recommended a slightly different process, here’s a works schedule we’ve created for the project:
- Tape up sensitive areas for protection.
- Scrape off any loose paint, bumps etc., on the walls.
- Fill in any cracks and smooth over dents with filler.
- Sand the wall to remove smooth the surface.
- Dust off the wall.
- Size the wall with watered-down paste to seal any porous areas.
- Hang lining paper.
- Hang finishing wallpaper.
Obviously, every project is different, and some jobs might not require all of these steps. For example, some walls may not require much filling, and some wallpaper is so thick that it doesn’t need lining paper.
There are also some situations when extra work might need to be costed, depending on the wall’s age and condition.
The schedule above is meant as a guide only.
Project 1 – Cost to Wallpaper a Living Room
This is how much we were told it would cost to wallpaper our living room to the specifications stated above in the works schedule.
The cost excludes the finishing paper but includes everything else.
We’ve averaged the prices and displayed them by region.
| Location: | From: | To: |
|---|---|---|
| London Area | £350 | £450 |
| South, SW and Midlands | £325 | £425 |
| Outer Region and North | £280 | £340 |
Project 2 – Cost to Wallpaper a Living Room and Redecorate
When considering new wallpaper, you might also want to think about any additional decorating work that could be completed at the same time.
For example, painting the ceiling, skirting boards, window sills and internal doors and frames etc.
Some people chose to do this themselves and then get a decorator to do the tricky part, like hanging wallpaper, while others prefer to get a pro to do the whole lot.
We also asked our chosen decorators to provide us with prices for the following:
- Wallpaper our 5m x 4m living room.
- Paint the ceiling.
- Gloss one window sill.
- Gloss skirting boards.
- Paint the ceiling architrave.
- Gloss the internal door and frame.
- Gloss radiator.
The price below includes the labour and materials, except the wallpaper, which we will provide ourselves.
| Location: | From: | To: |
|---|---|---|
| London Area | £800 | £900 |
| South, SW and Midlands | £750 | £850 |
| Outer Region and North | £700 | £800 |
Extra Costs to Consider
No two projects are ever the same, and here are a few things you may need to pay extra for:
Tobacco stains – The grease from tobacco stains can prevent the wallpaper from adhering properly to the wall’s surface. Removing the tobacco usually requires a thorough wash down and scrub with sugar soap.
Cooking grease – As with tobacco stains, this type of grease is a problem and also needs to be removed. Grease isn’t just confined to the kitchen and could be present on the walls and ceiling if you have an open plan or combined kitchen/diner.
The condition of the walls – Our property was constructed in the early 1990s, and the walls are in fairly good condition. An older property could have walls with lots of imperfections that need to be addressed or layers of older wallpaper that needs to be removed.
How Long Does it Take to Wallpaper a Room?
A skilled decorator can hang around 6-10 rolls of wallpaper a day. Each roll covers approximately 2 metres of linear wall, so we think our living room should be completed in around 2 days.
However, as any decorator will tell you, the preparation work is the key. How long it takes will depend on the wall’s condition, any existing wallpaper that needs to be removed and any “making good” of the walls.
As for how long it takes to wallpaper a room and paint the ceiling, sills, doors, trims and radiators etc., we think it will take around 4 days, but it all depends on how much prep work is required. Some projects could take less time, while others may take longer.
Get a Price For Wallpapering Today
We hope you found our guide to the cost of wallpapering and redecorating insightful.
As every project is different, the best way to get an accurate price is to compare quotes from local firms and tradespeople.
Tap the button below to see how we can help you get a great price for your wallpapering project:
Best Place to Find Quality Wallpaper
More and more retailers are now selling their wallpaper on Amazon, and it’s become a popular place to search for quality papers and get fresh ideas.
Here are three of our favourites which we feel would look great on a feature wall, but there are plenty more on Amazon.
Wallpapering
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Wallpapering FAQs
When Were These Wallpapering Prices Published?
We sourced prices for wallpapering in early 2021 and published this guide in early March 2021.
Do The Prices on This Page Include VAT?
Most of the decorators we contacted were trading below the VAT threshold, so we didn’t need to charge VAT.
Where VAT was charged, we have included this in our prices which are averaged.
My Walls are in a Very Bad Condition, Can They Be Wallpapered?
Decorators can repair most walls; for example, cracks can be filled, dents smoothed over, and thick lining paper hung to mask imperfections.
If the walls are so bad that they need to be replastered before wallpaper can be applied, check out our guide to wall plastering prices.
I've Been Given a Price For Wallpapering That is Much Higher than Your Figures, What Gives?
Our prices are an average of the figures given to us by decorators for a specific wallpapering project.
You may be given different prices because:
- Your project is different from ours.
- You choose firms that price their jobs at the upper end of the price range (our displayed prices are averages).
- Your walls could be different from ours and need more/less preparation work.
- You may live in an area where we didn’t source prices from.
Remember that our prices for wallpapering are meant as a guide only.
To get a custom price, try Rated People.
Does Existing Wallpaper Need to be Removed First?
Yes, existing wallpaper should be removed first before the new paper is hung to the wall.
Where Can I Get a Price Online For Wallpapering?
We’ve partnered with the UK’s leading online tradesperson vetting services, where you can find approved, rated and reviewed painters and decorators.
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