The prices in this guide are accurate, as of 2024*
Plastering your walls is a great way to look after them. It protects them from damp and water damage. It also evens out bumps on your walls and prepares them for a fresh layer of paint. On old plastering, paint peels faster and doesn’t last as long.
There are several reasons why you might be looking to get some plastering done. Older properties with damaged walls could need plastering. Plastering is also done after building works and renovations, such as after converting a space or adding an extension.
Plastering can even add a layer of insulation to your walls. Not to mention that it will improve the appearance of your home too.
This plastering price guide covers everything you need to know about how much plastering could cost you, and the other considerations you’ll need to make before you hire your tradespeople. The prices in this guide will always clarify where costs include labour and materials, and where they refer to them separately.
You could spend anywhere between £500 and £1,500, or more, depending on the size of the room you want plastered. If you want the outside of your property rendered, this could cost you anywhere from £1,900 to upwards of £6,000, again depending on the size of your home.
Where you live in the UK will also have an impact, as cost of labour rises in London and the South East, sometimes by as much as 20% more on average. For a more accurate total, let us know what you have in mind, and get some free quotes today.
What affects the cost of plastering?
A range of things can impact on the final cost of the whole plastering job:
- What plaster you choose to use
- The condition of your walls, and whether they need repairing first (and the condition of your existing plastering)
- Where you live in the UK
- How easy the wall or ceiling is to access (high ceilings could require scaffolding, and could lead to further costs)
- The size of the area
As a result, the below prices are an average range, and don’t necessarily represent what your specific project will cost you. You can get a more accurate quote here.
You might also want to hire a painter and decorator to improve the appearance of your walls after they’ve been plastered.
How much does plastering cost?
Plastering is a process whereby three different layers of plaster are applied to your walls, all of which need to individually dry before the next layer can be added on top. This type of plastering is called wet plastering.
The alternative is dry plastering, which is faster and uses plasterboards which are nailed to your wall and then covered with a layer of wet plaster. This type of plastering enables you to add insulation to your walls.
The main types of plaster are:
- Lime plaster, made from lime and water
- Gypsum plaster, made with water and calcium sulphate
- Cement plaster, made using cement, sand, and water
- Venetian plaster, made from marble dust and lime putty
There are lots of different types of plastering, and some materials need more layers of plaster than others or use different methods. This is why it’s best to hire a skilled professional, unless you’re a confident DIYer. You can hire one here.
These prices include cost of labour and materials.
| Patch repair | Plastering small room | Plastering medium-sized room | Plastering large room | |
| Lower range | £70 | £500 | £800 | £1,200 |
| Average | £100 | £550 | £950 | £1,350 |
| Upper range | £130+ | £700+ | £1,100+ | £1,500+ |
The average cost of plastering a room is between £550 and £1,350, depending on the size of your room.
How much you end up spending depends a lot on where you live in the UK, as labour prices rise for plasterers in London and the South East.
It will take between 2 and 4 days to plaster a room, depending on its size.
Close section ↑How much does rendering cost?
Plastering is a technique used on internal walls. If you are looking to get work done on your external walls, this method is called rendering.
Rendering is generally more expensive because it’s a longer process and often requires other equipment, such as scaffolding. We recommend you don’t attempt to render your exterior walls yourself. You can hire a professional here.
The below prices look at how much rendering could cost you and include cost of labour and materials.
| External rendering (small) | External rendering (medium) | External rendering (large) | |
| Lower range | £1,900 | £3,800 | £4,500 |
| Average | £2,200 | £4,150 | £5,000 |
| Upper range | £2,500+ | £4,500+ | £6,000+ |
Rendering is a popular exterior finish that can help increase the kerb appeal of your home, adding value to your property.
There are tons of rendering techniques, from smart stucco to monocouche. The type you get should match your property, both visually and practically. If you live in the west side of Britain, for example, you will want a rendering type that is highly resistant to harsh weather.
Close section ↑Plastering material costs
Plaster ranges in price, from £6 to around £20 per m2. This is what plastering materials (supply cost only) look like:
- Gypsum plaster costs around £8 per 25kg bag
- Clay plasters cost around £15 per 25kg bag
- Insulated plasterboards cost between £5 – £15 per m2
- Acoustic plasterboards cost between £5 – £15 per m2
- Venetian plaster costs between £4.50 and £20 per m2
- Moisture resistant plasterboards cost between £5 – £10 per m2
- Fire resistant plasterboards cost between £5 – £20 per m2
- Plastering undercoat costs between £0.70 and £1.20 per kg
- Bonding agents cost around £15 – £25
- Finishing plaster costs around £0.20 and £0.90 per kg
How to save money on your plastering
Following the below tips can help you make the most of your money and save on the cost of plastering or rendering your home:
- If you’re renovating your home, and are looking for the cheapest option, then plastering over plasterboard, rather than over brickwork, is cheaper. This is because it will only need a skim coat.
- Plasterboards can also enable you to add a layer of insulation, which reduces your heating bills and your home’s carbon footprint, saving you money in the long run.
- In general, skimming costs less than plastering. Skimming is a good option if your walls are still in good condition.
- Though you can opt to do your own plastering (especially skimming), to save money, we don’t recommend you do this unless you’re a confident DIYer. Plastering is messy and requires skill in order to avoid damp from developing. Bad plastering can also result in poor insulation, and even damage to your home. A poor plastering job will only lead to further costs down the line. Paying a little more up front will save you from spending money in the future.
- You can still save on easier jobs. After your plasterer has finished renovating your walls, you could paint over them yourself, rather than spend money on a painter, since this is an easier DIY job.
- Getting a package quote for multiple jobs, such as both plastering and rendering, in one go, is usually cheaper.
To make sure you have a good sense of how much plastering could cost you (upper and lower ranges), we recommend you ask for multiple quotes. And always hire skilled tradespeople.
Conclusions
There are many benefits to plastering. By plastering your walls, you:
- Increase the visual appeal of your home and look after your property
- Further insulate your home, thereby saving on energy bills
- Make it easier to paint your walls, and ensure that paint lasts longer
- Improve the structural integrity of your walls, prolonging their lifespan
Plastering is an important part of home maintenance. If you’ve moved into an old home with damaged or outdated walls, it might be time to hire a tradesperson to give your walls a fresh look.
How much you’ll spend on plastering will depend on where you live in the UK, as labour is more expensive in London and the South East.
To get a more accurate idea of how much it will cost you to plaster your home, let us know the dimensions of your project, and get some free quotes today.
*The Rated People cost guides are produced in collaboration with the quote-building platform PriceBuilder, and a range of tradespeople across the 30+ trades on our platform were consulted. Please note that the prices included are for guidance only – how much you end up spending will depend on the specific requirements of your project.
