Plastering price guide: how much does plastering cost in 2023?

What affects the cost of plastering?

A range of things can impact on the final cost of the whole plastering job: 

1. What plaster you choose to use 

2. The condition of your walls, and whether they need repairing first (and the condition of your existing plastering) 

3. Where you live in the UK 

4. How easy the wall or ceiling is to access (high ceilings could require scaffolding, and could lead to further costs)

5. 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: 

1. Lime plaster, made from lime and water 

2. Gypsum plaster, made with water and calcium sulphate 

3. Cement plaster, made using cement, sand, and water 

4. 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. 

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. 

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How much does it cost to plaster a ceiling?

It will take around 1 to 3 days to plaster your ceiling, depending on its size. 

If you have an artex ceiling, you can opt to remove the artex before plastering, scrape the artex and then skim over it, or even create a false ceiling using dry lining plasterboard. A skilled tradesperson can help you identify the best method to get rid of your artex ceiling. 

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How much does it cost to skim coat plaster?

Skimming, on the other hand, is a plastering technique where a single thin coat of plaster is added to smoothen the surface of your wall and prepare it for painting. You can add this to an existing plastered wall or use it to cover plasterboard. 

These prices include cost of labour and materials. 

The average cost of a new skim coat plaster for a room ranges from £475 to £625, depending on the size of your room. On average, a single wall will cost you £150 to skim. How easy your walls are to access, and their condition of wear, will affect costs. 

It will take between 1 and 3 days to skim your walls, depending on the size of the project. 

The condition of your walls can also impact on price, as significant damage might need repairing before the plastering is applied. 

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. 

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. 

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Plastering material costs

Plaster ranges in price, from £6 to around £20 per m^2. 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  

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What is the labour cost for plastering?

Your plasterer will either charge a daily rate, or an hourly rate, to plaster your home. 

The average plasterer will charge around £250 a day to plaster your home. Hourly rates range from £15 to £50, with an average of £25 an hour. Where you live in the UK, and whether you want plastering, skimming, or rendering, will impact on costs. 

You can hire a skilled tradesperson to come and plaster the walls of your home below. We recommend you ask for multiple quotes before you settle on a plasterer. 

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: 

1. 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.  

2. 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. 

3. In general, skimming costs less than plastering. Skimming is a good option if your walls are still in good condition.

4. 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.

5. 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. 

6. 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.