Paint Cost Estimator Guide

Emulsion Paint Prices (Walls & Ceilings)

Budget Range (£3-5 per litre)

Good for: Rentals, spare rooms, garages. Often needs 3 coats for solid coverage.

Mid-Range (£7-12 per litre)

Best value: Good coverage, durable finish, wide colour range. 2 coats usually sufficient.

Premium (£20-35 per litre)

Worth it for: Feature walls, period properties, high-end finishes. Rich pigments, unique colours, often excellent one-coat coverage.

Gloss & Wood Paint Prices

Oil-Based Gloss

• Budget: £12 per litre (B&Q, Wickes)
• Mid-range: £18-22 per litre (Dulux, Crown)
• Premium: £35+ per litre (specialist brands)

Water-Based Satinwood

• Budget: £10-14 per litre
• Mid-range: £16-24 per litre (Dulux Quick Dry, Crown Solo)
• Premium: £30-45 per litre

Water-based is more expensive per litre but dries faster and has less smell.

Exterior Masonry Paint Prices

Masonry paint is expensive per litre but you need less volume than interior work (typical house front = 50 m² = 10L paint for 2 coats).

Total Project Cost Examples

Small Bedroom (30 m² walls)

For 2 coats, you need ~6 litres (30 m² × 2 ÷ 11 m²/L + 10% wastage).

• Budget: 1 × 10L tin = £30
• Mid-range: 1 × 10L Dulux = £75
• Premium: 2 × 2.5L Farrow & Ball = £136

Large Living Room (60 m² walls)

For 2 coats, you need ~12 litres.

• Budget: 2 × 10L tins = £60
• Mid-range: 2 × 10L Dulux = £150
• Premium: 3 × 5L Farrow & Ball = £375

Whole House (4 bed, ~300 m² total walls)

For 2 coats, you need ~60 litres.

• Budget: 6 × 10L tins = £180
• Mid-range: 6 × 10L Dulux = £450
• Premium: 12 × 5L Farrow & Ball = £1,500

Where to Buy Paint Cheapest

Trade Paint Suppliers

Brewers, Decorating Centre, Dulux Decorator Centre sell trade versions of major brands at 20-30% less than retail. You don't need a trade account.

• Johnstone's Trade emulsion: £62 per 10L vs £85 retail equivalent
• Leyland Trade: £45-55 per 10L, excellent value

DIY Sheds

B&Q, Wickes, Homebase run frequent 3-for-2 or 25%-off sales. Stock up during promotions.

Online

Amazon and eBay sometimes undercut retail by 10-15%, but check manufacture dates (old stock can go off).

Is Premium Paint Worth It?

For a feature wall or main living space, yes. Farrow & Ball and Little Greene have deeper, richer colours that budget paints can't match. They also cover better, so you may only need 1-2 coats instead of 3.

For ceilings, hallways, or rooms you'll repaint in 5 years, mid-range Dulux or Crown is the best value.

Hidden Costs

Don't forget:

• Primer/undercoat: £15-25 per 2.5L if needed
• Rollers and brushes: £15-30 for decent quality
• Masking tape, dust sheets: £10-20
• Paint tray and liners: £8

Total kit for a room: add £40-60 to paint cost if starting from scratch.