The short answer
A plasterer's day rate in the UK is typically £150 to £250 per day for one plasterer, though in London and the South East it commonly runs higher, sometimes £250 to £350 or more. The rate reflects skilled, physical work and usually covers the plasterer's labour for the day plus their tools, but not materials (plaster, PVA, beads, scrim) which are charged on top or supplied by you. Experienced, established plasterers charge more than newly qualified ones, and rates are higher where the cost of living and demand are higher. For small or uncertain jobs a day rate is often used; for clearly defined work such as a whole room, most plasterers prefer to give a fixed price instead, which protects you from a job over-running.
Knowing the going day rate helps you sense-check a quote, but a day rate and a fixed price answer different questions. The right one depends on how clearly the job can be defined up front.
Plasterer day rate (UK)
- Typical day rate (one plasterer)£150–£250
- London / South East£250–£350+
- What it includesLabour and tools
- What it excludesMaterials (usually)
- Better for fixed jobsA quoted fixed price
What a day rate is and what it covers
A day rate is simply the price a plasterer charges for a day of their labour. It is most useful where the exact extent of the work is hard to pin down in advance — a series of repairs, patching, or a job where the condition of the walls is uncertain until work starts.
A typical day rate covers:
- The plasterer's labour for the working day (commonly around 8 hours, but agree the hours up front).
- Their own tools and equipment — trowels, hawks, mixing gear, hop-ups.
It usually does not cover:
- Materials: bags of multi-finish, hardwall or bonding plaster, PVA, scrim tape, corner beads and the like are normally charged separately or supplied by you.
- Waste disposal: removing old plaster or rubble may be extra.
- Access equipment beyond standard hop-ups, such as a tower or scaffold for a high ceiling.
Always confirm what is and is not included, and whether 'per day' means per plasterer — a two-person team is two day rates.
Why rates vary
There is no single national figure, because several things move the rate:
- Region: the biggest factor. London and the South East carry the highest rates; much of the North, Wales and parts of the Midlands are lower.
- Experience and reputation: a well-established plasterer with a strong reputation and a full diary charges more than someone newly qualified building up work.
- Type of work: specialist work — heritage lime plastering, ornate cornice repair, Venetian polished plaster — commands higher rates than standard skimming.
- Demand and season: good plasterers are often booked weeks ahead, and busier periods can firm up rates.
- Team vs sole trader: larger jobs may use a team, with the day cost being the sum of each person's rate.
| Scenario | Typical day rate (per plasterer) |
|---|---|
| Standard skimming, much of the UK | £150–£250 |
| London and the South East | £250–£350+ |
| Specialist (lime, polished, cornice) | £250–£400+ |
| Two-person team (per day) | Two rates combined |
Indicative UK figures for guidance only. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote cost guides. Region, experience and work type change the rate.
Day rate or fixed price?
The two pricing methods suit different jobs, and choosing the right one protects both sides:
- Fixed price (per job): best where the work is clearly defined — skim this room, re-plaster that wall. You know the total up front, and the risk of the job over-running sits with the plasterer, who has priced it on their own speed. This is the more common and usually the more comfortable basis for whole rooms.
- Day rate: best where the scope is genuinely uncertain — patch repairs, making good after other trades, or a property where the wall condition is unknown until work starts. You pay for the time taken, so a fast worker costs less and a slow or careful one costs more.
A practical risk with a pure day rate is that a slower pace costs you more, with no fixed ceiling. For that reason, many homeowners prefer a fixed price for defined work and reserve day rates for repairs and unknowns. If you do agree a day rate, agree the hours, who supplies materials, and a rough estimate of how many days the job should take, so there are no surprises.
It also helps to know what a plasterer can realistically achieve in a day, so the rate has context. On good, sound surfaces a skilled plasterer can skim a fair amount of wall in a working day, but the figure drops sharply once preparation, awkward access, ceilings or a full backing-coat build are involved. Overhead ceiling work is slower than walls, stripping stubborn wallpaper eats into the day, and a float-and-set needs the backing coat to firm up before the finish goes on, which paces the work. A day rate that looks high makes more sense once you account for the skill, the physical effort and the fact that the material itself dictates the pace.
For larger projects, some plasterers will move from a day rate to a fixed price once they have seen the job and can judge the scope confidently. This is often the best of both worlds: the plasterer uses their day-rate experience to price the work, and you get a capped figure. If you are getting several quotes, it is reasonable to ask each plasterer how they have arrived at their number — whether it is a fixed price for defined work or an estimate of days at their rate — so you can compare like with like rather than comparing a fixed price against an open-ended daily charge.
Frequently asked questions
Do plasterers charge per day or per square metre?
Both are used. For clearly defined jobs such as a whole room, most plasterers give a fixed price, which may be worked out internally from a square-metre rate plus prep. Day rates are common for repairs, patching and jobs where the scope is uncertain. A square-metre figure is more often a rough guide for large areas than the basis of a domestic quote.
Does a day rate include materials?
Usually not. A day rate normally covers the plasterer's labour and their own tools, while materials — plaster, PVA, beads, scrim — are charged on top or supplied by you. Waste removal and any special access equipment such as a scaffold may also be extra. Always confirm what is included before agreeing the rate.
How many days does plastering a room take?
A skim of a single room is often one day, while a full re-plaster of a larger room with a backing coat and finish can take two to four days. If you are paying a day rate, ask for an estimate of the number of days so you can budget, and remember the plaster then needs drying time before decorating, which is separate from the plastering days.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific room. They are guidance, not a quotation.