The short answer
Skimming a room over sound walls typically costs around £450–£850 depending on size — roughly £450–£600 for a small room, £600–£850 for a medium room, and more for a large room. A full re-plaster back to brick is dearer because the old plaster is stripped first, often landing around £750–£1,300 for a medium room. Per square metre that works out at roughly £15–£25/m² for a skim and £25–£40/m² for backing coat and skim, with ceilings costing around 20–30% more than walls because the work is overhead. London and the South East often sit 15–25% higher. The main drivers are room size, the condition of the existing surface and how much prep is needed.
Price depends mainly on the area to be covered, the condition of what's there now, and whether it's a skim or a strip-back re-plaster. The figures below are typical for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK costs
- Skim~£15–£25 / m²
- Backing coat + skim~£25–£40 / m²
- Small room skim~£450–£600
- Medium room skim~£600–£850
- Medium room re-plaster~£750–£1,300
What drives the price
- Area covered: you pay largely per square metre, so a larger room or higher ceiling costs more.
- Skim or re-plaster: a skim over sound walls is cheaper than stripping back to brick and building up backing coats.
- Condition & prep: patching, removing wallpaper, making good around sockets and damp issues all add labour.
- Ceilings & access: overhead work and awkward access take longer, which is why ceilings cost more than walls.
- Region: London and the South East typically run 15–25% above national figures.
| Job | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skim | £15–£25 / m² | over sound walls |
| Backing coat + skim | £25–£40 / m² | build-up on bare brick |
| Small room skim | ~£450–£600 | single coat finish |
| Medium room re-plaster | ~£750–£1,300 | stripped back to brick |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote cost guides.
Why a skim costs less than a re-plaster
A skim is a thin 2–3mm finish coat applied over walls that are already sound and flat enough — it's mostly labour and a bag or two of finish plaster. A full re-plaster means hacking off failed plaster back to the brick, then building up a backing coat before skimming, which is more material, more labour and more waste to remove. That's why the same room can cost £450–£850 to skim but £750–£1,300 to re-plaster. Where the existing surface is largely sound, a skim is usually the lower-priced and quicker route.
Want a clear plastering quote?
We'll match you with a vetted plasterer who looks at your walls, advises whether a skim or re-plaster is right, and quotes on a clear specification — area, method and prep all set out.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to skim a room?
Typically around £450–£850 depending on size — roughly £450–£600 for a small room and £600–£850 for a medium one. Per square metre a skim runs about £15–£25/m² over walls that are already sound.
How much more does a full re-plaster cost?
More, because the old plaster is stripped back to brick and built up again. A medium room re-plaster often falls around £750–£1,300, or roughly £25–£40/m² for backing coat and skim, against £15–£25/m² for a skim alone.
Why is the price range so wide?
Because rooms differ. The area covered, the condition of the existing surface, whether it's a skim or re-plaster, and your region all move the figure. A measured quote gives the accurate number for your room.
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.