Painter pricing in Dublin
What painters charge in Dublin (typically €25-€70/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
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Dublin painter pricing
What painters should charge in Dublin
Dublin painters and decorators work in a market dominated by D04/A94/A96 high-end residential, Georgian heritage lime-wash and stucco work, rental-turnover volume, and Silicon Docks commercial fit-out. Original lath-and-plaster walls in Georgian (1700s-1820s) and Victorian (1860s-1910) terraces need specialist skim-coat or re-plastering before any decoration. Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) controls restrict exterior colours in central Dublin. Protected Structure consent under Section 57 required for external repaint on Listed properties (sash window colour, door colour, stucco). Heritage paint specialists (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Edward Bulmer, Colourtrend) drive premium specification.
Hourly rate
€25-€70
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
€18-€38
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common painter jobs in Dublin
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in EUR.
Single room interior repaint (3x4m)
What's included
Includes 2 coats, walls + ceiling, prep, masking. Excludes major plaster repair.
Interior repaint per square metre
What's included
Wall area only, 2 coats, standard quality paint. Doors and trim usually quoted separately.
Exterior repaint per square metre
What's included
Includes prep, undercoat, 2 coats. Scaffold or cherry-picker hire extra for double-storey.
Ceiling paint per square metre
What's included
Includes 2 coats, cutting in. Stipple or coffered ceilings cost more.
Door (full prep and paint, both sides)
What's included
Includes sanding, priming, 2 finish coats. Premium enamel adds cost.
Skirting and architrave (per linear m)
What's included
Includes prep, fill, 2 coats. Tight angles and detailed mouldings cost more.
Full 3-bed house interior
What's included
All walls, ceilings, trim. 5-7 day job for a 2-painter team. Premium finishes add 30-50%.
Full single-storey house exterior
What's included
Includes prep, primer, 2 top coats. Render repairs and wood replacement priced separately.
Roof paint (sheet metal, per sqm)
What's included
Includes prep, primer, top coat. Tile roofs need specialist coating systems.
Dublin quote factors
What to factor into your Dublin painter quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a painter in Dublin. Mild oceanic Atlantic. Mild winters (Dec-Feb, 3-8°C, occasional frost, rare snow), cool summers (June-Aug, 15-20°C, occasional 25°C+ heatwaves), high rainfall (~750mm/year, frequent rain), persistent strong wind (Atlantic gales). No significant earthquake risk. Atlantic Storm Surge coastal flooding risk.
Premium D04 / A94 / A96 vs outer-Dublin day rate
Premium (D04 Ballsbridge/Donnybrook/Sandymount, A94 Foxrock/Blackrock, A96 Dalkey/Killiney, D06 Ranelagh/Rathmines, D13 Howth) commands €280-€470/day for skilled decorator and €350-€600/day for senior heritage specialist. Mid-tier (D07, D08, D09, D14) €240-€380/day. Working postcodes (D11, D17, D22, D24) €220-€320/day. Georgian heritage lime-wash specialist €450-€900/day in D02 core. State day rate, scope, and number of decorators on every quote. VAT 13.5% on residential work.
Lath-and-plaster prep on Georgian and Victorian stock
Georgian (1700s-1820s) and Victorian (1860s-1910) terraces have original lath-and-plaster walls with cracks, paint buildup, and settlement movement. Quote skim-coat or partial re-plastering (€30-€70/sqm) as a separate line on every pre-war job. On Protected Structures, lime-plaster repair (not gypsum skim) is required by Section 57 conservation guidance; quote specialist lime-plaster at €60-€140/sqm. Skipping plaster prep is the #1 callback driver.
Heritage paint specification
Premium central clients specify Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Edward Bulmer, Colourtrend (Irish heritage brand), Paint and Paper Library. These paints cost 2-4x standard trade paint and need specialist application (more coats, specific primers). For Protected Structures, lime-wash and breathable mineral paint (Keim) are required by Dublin City Council conservation guidance. Quote heritage paint at material cost plus 15-25% margin; state brand, finish, and coat count on every quote.
Architectural Conservation Area exterior colour control
Most central Dublin (D01, D02 Georgian core, D04 Ballsbridge core, D06 Ranelagh/Rathmines core) sits in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA) with restricted exterior paint colours, especially door colours, window-frame colours, and stucco fronts. Quote ACA pre-application advice (€250-€800), heritage colour-match consultation (€350-€900), and Section 57 declaration on Protected Structures as separate lines. The famous coloured Georgian doors of Merrion Square / Fitzwilliam Square have specific approved palettes.
Rental-turnover volume tier
Dublin's housing crisis drives massive rental turnover. Dublin has ~200k private rented sector tenancies registered with RTB (Residential Tenancies Board). Letting agents and landlords need 2-5 day turnover decorating between tenancies. Quote per-flat (€1,200-€2,800 for 1-bed turnover, €1,800-€4,500 for 2-bed) at portfolio rates. Volume work; build relationships with 5-10 letting agents and managing agents for recurring revenue. VAT 13.5% on most.
Scaffold and access for exterior work
Most Dublin exterior decoration on Georgian and Victorian terraces needs scaffold or tower access. Quote scaffold (€1,200-€4,500 for a typical 3-storey Georgian terrace, longer durations €3,500-€15,000+) and HSA-compliant site safety (Safe Pass on all operatives). Heritage stucco repair and lime-render consolidation often add €25-€80/sqm before paint. Public footpath licence from Dublin City Council (€60-€200/week) for scaffold encroaching on footpath.
Sample quote
A real Dublin painter quote you can copy
3-bedroom interior repaint, walls + ceilings + trim, premium finish. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Prep (sand, fill, prime patches) across 180sqm wall area
Wall paint (2 coats, Dulux Wash & Wear Low Sheen, customer choice colours x3)
Ceiling paint (2 coats, white flat, 95sqm)
Skirting and architrave (240 linear m, 2 coats enamel)
Doors (8 doors, both sides, prep + 2 coats enamel)
Masking, drop sheets, daily site clean
FAQ
Dublin painter pricing questions, answered
Common questions about painter pricing in Dublin, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
Day rate: €220-€320 for working postcodes (D11, D17, D22, D24). €240-€380 for mid-tier (D07, D08, D09, D14). €280-€470 for premium (D04 Ballsbridge, A94 Foxrock, A96 Dalkey, D06 Ranelagh/Rathmines, D13 Howth). Georgian heritage lime-wash specialist €450-€900/day in D02 core (Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square). Two-person teams and longer continuous bookings drive better day rates. VAT 13.5% on residential work.
Yes, on every Georgian (1700s-1820s) and Victorian (1860s-1910) job. Original lath-and-plaster walls have cracks, paint buildup, and settlement. Quote skim-coat or partial re-plastering (€30-€70/sqm) as a separate line. On Protected Structures, lime-plaster repair (not gypsum skim) is required by Section 57 conservation guidance; quote specialist lime-plaster at €60-€140/sqm. Skipping prep is the #1 callback driver.
Premium central clients specify Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Edward Bulmer, Colourtrend (Irish heritage), Paint and Paper Library. These cost 2-4x standard trade paint and need specialist application. For Protected Structures, lime-wash and Keim breathable mineral paint are required by Dublin City Council conservation guidance. Quote at material cost plus 15-25% margin; state brand, finish, and coat count on every quote.
Most central Dublin (D01, D02 Georgian core, D04 Ballsbridge core, D06 Ranelagh core) sits in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA) with restricted exterior paint colours, especially door, window-frame, and stucco. Quote ACA pre-application advice (€250-€800), heritage colour-match consultation (€350-€900), and Section 57 declaration on Protected Structures. The famous Georgian coloured doors of Merrion Square / Fitzwilliam Square have specific approved palettes.
Yes, Dublin's housing crisis drives massive rental turnover. ~200k private rented sector tenancies registered with RTB (Residential Tenancies Board). Letting agents and landlords need 2-5 day turnover decorating between tenancies. Quote per-flat (€1,200-€2,800 for 1-bed, €1,800-€4,500 for 2-bed) at portfolio rates. Volume work; build relationships with 5-10 letting agents and managing agents.
Hourly rates are €25 to €57 in the US, £22-55 in the UK, A€36-100 in Australia, R150-450 in South Africa, and C€25-85 in Canada. Most painters prefer to quote per square metre or per room because it is more transparent and avoids scope-creep disputes.
The big variables are coat count, paint grade, and how much prep is included. A 'cheap' quote is usually one coat of builder's-grade paint over no prep. A premium quote is two coats of washable paint over proper prep. Compare what is in the line items, not just the total.
A 3-bedroom interior with a 2-painter team is 5-7 working days for walls, ceilings, and trim. Furniture-out is faster (4-5 days); furniture-in adds 1-2 days for masking and movement.
Usually no. Painters buy paint at trade pricing 15-30% below retail and pass some of that on. Bringing your own paint also voids most coverage warranties. The exception is if you want a specific designer brand the painter cannot source.
A 4L tin covers around 30-40sqm in one coat for smooth walls, less for textured or porous surfaces. Always buy enough for 2 coats plus 10% for touch-ups. Your painter should quote the total litres needed on the quote.
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