Painter pricing in Edinburgh

Interior 2-coat: £25 to £35 per sqm for standard Edinburgh (Leith, Marchmont, Newington). £35 to £55 per sqm for New Town (EH3), Stockbridge, Morningside (EH10), Bruntsfield and The Grange. Lime-wash and heritage specialist £75 to £150 per sqm. Day rate £200 to £400 standard, £300 to £600 heritage. Add VAT at 20 percent.

Yes on Category A or B listings. Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and the City of Edinburgh Council enforce. Quote LBC application (£400 to £1,500) and an 8 to 16 week consent timeline. Most New Town doors must match the original or an approved palette; quoting a free colour choice without consent invites enforcement.

Sandstone tenements with lime-plaster substrates need breathable lime-wash, mineral silicate or breathable masonry paint. Vinyl emulsion or modern masonry paint traps moisture in the sandstone, accelerates frost damage and crazes off the substrate within 2 to 3 years. Quote lime-wash specialist work at £75 to £150 per sqm including a 4 to 8 week curing schedule.

£350 to £900 per turnover for a 1-bed, £600 to £1,400 for a 2-bed, at operator portfolio rates. Edinburgh Council's short-term let licensing has consolidated stock with professional operators (Festival Lets, The Edinburgh Address, JG Apartments). Volume work; build relationships with 3 to 5 operators. Festival August drives a re-paint spike in July.

£2,500 to £8,000 plus VAT depending on size, height and substrate. Common stairs are common property, billed through the factor (Ross and Liddell, James Gibb, Charles White, Hacking and Paterson). The factor is your contracting party and you provide an owner apportionment schedule. Lock in retained work with factors managing 10 to 30 stairs for recurring 5 to 7 year cycles.

Hourly rates are £22 to £50 in the US, £22-55 in the UK, A£31-100 in Australia, R150-450 in South Africa, and C£22-85 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.