While wallpaper seemed to have fallen out of fashion in the last decades, it is now seeing a revival again. It’s no wonder, given the sheer endless and versatile design possibilities. Wallpapering yourself involves a fair amount of effort, which is why most people choose professional help for this. Find out here what the average cost to wallpaper a room is in the UK and how to save money. Plus: Get free quotes!
What does wallpapering a room cost in the UK?
The cost to wallpaper a room ranges between £20 – £40 per square metre in the UK. A decisive cost factor is whether old wallpaper has to be removed first. This increases the labour costs considerably. If old wallpaper has to be removed beforehand, the labour costs start at around £25, if only wallpapering is required, at around £13.
ON AVERAGE: £20 – £40 PER SQM
In comparison, the material costs are rather low at around £5 – £15. But even here, the costs can rise for expensive design wallpaper. The material costs include, in addition to the wallpaper, filler, glue, possible paint for a coat of paint and skirting boards. It should also be noted that the larger the total area, the lower the price per square metre.
Below are two cost examples for wallpapering a 25 sqm room. In the first example, an old wallpaper must be removed in advance and the work takes 2 days. In the second example, the decorator can start wallpapering immediately and is finished within one day. The wall area of the 25 sqm room is 48 sqm (see below for how to calculate the wall area for your room). The costs given are for guideline purposes only, including VAT, and may vary.
Example A: Cost to wallpaper a room – 25 m² (48 m² wall area)
Overview | 1m2 | 48m2 |
|---|---|---|
Removal of old wallpaper incl. filling and preparation of walls | £12 | £576 |
Labour costs for wallpapering and preparations | £13 | £624 |
Material costs, wallpaper incl. glue and skirting boards | £6 | £288 |
Total cost | £31 | £1,488 |
Example B: Cost to wallpaper a room – 25 m² (48 m² wall area)
Overview | 1m2 | 48m2 |
|---|---|---|
Labour costs for wallpapering and preparations | £13 | £624 |
Material costs, wallpaper incl. glue and skirting boards | £6 | £288 |
Total cost | £19 | £912 |
Saving tip: Compare wallpapering prices in your area!
There are now platforms that help you compare prices of contractors and find the best value for money in your area quickly and easily. A recommendable service is that of Bark. It only takes a few clicks to fill out the form. Whether you accept one of the offers or leave it at the price overview is up to you. The service is non-binding and free of charge.
Which factors influence the cost of wallpapering a room?
The following factors have the greatest influence on wallpapering costs:
- Is there old wallpaper that needs to be torn down first?
- What type of wallpaper is desired and how much effort is required to apply it?
- What is the cut and size of the wall surfaces to be wallpapered?
- What is the hourly rate of the decorator?
- What is the condition of the substrate and the required additional work for substrate preparation?
The decorator can only give a reliable cost estimate after taking precise measurements of the rooms and assessing the condition of the substrate. If possible, one should also compare several offers.
How much do different wallpapers cost?
The cost of wallpaper varies depending on the type and quality. Most wallpapers are sold in rolls with a width of 0.53 metres. These rolls are 10 m long for most types of wallpaper (such as non-woven or glass-fibre wallpaper) and 20 or 25 m long for some simpler wallpapers (e.g. woodchip wallpaper).
Converted to the price per square metre of wall surface, most wallpapers cost £3 – £5 and woodchip wallpapers £2 – £4 per sqm. Below is a small price overview of the most popular types of wallpaper (wallpaper only, without painting, per sqm of wall surface):
Wood chip wallpaper: from £2 per sqm wall surface
Acrylic wallpaper: from £3 per sqm
Glass fibre wallpaper: from £3 per sqm
Non-woven wallpaper: from £4 per sqm
Patterned wallpaper: from £4 per sqm
Photo wallpaper: from £5 per sqm
It should be noted that woodchip and glass-fibre wallpapers still need to be painted. This can add another £3 – £5 per square metre. The cost of wallpaper glue must also be added. Basically, the heavier the wallpaper, the more glue you need to use. On average, the cost is around 50p per square metre of wall.
How to calculate the wall area of a room
Assume that the room is rectangular and has both two long sides and two short sides of equal length. The room is 2.4 m high everywhere. Then it is already sufficient to calculate the length if you measure once lengthwise and once crosswise and multiply this result by 2.
An example:
Your room is rectangular and has a size of 5 x 5 metres. So your calculation of the total length is 5 + 5 x 2 = 20 metres. Now you are missing the height to get the total wall area. So multiply length x height, i.e. 20 x 2.4 = 48 square metres.
How long does it take to wallpaper a room?
Depending on the desired wallpaper (and whether it needs to be painted afterwards) and the area to be wallpapered, an average of 1-3 working days can be expected. Coloured paper wallpapers, for example, have the advantage that they do not have to be painted afterwards.
What has the greatest effect on the time, however, is whether old wallpaper has to be removed first. Here, the time required can quickly double.
Can I wallpaper the room myself and save on the costs?
While painting is relatively easy to do yourself, wallpapering is more demanding. The correct application of the wallpaper must be carried out skilfully. Among other things, you should know exactly how much wallpaper paste is needed for which wallpaper material. With some cheap wallpapers, a sub-wallpaper must also be applied beforehand.
The purchase costs for the equipment and the working time should not be underestimated. For working people in particular, it can be more cost-efficient to have the rooms professionally wallpapered, as the work will be done much faster that way. It only pays to wallpaper your walls yourself if you have the time and, above all, the necessary know-how.
4 easy tips to reduce wallpapering costs
1. Measure the rooms correctly
It’s a simple tip, but mistakes are often made here. If you measure your rooms correctly (you can read more about how to do this earlier in this article), you won’t waste your money on wallpaper you bought too much of or on the time it takes to have to exchange it again in the shop. If you are still unsure about measuring the rooms yourself, just ask your decorator, who will be able to help you quickly.
2. Selecting the wallpaper you want beforehand
Although wallpaper decorators usually offer advice on designs and colours, those who know in advance which wallpaper will suit best will save time and money. For example, not all wallpapers are suitable for damp rooms.
3. Fix minor faults on the walls yourself
Minor corrections such as filling holes and unevenness can be done easily and quickly yourself. This means that the decorator can start gluing and wallpapering the walls immediately. This saves time and money.
4. Do a free price comparison
Even in the same city the wallpapering costs can vary significantly. To save time and effort and to find the best price-performance ratio in your area, it is worthwhile making a price comparison. You can use the free price comparison below.
