How Much Does a Plasterer Charge Per Day in 2026?

Plastering is priced a little differently to most trades. Some jobs are charged per room or per wall, others by the day, and the best plasterers know their day rate cold so that whichever way they quote, the numbers add up. If you undercharge on a fast job or overrun on a tricky one, the day rate is what keeps you honest.

This guide covers typical UK plasterer day rates for 2026, breaks them down by region and job type, and shows you how to set a rate that pays properly.

Average UK Plasterer Day Rates in 2026

• Newly qualified plasterer: £130 to £180 per day
• Experienced plasterer: £180 to £260 per day
• Rendering and floating: £220 to £320 per day
• Specialist finishes (Venetian, lime, decorative): £280 to £400+ per day

A standard working day is assumed. Plasterers often quote small jobs as a fixed price per room, but the day rate above is what should sit behind those prices.

Plasterer Day Rates by Region

• London and the South East: £220 to £320 per day, the highest in the UK.
• South West and East of England: £190 to £270 per day.
• Midlands: £170 to £250 per day, higher in Birmingham.
• North West and Yorkshire: £160 to £240 per day, led by Manchester and Leeds.
• North East: £150 to £220 per day.
• Scotland: £160 to £240 per day, strongest in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• Wales: £150 to £220 per day, higher around Cardiff.
• Northern Ireland: £140 to £210 per day.

Day Rates by Type of Plastering Work

Skimming and re-skimming

Skimming over existing plaster or plasterboard is the most common domestic job. It is often priced per room or per ceiling, but a full day of skimming should still clear your day rate. A single average room typically works out at one to two days of work.

Plasterboarding and dry lining

Boarding out walls and ceilings before skimming, or dry lining, is usually part of a larger job and priced by area or by the day depending on scope.

Rendering and floating

Exterior rendering and floating coats take more skill and materials and are priced by area rather than per room. Day rates and job prices are higher to match.

Specialist and decorative finishes

Venetian polish, lime plaster and decorative finishes are premium work. There are fewer plasterers who can do them well, so they command the top rates.

What Affects What You Can Charge

• Skill and finish quality: A plasterer who leaves a flawless, ready-to-paint finish can charge more, because the decorator behind them has less to fix.
• Job size and access: High ceilings, scaffolding, awkward access and heavily damaged surfaces all justify a higher price.
• Speed and reliability: A fast, tidy plasterer who turns up on time is worth a premium to builders who book them repeatedly.
• VAT registration: Factor the 20 percent you charge into your effective rate, while reclaiming VAT on materials.
• Repeat trade work: Sub-contracting to builders can mean steadier work at a slightly lower rate, which many plasterers accept for the reliability.

How to Calculate Your Own Day Rate

Set your rate on your own costs, not the going rate at the merchants. Four steps:

Step 1: Add up your annual costs

Van, tools and mixer, insurance, accountancy, phone, workwear and PPE, software and marketing.

Step 2: Decide your target take-home

What you want left after tax, covering your own holidays, sick days and pension.

Step 3: Count your billable days

From roughly 260 weekdays, subtract holidays, bank holidays, sick days and admin time. Most plasterers land on 190 to 200 billable days.

Step 4: Do the maths

Minimum day rate = (annual costs + target income + tax provision) divided by billable days. Costs of £13,000, target take-home of £34,000 and £8,000 for tax is £55,000 over 195 days, about £282 a day. Run it instantly with our day rate calculator, or price by the hour using the hourly rate calculator.

Pricing Per Room Without Losing Money

Because plastering is so often quoted per room, it is easy to underprice a job that turns out to be more work than it looked. The fix is to translate every per-room price back into days: estimate how long the job will take, multiply by your day rate, add materials and a margin, then present it as a clear fixed price. A professional, itemised quote also reassures the customer that your price is considered rather than plucked from the air.

QuoteSmith turns that into a branded PDF proposal in about two minutes. For the detail on pricing the work itself, read how to price a plastering job.

The Bottom Line

UK plasterer day rates in 2026 typically run from around £130 for a newcomer to £400 or more for specialist finishes, with rendering, London and decorative work at the top. Whether you quote per room or per day, base your prices on a day rate that reflects your real costs, and present every quote professionally so your price holds up.