Plastering Costs – How Much to Dryline & Plaster?

If you are planning to renovate a room or smooth out uneven walls, plastering in the UK typically costs between £10 and £25 per square metre. This means you can expect to pay around £400 to £900 to plaster or dryline a medium-sized room, depending on the wall condition, materials used, and where you live. 

This guide explains everything you need to know about plastering and dry lining costs, what affects the price, and how to decide whether to hire a professional or take on smaller jobs yourself. 

What plastering does and why it matters 

Plastering gives your walls and ceilings a smooth, even finish that is ideal for painting or wallpapering. It also offers thermal insulation, helps to reduce sound transmission, and adds fire resistance, making it both an aesthetic and practical improvement. 

Poor plasterwork can ruin the look of a room, even after expensive paint or wallpaper is applied. A well-finished wall, on the other hand, enhances the overall value and feel of your home. 

There are two main ways to achieve a plastered wall: the traditional wet plastering method and the modern dry lining method. 

User submitted plastering prices

Below are some of the prices we have received from WhatPrice users on plastering jobs completed or quoted, you can also try our plastering cost calculator for an indication of costs.

Job type	Description	Price	Units	Region
Drylining & plastering	2.65 height x 4.7×2.9 Remove old plaster level ceiling, hard wall some and plaster board and skim	£7638.00	Total price	South West
Plastering only	Removal of existing plaster from lounge front wall due to original brick and flint barn having gypsum plaster applied which has been trapping moisture, reapplication of a breathable lime plaster and paint. Guys would only do it on a day rate as they weren’t sure how long it’d take. Day rate is for two people plus VAT.	£500	Daily rate	East of England
Plastering only	Lounge 4M x 3M Approx 47.5M2 including the ceiling (Allowing for omitting doors and windows) Included adding covings to ceiling.	£700	Total price	South East
Plastering only	New kitchen FULL re skimmed only. Very happy	£1330	Total price	North West
Plastering only	A 4m x 5m room by 5m high. 4 walls and a ceiling, together with a narrow stud wall for an integrated wardrobe opening. Breast wall was bare scratch coat, while all other walls were pre skimmed and in an OK condition but not brilliant with screw holes and minor blown patches where the screws and nails were removed. All sockets and radiator were removed for ease of access.	£640	Total price	Cymru Wales
Plastering only	4.5 mt X 2.5 mt ceiling unibond and skim, chasings bonded then all walls unibonded and skimmed 1 chimney breast 2 doors 1 Window Including materials	£570	Total price	East Midlands
Plastering only	Room 3m x 2.8m. All walls skimmed and where lots of plaster come away removing skirting board to be built up and finished. Ceiling overboarded and skimmed.	£620	Total price	West Midlands
Drylining & plastering	board ceilings dryline walls/skim, 5 bed house £7.60 sq/m 700 m total	£5320	Total price	North West
Drylining & plastering	bonded and skimmed walls and ceilings in 1 x reception room, 2 x double bedrooms and hall stairs and Landing.	£3337	Total price	London
Drylining & plastering	plastering a bungalow size 2200 sg ft inside and out. outside to be coined and strapped to be finish with marble chips	£10600	Total price	Northern Ireland
Drylining & plastering	2 up 2 down terraced house. Ceilings skimmed (plasterboards already up) and walls skimmed (in one room 3 walls needed dabbing)	£4250	Total price	North West
Plastering only	removed wood chip and paint off ceilings in living room and bedroom. living room with alcove. skimmed all walls and ceilings. A bit pricey but a good job done.	£2335	Total price	London
Plastering only	Plaster board a wall (8ft x 12ft) Skimmed the wall + 32 feet of Coving fitted, builder supplied all materials.	£660	Total price	West Midlands
Plastering only	1930’s semi ex council house. Plaster hall stairs and landing walls, also includes plastering ceiling in hall, the ceiling slope upstairs and landing ceiling. This is for plastering over artex too. We removed radiator to allow plasterer to plaster behind it	£1000	Total price	North West
Plastering only	It was only a upstairs doorway. I had 2 brick it up up with heavy blocks & house bricks,then hard wall doth sides one side twice then skim both sides	£58	Per m²	South West
Plastering only	Full House 3 bed semi, 3 beds one bathroom and extention to rear	£3820	Total price	North West
Drylining & plastering	Hallway ceiling drylined, skimmed. Old skirting board areas re-bonded. 4m sq of wall repaired and rebonded including archway. all walls skimmed. total area approx 20 sq m 2 days labour inc materials	£630	Total price	London
Drylining & plastering	Ceilings reskimmed in 4 rooms and hallways with mesh. Walls reskimmed in 2 rooms and several small fixes in plasterwork elsewhere. Final room was hacked back to brickwork, bonded, then skimmed. Also, ceiling hacked off, insulated, replaced with plasterboard and then skimmed. Included covering a fireplace with plasterboard and making good picture rails. Labour only.	£4400	Labour only	London
Plastering only	first floor of 3 bedroom house walls and ceilings pva and skimed approx 200sqm	£2950	Total price	North East
Plastering only	Skim walls and ceilings – semi, 3 bedrooms+living room+dining room+hallway+ landing+stairs.	£2285	Total price	East Midlands
Plastering only	i had the 3 bedrooms skimed the hall, stairs and landing, front room walls and ceiling. all rooms coved and painted	£2190	Total price	South West
Plastering only	Small room ceiling and wall skim. – Lounge/Dinner ceiling skim. – Plasterboard ‘column’ plastered – Door way reduction plastered and one side skimmed.	£956	Total price	South West
Drylining & plastering	Skimmed the walls in 5 rooms plus a large hallway. One of the walls was back to brick in places and required more work than just skimming. Also removed and replaced a section of cornicing along one wall. Took about 1 week with 2 workmen.	£2250	Total price	South East
Plastering only	Plastering 2 living rooms plus ceilings. A small box space. Hallway plus high ceiling over the stairway and a small bedroom. The plasterer also agreed to using some expensive plaster in the hallway to cover vinyl wallpaper. The whole area was measured at 165square metres.	£1900	Total price	North West
Plastering only	All ceilings drylined and skimmed, one room drylined and skimmed, most rooms patched and skimmed. 3 bed semi.	£4238	Total price	West Midlands
Drylining & plastering	4 bed house whole bathroom and kitchen dry lined and skimmed, toilet ceiling, lounge and dining room celings overboarded (including bays in thermal board), loft conversion stairwell outside wall and all other outside walls in thermal plasterboard, end of loft conversion outside wall thermal board, patch conservatory wall, patch where coving removed lounge/dining room, one inside wall rendered after damp proof course injected to 1m, patching chimney breast. Skim the lot, normal/insulated boards (gyproc thermaline super 50mm), bonding, finish, adhesive, screws, tape etc. I stripped old plaster off walls myself apart from overboarding areas.	£4395	Total price	West Midlands
Drylining & plastering	We had: 2x double bedroom ceilings plaster-boarded & then skimmed 1x single bedroom ceiling skimmed only 1x large damaged kitchen wall repaired with mortar & cement, then plastered.	£735	Total price	West Midlands
Plastering only	Ceiling of Edwardian house, to repair a crack and skim, and to skim all walls. Room size 20sqm	£1840	Total price	South West
Drylining & plastering	1 room extension on back of house 3 walls are in block work and are 4m by 3m and 1 wall is in block work but has sliding doors so smaller area to cover.all walls have to be hardwall at 10mm depth then skimmed also skim ceiling which has already been boarded.	£1300	Total price	South East
Plastering only	lounge 1930’s house. Room size 9m sq.	£712	Total price	South East

Wet plastering (traditional method) 

Wet plastering involves applying several coats of plaster directly onto brick or blockwork. It has been used for centuries and remains the preferred choice for solid, long-lasting walls. 

Because it requires several layers and precise technique, wet plastering is labour-intensive and time-consuming, which is reflected in the higher cost. 

Average cost (materials and labour): 

• £15 to £25 per m² 

• £400 to £800 per medium-sized room 

Advantages 

• Creates a strong, durable finish 

• Excellent sound and heat insulation 

• Provides a seamless, elegant appearance 

Disadvantages 

• More expensive than dry lining 

• Takes longer to dry (often several days) 

• Requires a skilled plasterer for best results 

If you want to attempt plastering yourself, short training courses are available for around £180 to £290. These can help with small repair jobs, though most homeowners find that hiring a professional ensures a superior and longer-lasting finish. 

Dry lining (plasterboard method) 

Dry lining uses large plasterboard sheets that are fixed to the wall using screws, nails, or adhesive (dot and dab). Once fitted, the joints are taped and filled or finished with a skim coat for a smooth result. 

It is a faster, cleaner, and often cheaper alternative to traditional plastering, making it ideal for modern homes or quick renovations. 

Average cost (materials and labour): 

• £12 to £20 per m² 

• £400 to £700 per room 

Advantages 

• Faster installation and minimal mess 

• Suitable for uneven or damaged walls 

• Requires less drying time before decorating 

Disadvantages 

• Slightly less solid than wet plaster 

• Joints can become visible over time 

• Can be damaged more easily by impact 

Material costs 

Plasterboard type	Average price per board	Cost per m²
Standard (1200×2400×12.5mm)	£12	£4.16
Moisture-resistant (bathrooms, kitchens)	£25	£8.68

Plaster skimming and finishing 

Whether you choose wet plastering or dry lining, most walls are completed with a final skim coat. This is a thin 2 to 3mm layer of finishing plaster that produces a smooth, durable surface suitable for decorating. 

Average skimming costs: 

• £8 to £15 per m² 

• £300 to £600 per room 

Skimming requires careful timing and technique. The plaster is first applied evenly, then partially dried for 20 to 40 minutes before being lightly misted with water and polished with a trowel or sponge to create a flawless surface. 

Typical plastering prices

Job type	Average cost	Price per m²	Notes
Skimming existing walls	£30 to £600	£8 to £15	Refreshed finish on old plaster
Dry lining (with skim)	£400 to £700	£12 to £20	Includes materials and finishing
Full replaster	£500 to £900	£15 to £25	Best for damaged or old walls
Ceiling plastering	£250 to £500	£8 to £15	Often higher in period homes
Minor plaster repairs	£150 to £300	–	Patching or small areas only

Plasterer rates: 

• Day rate: £250 to £400 

• Hourly rate: £50 per hour on average 

Prices are generally higher in London and the Southeast, where labour rates can be 10 to 20% above the national average. 

DIY plastering versus hiring a professional 

Option	Benefits	Drawbacks
DIY plastering	Low material cost if you already have tools; good for minor repairs	Requires practice; mistakes are difficult to fix; time-consuming
Professional plasterer	Expert finish, fast turnaround, long-lasting results	Higher upfront cost but often better long-term value

Plastering is one of the few home improvement jobs where experience makes a dramatic difference. Unless you are confident in your skills, hiring a qualified plasterer usually saves time, money, and frustration. 

Factors that affect plastering costs 

Several factors influence the total price of a plastering project: 

1. Room size and wall condition. Larger rooms or walls in poor condition require more preparation and materials. 

2. Type of plaster or board. Standard plaster is cheaper than waterproof or specialist finishes. 

3. Accessibility. High ceilings or awkward corners increase labour time. 

4. Preparation work. Removing wallpaper, old plaster, or damp damage adds cost. 

5. Location. Prices vary by region, with the North of England and Wales generally cheaper than London and the Southeast. 

How to save money on plastering 

• Get multiple quotes. Always compare at least three local plasterers. 

• Book during quieter seasons. Winter months can bring better rates. 

• Prepare the room yourself. Remove furniture, wallpaper, and debris before work starts. 

• Combine jobs. Plastering several rooms at once can reduce the per-m² rate. 

• Choose the right method. Use dry lining where appropriate for faster, more economical results. 

On average professional plastering costs range from £10 to £25 per square metre, depending on the method and finish. A skilled plasterer can transform uneven or dated walls into smooth, durable surfaces ready for decorating, significantly improving your home’s appearance and value. 

While it is possible to handle small patch repairs yourself, investing in professional plastering usually offers better long-term results and fewer headaches. 

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