The short answer
Wallpapering a room in the UK typically costs around £400–£700 for labour, with the wallpaper itself on top. As a per-square-metre guide, hanging usually runs about £15–£40 per m² depending on the paper and how fiddly the pattern is. Stripping old wallpaper first commonly adds £100–£300 per room, especially if there are several layers. The main drivers are room size, how much pattern matching the paper needs, whether walls need lining or filling first, and the cost of the paper you choose — feature walls are cheaper than a whole room, and heavy or hand-printed papers cost more to hang.
Wallpapering is more skilled and time-consuming than painting, so it is usually priced as a separate job. Here is what the labour typically costs and what to allow for the paper.
Typical UK costs
- Wallpaper a room (labour)~£400–£700
- Per m²~£15–£40 / m²
- Strip old paper+£100–£300 / room
- Feature walllower than full room
- Papercharged separately
What drives the wallpapering price
- Room size and number of walls: a feature wall is far cheaper than papering all four walls of a large room.
- Pattern and paper type: large repeats and patterns that must line up waste more paper and take longer; heavy or hand-printed papers are slower to hang.
- Preparation: stripping old paper, filling, sanding and sometimes lining the walls first all add time before hanging starts.
- The paper itself: wallpaper is bought separately and ranges from budget rolls to expensive designer prints.
| Item | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper a room (labour) | ~£400–£700 | paper extra |
| Hanging | ~£15–£40 / m² | pattern dependent |
| Strip old wallpaper | +£100–£300 | more if multi-layered |
| Lining walls | added prep | for uneven walls |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sourced from MyJobQuote and Checkatrade cost guides.
Budgeting for the paper itself
Labour is only half the picture — the wallpaper is bought separately, and the cost varies enormously between a budget roll and a designer print. As a rule of thumb, work out the wall area, allow extra rolls for pattern matching and wastage (a large repeat can waste a surprising amount), and add that to the labour. If the walls are uneven or previously papered, the decorator may recommend lining them first for a smooth finish, which is an extra step. When you compare quotes, check whether each covers stripping the old paper, any lining, and whether you or the decorator is buying the wallpaper.
Want a wallpapering quote?
Get matched with a vetted painter and decorator who measures the walls, advises on stripping and lining, and quotes the labour on a clear specification.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to wallpaper a room?
Typically around £400–£700 for labour, with the wallpaper on top. As a guide, hanging runs about £15–£40 per m² depending on the paper and pattern. Stripping old paper first commonly adds £100–£300 per room.
Is the wallpaper included in the price?
Usually not. Labour and the wallpaper are normally separate. Work out the wall area, allow extra rolls for pattern matching and wastage, and confirm whether you or the decorator is buying the paper.
Why is wallpapering more expensive than painting?
It is more skilled and time-consuming — papers must be cut, matched and hung accurately, walls often need lining first, and old paper may need stripping. Large pattern repeats and heavy papers take longer still.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific job. They are guidance, not a quotation.