GeraMarket / UK service price guide / Decorating in Northern Ireland
Painting and decorating: Cost Context in Northern Ireland
Gera Service Price Index (GSPI): 132.4 (2015=100) — costs up 32.4% since 2015. Labour context: ~£19/hr (ONS ASHE 2025, indicative). Real ONS data. Not a price quote.
How much does painting and decorating cost in Northern Ireland?
As of January 2026, the Gera Service Price Index (GSPI) for painting and decorating is 132.4 (2015=100), meaning this service category has risen 32.4% since 2015, per ONS CPIH 04.3.1 (OGL v3.0). ONS ASHE 2025 labour context for Northern Ireland: ~£19/hr (indicative, not a quote).
Painting and decorating — Northern Ireland (January 2026)
| Measure | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gera Service Price Index (GSPI) | 132.4 (2015=100) | ONS CPIH 04.3.1, January 2026 |
| GSPI year-on-year change | +0.2% | Jan-25 to Jan-26 |
| Rise since 2015 | +32.4% | From CPIH index 100.0 (2015) to 132.4 |
| ONS CPIH category | 04.3.1 — Materials for maintenance and repair of the dwelling | COICOP classification |
| Trade occupation | Painters and decorators (SOC 5323) | Primary trade mapped to this service |
| National trade median (ASHE 2025) | £32,763 | Full-time median gross annual pay, UK |
| Northern Ireland trade median (ASHE 2025) | Suppressed by ONS | ONS cell suppressed (N too small); national median used |
| Indicative hourly rate context | ~£19/hr | Annual ÷ 1,760 hrs — INDICATIVE ONLY, not a quote |
What this data tells you — and what it doesn't
The GSPI shows how much inflation has affected painting and decorating costs since 2015. The labour context shows what tradespeople in this category earn, not what they charge per job. Actual job costs depend on scope, materials, call-out fees, and VAT. Use this data to understand cost trends, then get real quotes from tradespeople.
Compare Decorating costs across UK regions
Explore GSPI values and ONS ASHE labour cost context for all 12 regions.
Labour cost context (ONS ASHE 2025) for this service type across all 12 UK regions. Sorted by indicative hourly rate context (low → high).
East of England
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£18/hr
context only
East Midlands
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£18/hr
context only
North East
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£18/hr
context only
London
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
South East
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
South West
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
West Midlands
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
Yorkshire and The Humber
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
North West
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
Scotland
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
Wales
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
Northern Ireland
GSPI: 132.4 · YoY: +0.2%
~£19/hr
context only
* Regional ASHE data suppressed by ONS — national median used
Hourly context = ONS ASHE 2025 median annual pay for the primary trade occupation ÷ 1,760 hrs. Not a quote. Regional cells marked * use the national median (ONS-suppressed).
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost trend for painting and decorating in the UK?
- The ONS CPIH index for Materials for maintenance and repair of the dwelling (category 04.3.1) was 132.4 in January 2026 (2015=100). This means costs in this category have risen 32.4% since 2015. The 12-month change (Jan-25 to Jan-26) was +0.2%. Source: ONS CPIH01 API, OGL v3.0.
- What do tradespeople earn for painting and decorating in Northern Ireland?
- ONS ASHE 2025 (April 2025) median gross annual pay for Painters and decorators (SOC 5323) is £32,763 nationally. ONS ASHE 2025 regional data for this occupation in Northern Ireland is suppressed by ONS (too few observations). National median used: £32,763. This implies an indicative hourly rate context of ~£19/hr (annual ÷ 1,760 hours). This is NOT a callout charge or quote — actual rates include materials, travel, VAT, and margins.
- Has decorating become more expensive since 2015?
- Yes. The ONS CPIH 04.3.1 index for "Materials for maintenance and repair of the dwelling" rose from 100.0 in 2015 to 132.4 in January 2026 — a 32.4% increase. The UK overall CPIH rose ~10.6% over the same period, making decorating notably above general inflation.
- How reliable is the GSPI for painting and decorating?
- The GSPI is a real ONS published index value, not a Gera estimate. It is the official CPIH sub-index for category 04.3.1 as published by the Office for National Statistics under OGL v3.0. The full methodology is at https://geramarket.com/methodology/gera-service-price-index. The ASHE labour context is also a real ONS dataset; suppressed cells are labelled and the national figure is used as fallback.
- How can I get real price quotes for painting and decorating in Northern Ireland?
- The GSPI provides inflation context, not actual quotes. To get real prices for Northern Ireland, join the GeraMarket waitlist and we'll match you with verified local traders for painting and decorating. Quotes reflect current market rates, not just ONS inflation data.
Painting and decorating in other UK regions
- London — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- South East — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- South West — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- East of England — GSPI 132.4 · ~£18/hr
- East Midlands — GSPI 132.4 · ~£18/hr
- West Midlands — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- Yorkshire and The Humber — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- North West — GSPI 132.4 · ~£19/hr
- All regions for Painting and decorating →
Other services in Northern Ireland
Contains public sector information published by Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: ONS Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) (January 2026, published 17 June 2026).
Contains public sector information published by Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 (April 2025, published 23 October 2025).