✓ Verified Google reviews·✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated 30 August 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 30 August 2026
Belfast's housing stock throws up a fair bit of variety for painters and decorators, from Victorian terraces in the Holylands with high ceilings and original cornicing, to newer builds out towards Titanic Quarter and Cairnshill that need a quicker, more straightforward turnaround. Older properties in areas like the Malone Road or Stranmillis often need plasterwork attended to before a brush goes anywhere near a wall, while pebble-dashed semis common across East Belfast and Newtownabbey tend to call for exterior masonry paint that can cope with the Northern Irish weather. Whatever the job, most homeowners here are booking in decorators for a room refresh, a full house repaint before selling, or exterior work that can't wait much longer given the damp.
The businesses featured on this page come from public business listings, ranked by their review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small lift given to those showing a working website and phone number. We then read each business's homepage to check that painting and decorating is genuinely their main line of work, which is what keeps tilers, general builders, and other unrelated trades off this particular list. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically, so what you're seeing should reflect businesses still trading. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone further and passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Businesses without the badge haven't been through that process with us, so it's worth doing your own checks before you commit to anything.
Before booking, ask for a written quote that breaks down labour and materials separately, and find out whether the price includes filler, sanding, and making good any cracks, since that's often where costs creep up. Check whether they're covered by public liability insurance and ask to see proof rather than just taking their word for it. It's also worth asking how many coats are included and what paint brand they're planning to use, as trade paint from a merchant like Brewers or Crown will hold up differently to a budget tin from a DIY shed. Getting two or three quotes for anything beyond a single room is standard practice in Belfast, and it gives you a sense of whether a price is reasonable before you sign off on the job.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Belfast
Rankings are based on review rating and review count pulled from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm painting and decorating is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the full list. Other businesses haven't been independently verified by us, and inclusion here isn't an endorsement, so do your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Quick Comparison — Painters & Decorators in Belfast
Residential and commercial properties across Belfast are the focus for BD Decor8, a painting and decorating service based in the BT10 area. The company holds a 4.7 rating from 47 Google reviews, reflecting consistent work across its local client base. Interior and exterior projects are covered, making it a practical option for homeowners and businesses in the city.
Spray Sense NI is a painting and decorating firm based in Belfast, specialising in spray-applied finishes for residential and commercial properties. Rated 4.9 from 32 Google reviews, the business has built a consistent local reputation in the BT11 area. Services cover interior and exterior work, with spray techniques offering a smoother, more uniform finish than traditional brush and roller methods.
Painting and decorating services covering Belfast and the surrounding area, Classic Decorators handles interior and exterior projects for residential and commercial clients. The company holds a 4.8 rating from 32 Google reviews, reflecting consistent finish quality across its work. Clients in the BT13 postcode and neighbouring areas can request quotes through the company website.
Ashton Decorators covers both interior and exterior painting and decorating work across Belfast, taking on residential and commercial projects. The company holds a 5.0 rating from 17 Google reviews, suggesting consistent results across its client base. Serving the wider Belfast area, it offers a practical option for householders and businesses seeking straightforward decorating work without a large contractor setup.
Painting and decorating work across Belfast is covered by TMLDECOR, taking on interior and exterior jobs for domestic clients. Five reviews on Google all rate the work at 5 stars, a small but consistent sign of care taken with preparation and finish. Details of past jobs and contact information are available on the company website.
Specialising in both interior and exterior decorating, J P Crossen Decorators serves residential and commercial clients across Belfast. Based in the BT5 area, the company covers paintwork, wallpapering, and surface preparation. Straightforward in approach, they handle projects across the city without the overhead of a large outfit.
Painting and decorating contracts across Belfast are handled by S I G Plc, covering both residential and commercial premises. The firm holds a 4.3 rating from its client reviews, reflecting consistent standards on completed jobs. Work is organised to suit occupied buildings, minimising disruption during the decorating process.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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How much does a painters & decorators cost in Belfast?
A single room repaint typically runs from around £250 to £450 depending on size and condition of the walls, while a full three-bedroom terrace inside and out can range from £2,500 up to £4,500 or more. Exterior work on a semi-detached house, including pebble-dash or render, often sits between £1,200 and £2,500 depending on scaffolding needs. Prices vary a lot depending on how much prep work is needed, ceiling height, and whether you're supplying paint or the decorator is. Getting two or three quotes is normal practice and helps you spot if someone's pricing well above or below the going rate.
How long does it take to paint and decorate a typical Belfast house?
A single room usually takes one to two days including drying time between coats. A full house, say a standard three-bedroom terrace, can take anywhere from five days to two weeks depending on how much preparation the walls need and whether ceilings, skirting boards, and woodwork are all included. Exterior jobs depend heavily on the weather, since render and masonry paint need dry conditions to cure properly, so a decorator might build in extra days for a typical Belfast forecast.
Do I need to move furniture out before a decorator arrives?
Most decorators will move furniture to the centre of the room and cover it with dust sheets themselves, but it's worth clearing smaller items, ornaments, and anything fragile beforehand. If you're having a whole house done, moving larger items like wardrobes into another room in advance can speed things up and keep costs down, since some decorators charge extra for heavy furniture removal.
What's the difference between hiring a painter and a full decorator?
A painter typically focuses on applying paint to walls, ceilings, and woodwork, whereas a decorator often covers wallpapering, plastering repairs, coving, and finishing touches like caulking gaps around skirting boards. Many tradespeople in Belfast offer both, but if your job involves hanging wallpaper or fixing damaged plaster before painting, check the person you're hiring actually does that work rather than assuming it's included.
Should I supply my own paint or let the decorator sort it?
Either works, but there are trade-offs. Letting the decorator supply paint usually means they can get trade discounts at merchants like Brewers or Crown Decorating Centres, which can bring the overall cost down slightly. If you supply your own, you have more control over the exact colour and finish, but make sure you buy enough for the full job plus a bit extra for touch-ups, and check the decorator is happy using it before you commit to a tin.
What should I check before choosing a decorator in Belfast?
Ask to see photos of recent jobs, ideally similar in scale to yours, and read through recent reviews rather than just the overall star rating. Confirm they hold public liability insurance and ask for a written quote rather than a verbal estimate, so there's no confusion later about what's included. If a business has a Trust Verified badge on this page, that means they've been through our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, and trading history. If they don't have that badge, it's worth doing your own checks, such as asking for references from past customers and confirming their insurance directly, before booking anything.
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