Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 10 October 2026
Bristol's housing stock is genuinely varied, and that variety matters when you're choosing a painter or decorator. You've got Georgian terraces in Clifton and Redland, Victorian semis across Bishopston and Easton, post-war council builds in Hartcliffe and Southmead, and newer developments around Harbourside and Temple Quarter. Each throws up different challenges: old lime-plastered walls that need careful preparation before any emulsion goes on, timber sash windows on period properties that require specific flexible paints and primers, and rendered exteriors on 1960s blocks that'll crack and peel within a season if the wrong masonry paint is used. A decorator who knows Bristol's housing types will spot these issues during a quote visit rather than after they've already started. Prices vary quite a bit too. A standard double bedroom repaint runs roughly £200 to £400 depending on prep work and finish. Full exterior painting on a three-bed Victorian semi can reach £1,500 to £3,000. Getting specific, like-for-like quotes is the only way to compare properly.
Every business on this page has been drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked using a combination of review rating and review count, so companies with a stronger track record of satisfied customers appear higher. There's a small additional lift in the ranking for businesses that show a working website and a listed phone number. Beyond the ranking, we check each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating work is genuinely what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades from appearing here by mistake. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a specific business, that company has gone further and passed our full independent verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can find the full list of checks on our How We Verify page. Businesses that don't carry that badge have not been independently verified by us, and you should carry out your own checks before booking.
Before you commit to anyone, ask for a written, itemised quote that breaks out labour, materials, and any prep work separately. Ask specifically whether the price includes filling and sanding, how many coats are included, and what brand of paint is being used. Cheap trade paint and premium paint look very different after a couple of years, especially on north-facing exterior walls that get a lot of Bristol's wet weather. Check that any contractor you hire has adequate public liability insurance and ask to see it rather than just taking their word. For exterior work on period properties, it's worth asking whether they've worked with lime render or lime mortar before, since using modern fillers on old lime substrates causes more problems than it solves. Get at least three quotes, not just to find the lowest price but to see whether each decorator has assessed the job in the same way. If one quote is dramatically cheaper, find out why before you sign anything.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Bristol
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count, pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift applied to businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Permanently closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses carrying a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification process, covering qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the complete list. All other businesses on this page have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always 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 Bristol
Bristol Painters And Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area, handling both interior and exterior painting projects.
JSM Property Services (UK) Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area, offering comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions.
Mac Decorators Bristol provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their base in North Bristol. They offer comprehensive interior and exterior decoration services for residential and commercial properties across the Bristol area.
Painter and decorator bristol provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. They offer comprehensive interior and exterior decoration solutions for residential and commercial properties across the Bristol area.
Carter Decorating Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. The company handles both residential and commercial projects with skilled craftsmanship.
Warrilow offers comprehensive painting, decorating and restoration services throughout Bristol, operating from their Montpelier base. Their experienced team handles both residential and commercial projects, combining traditional decorating skills with specialist restoration expertise.
Bristol House Painting provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. Their services cover both interior and exterior painting projects for residential and commercial properties across the Bristol area.
Jak's provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. Their experienced team handles both interior and exterior painting projects for residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area.
Bristles of Bristol Limited provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their Bishopston base. They serve residential and commercial clients across surrounding Bristol neighbourhoods.
PaintPro Painting & Decorating Services provides professional painting and decorating solutions for residential and commercial properties across Bristol. Based in Brislington, their team handles both interior and exterior painting projects, delivering quality workmanship throughout the Bristol area.
Bristol Decoration provides professional painting and decorating services across Bristol from their base in East Bristol. Their experienced team handles both interior and exterior decoration projects for residential and commercial properties throughout the Bristol area.
Envirodec provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. Their services cover both residential and commercial properties, helping transform spaces with quality paintwork and decorative finishes.
Polpo Painting & Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. They offer comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions for residential and commercial properties across the Bristol area.
Painted By Design Painting & Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services from their Westbury on Trym base in Bristol. They serve clients across the Bristol area.
Leahy Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. Their services cover both interior and exterior painting work for residential and commercial properties across the Bristol area.
D James Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their Stockwood base. They serve clients across the Bristol area, offering comprehensive interior and exterior decorating solutions.
Brushed Up Bristol provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. Their team handles both interior and exterior painting projects for residential and commercial properties across the city.
Beech & Greene Painting & Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their Shirehampton base. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area, offering comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions.
Harrison Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area with comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions.
Dean Gazzard Painting & Decorating Services provides professional painting and decorating solutions for residential and commercial properties across Bristol. Their services encompass interior and exterior painting, wallpapering, and general decorating work.
CC Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol and surrounding areas. Based in Kingswood, the company serves residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area.
Clifton Decorators Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services from their base in Redland, Bristol. The company serves the Bristol area with interior and exterior painting work for residential and commercial properties.
AG PAINTER AND DECORATOR provides professional painting and decorating services to customers across Bristol. Their services cover both interior and exterior painting work for residential and commercial properties throughout the Bristol area.
Stephen Jabs Ltd provides painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their base in Clifton. They serve both residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area, delivering professional interior and exterior painting solutions.
The Local Painter Bristol provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Bristol from their Redcliffe base. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Bristol area, offering comprehensive interior and exterior painting solutions.
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 Bristol?
Interior decoration typically runs £15-25 per square metre for standard emulsion work, with specialist finishes costing £30-50 per square metre. External painting varies from £20-35 per square metre depending on access and surface condition. Day rates for decorators range from £180-280. Period properties often cost more due to preparation work on original plaster and woodwork. Always get two or three written quotes to compare pricing and scope of work.
How long does interior decorating take in Bristol homes?
A typical three-bedroom Victorian terrace takes 5-8 working days for full interior decoration, including preparation. Single rooms usually need 1-2 days depending on ceiling height and detail work. Georgian properties with original cornicing and panelling often require extra time for careful preparation. Weather affects drying times, particularly in Bristol's damp climate, so allow flexibility in winter months.
What's the difference between painting Victorian and modern Bristol properties?
Victorian properties need different primers for original lime plaster walls and often require specialist paint for metal casement windows. Preparation takes longer due to multiple paint layers and period features. Modern homes typically have plasterboard walls that accept standard primers and paints more easily. Georgian properties may need heritage-approved paints in conservation areas like Clifton.
Should I hire painters and decorators separately in Bristol?
Most Bristol decorators handle both painting and decorating, including wallpapering, minor repairs, and surface preparation. Separate specialists make sense for complex jobs like restoring period features or applying specialist finishes like limewash. For standard redecoration work, using one contractor simplifies scheduling and accountability. Check they're comfortable with your specific requirements before booking.
What preparation work do Bristol decorators typically include?
Standard preparation includes filling holes, sanding surfaces, and applying appropriate primers. Many include moving lightweight furniture and laying dust sheets. Extensive repairs to damaged plaster, window frame restoration, or removing multiple wallpaper layers often cost extra. Always clarify what's included in quoted prices, particularly for older Bristol properties that may need significant prep work.
How do I verify a Bristol painter and decorator is reliable?
Check their Google reviews mention specific Bristol areas and realistic project details. Ask for recent local references you can contact directly. Verify they carry public liability insurance and can provide certificates. Look at photos of completed work, particularly on similar property types. Get detailed written quotes and avoid anyone requesting large upfront payments or offering suspiciously low prices.
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