Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 31 October 2026
Leeds has an unusually varied housing stock, and that matters when you're hiring a decorator. Victorian terraces in Headingley and Hyde Park often have original cornicing, picture rails, and lime-plastered walls that need careful preparation before any paint goes on. New-builds in Thorpe Park or Kirkstall Forge are a different job entirely, with fresh plasterboard that needs a mist coat before your topcoats. Then there's the sandstone semi-detached belt running through Roundhay, Moortown, and Alwoodly, where exterior masonry painting is a regular request because the stone weathers and takes on damp if it's left untreated. Knowing which type of property you have shapes everything from the prep work through to the products a decorator will recommend.
Every business listed here was drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked by public review rating and review count, with a small lift applied to businesses that show a working website and active phone number. Beyond the ranking, we read each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating is what they primarily offer, which is how unrelated trades get kept off the page. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a listing, that business has additionally passed our full verification process, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can see the full list of what that covers on our How We Verify page. Businesses without that badge have not been independently verified by us, so those checks are yours to carry out before you book.
Before you commit to anyone, get at least three written quotes and make sure each one breaks down labour and materials separately. Ask whether the price includes surface preparation, filling cracks and holes, sanding, and applying a primer or undercoat, because these are the steps that get quietly dropped when a quote looks suspiciously cheap. If you're having exterior work done, ask which masonry paint or timber treatment they plan to use and why. For interior jobs in older Leeds properties, ask whether they've worked with lime plaster before, as the wrong primer will cause adhesion problems further down the line. It's also worth asking how they protect floors, furniture, and carpets during the job. A good decorator will have dustsheets and will tell you unprompted. Check that anyone you hire carries public liability insurance and ask to see it, don't just take their word for it.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Leeds
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count, taken from third-party business listings, with a small lift for businesses that have a working website and phone number. We read each business's homepage to confirm that painting and decorating is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Permanently closed listings 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. 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 →
New Look Painting Services provides professional painting and decorating solutions across Leeds and Bradford. The company handles both interior and exterior painting projects for residential and commercial clients throughout the West Yorkshire area.
G.Swailes Painter & Decorator Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds from their base in Halton. Their comprehensive services cover both residential and commercial properties across East Leeds and surrounding Leeds districts.
Gareth Thompson Painter & Decorator provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds from their Cookridge base. They serve residential and commercial clients across the Leeds region.
Schofield & Pitts painters and Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds and the surrounding areas. Based in Stanningley, their experienced team handles both interior and exterior painting projects for residential and commercial properties.
Rushton & Company provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds, operating from their Chapel Allerton base. Their comprehensive approach to interior and exterior decoration work serves both residential and commercial clients across the city.
Groni Ecological Decorators provides environmentally conscious painting and decorating services throughout Leeds, specialising in eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices. Their ecological approach combines professional decorating expertise with environmentally responsible solutions for residential and commercial properties.
Paintrix Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds and the surrounding areas from their Morley base. They serve residential and commercial clients across the area and beyond.
Finesse Finishes Decorators & Spray Finishers provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds from their Roundhay base. The company specialises in both traditional decorating and modern spray finishing techniques for residential and commercial properties.
ASC Decorators Leeds provides professional painting and decorating services across Leeds. The company handles both interior and exterior decoration projects for residential and commercial clients. Their experienced team covers all areas of Leeds, delivering quality workmanship and reliable service for property owners throughout the city.
Yorkshire's Prestige Decor provides professional painting and decorating services across Leeds and surrounding areas from their base in Yeadon. Their experienced decorators handle both interior and exterior projects for residential and commercial properties throughout the wider Leeds region.
Wilkinson & Sons Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds. The family-run business serves residential and commercial clients across the Leeds area with comprehensive interior and exterior decorating solutions.
Atkinson Decor provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds. They offer comprehensive interior and exterior decoration solutions for both residential and commercial properties across the Leeds region.
Stonegate Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services to customers across Leeds and the surrounding areas. Based in Morley, they offer comprehensive interior and exterior decoration solutions for both residential and commercial properties.
Kingston and Byrne Decorators Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services from their base in Moortown, Leeds. The company serves the Leeds area with comprehensive interior and exterior decoration work.
Thorp & Co. Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds. The company is committed to quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.
Smart Decorators provides professional painting and decorating services from their base in Leeds. They serve the Leeds area with comprehensive interior and exterior decorating solutions for residential and commercial properties.
Expressions Interiors Kitchen Painters specialises in kitchen painting and decorating services across Leeds, operating from their Horsforth base. They focus on transforming kitchen spaces through professional painting techniques, helping homeowners refresh their kitchens without the expense of full renovations.
FRC Industrial & Exterior House Painters specialises in industrial and exterior residential painting services throughout Leeds from their city centre base. The company handles both commercial and domestic exterior painting projects, with services focused on industrial facilities and house exteriors across the Leeds area.
M&H Decorators Leeds provides professional painting and decorating services across Leeds and surrounding areas from their Rothwell base. Their experienced team handles both interior and exterior projects for residential and commercial properties throughout the wider Leeds region.
PDS Painting Leeds provides professional painting and decorating services, serving customers throughout the Leeds area. The company works on both residential and commercial properties across Leeds.
EAP Decorating provides professional painting and decorating services from their Cookridge base, serving Leeds. Their experienced team handles both interior and exterior decorating projects for residential and commercial clients across West Yorkshire.
Ackroyd's decorating provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds and surrounding areas. The company offers comprehensive interior and exterior decoration solutions for residential and commercial properties.
Caleb Decorators Ltd provides professional painting and decorating services across Leeds and the surrounding areas from their base in Pudsey. They serve residential and commercial clients throughout the wider Leeds region.
Hartley Paul provides professional painting and decorating services throughout Leeds, operating from their base in Meanwood. They serve residential and commercial clients across North Leeds and the surrounding areas.
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 Leeds?
Expect to pay £150-200 per day for a skilled decorator, or £25-35 per hour for smaller jobs. Room painting typically costs £300-600 depending on size and prep work needed. External house painting ranges from £2,500-6,000 for a typical semi, varying with property size and paint quality. Victorian terraces often cost more due to extra prep work removing old paint layers. Always get two or three written quotes to compare - prices can vary significantly between different decorators.
How long should exterior paint last in Leeds?
Quality exterior paint should last 8-12 years in Leeds, though Yorkshire's wet climate can reduce this to 6-8 years on exposed walls. South-facing walls fade faster, while north-facing surfaces may develop algae growth. Proper surface preparation is crucial - rushing this stage will halve the paint's lifespan. Masonry paint generally lasts longer than standard exterior emulsion, but costs more initially. Regular maintenance like touching up window frames annually can extend the overall paint life.
What should I do about damp before decorating?
Never paint over damp walls - it's a waste of money and the decorator should refuse the job. Get damp issues investigated first, whether it's rising damp, penetrating moisture, or condensation problems. Many Leeds properties, particularly Victorian terraces, have historic damp issues that need proper treatment. Use anti-mould primer in bathrooms and kitchens, and consider breathable paints for older properties with solid walls. A good decorator will spot damp problems and advise you to fix them first.
Should I supply paint or let the decorator buy it?
Most decorators prefer to supply paint themselves as they get trade discounts and know which products work well together. They'll typically mark up materials by 10-20%, but this includes warranty coverage if anything goes wrong. If you're keen to choose specific colours or premium brands, discuss this upfront. Some decorators will apply customer-supplied paint but won't guarantee the finish. For large jobs, ask to see exactly which paint brands and grades they plan to use.
When's the right time of year to paint externally in Leeds?
Late spring through early autumn offers the most reliable weather windows, typically May to September. Avoid painting in winter when temperatures drop below 5°C or humidity stays consistently high. External work needs at least 48 hours of dry weather after application. Many Leeds decorators book external jobs months ahead for summer slots, so plan early. Internal work can continue year-round, though heating should be on consistently during winter to help paint cure properly.
How can I verify a decorator is reliable before hiring them?
Check their Google reviews go back at least two years and look for detailed feedback, not just star ratings. Ask for recent customer references you can contact directly. Verify they have current public liability insurance - ask to see the certificate. Check if they belong to trade associations like the Painting & Decorating Association. Get a detailed written quote that specifies paint brands, number of coats, and prep work included. Avoid anyone who quotes over the phone without seeing the job first.
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