Public Liability for Painters & Decorators
Painter & Decorator Insurance Quotes
Cover for the job, the tools and the client’s property.
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What Is Painter And Decorator Insurance?
Painter and decorator insurance is a package of cover that protects decorating businesses against claims for injury, property damage and financial loss caused by their work.
The core policy is public liability insurance, which pays legal fees and compensation if a client or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged during a job.
Most decorators add employer’s liability, tool cover and accidental damage protection to build a policy that matches the risks they face on site.
How To Compare Painter And Decorator Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes side by side is the quickest way to find cover that fits your trade and budget.
Enter your business details
Provide your trade type (interior, exterior or both), annual turnover and whether you employ staff or subcontractors.
Choose your cover level
Select a public liability limit from £1 million to £10 million and tick any add-ons such as tool cover or accidental damage.
Review your results
Quotes appear side by side so you can compare price, excess and policy wording. Check each insurer is Financial Conduct Authority regulated before you buy.
Buy online or call the insurer
Most policies start the same day. Pay annually for the lowest total cost or spread payments monthly for a small markup of around 8–11%.
What Does Painter And Decorator Insurance Cover?
A standard policy covers the main risks decorators face on every job, from paint spills to ladder accidents.
Third-Party Injury
If a client trips over your dust sheets or a passer-by is hit by a falling paint tin, your policy pays their compensation and your legal costs.
Property Damage
Knocking over a tin of emulsion on a carpet, scratching hardwood flooring with a stepladder or splashing paint on a client’s furniture are all covered under public liability.
Accidental Damage and Treatment Risk
Solvent damage to a surface, paint stripping that discolours woodwork or a chemical reaction between primer and substrate fall under treatment risk cover.
Working at Height
Decorators regularly use ladders, scaffolding towers and cherry pickers. The Health and Safety Executive classes work at height as one of the biggest risks in the trades, and your policy covers claims arising from it.
Legal Defence Costs
Solicitor fees, court costs and expert witness charges are included even if the claim is eventually dismissed.
Compare Painter And Decorator Insurance
Compare painter and decorator insurance quotes from UK insurers in minutes.
Who Needs Painter And Decorator Insurance?
Any decorator who works on someone else’s property or employs staff should carry insurance, regardless of business size.
| Who | Why They Need Cover |
| Sole-trader domestic decorators | One paint spill on a client’s carpet can generate a claim worth thousands |
| Commercial painting contractors | Contracts above £5,000 almost always require £5 million or £10 million PLI |
| Exterior painters and decorators | Working at height and using pressure washers increases the risk of injury and damage |
| Spray painters | Overspray drifting onto neighbouring cars or properties is a common claim trigger |
| Decorators who employ apprentices | Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement once you hire staff |
| Subcontractor decorators | Main contractors routinely ask for proof of insurance before you start on site |
The tradesman insurance market covers dozens of trades, but decorators face unusually high property damage risk because every job involves working inside someone else’s home or premises.
What Is Not Covered By Painter And Decorator Insurance?
Every policy has exclusions, and knowing them in advance stops a claim being declined when you need it most.
Faulty Workmanship
The cost of redoing work you carried out incorrectly is not covered. Insurers pay for the damage the fault causes, not the labour to fix it.
Deliberate or Reckless Acts
Any claim arising from intentional damage or knowing disregard for safety standards is excluded.
Undeclared Activities
If you carry out plastering, tiling or plumbing work that was not disclosed when you arranged the policy, related claims may be refused.
Employee Injuries
Injuries to your own staff are covered under employer’s liability insurance, not public liability. The two policies work together but cover different people.
Unsecured Tools
Theft of tools or equipment left overnight in an unlocked van or on an open site is usually excluded unless you have specific tool cover with the right security conditions.
What Add-Ons Are Available For Painter And Decorator Insurance?
Most insurers let you bolt extra cover onto a public liability policy so everything sits on one renewal date.
Employer’s Liability Insurance
A legal requirement if you hire staff or apprentices. The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 sets a minimum of £5 million, though most insurers provide £10 million as standard.
Fines for not having cover reach up to £2,500 per day.
Tool and Equipment Cover
Protects brushes, rollers, spray guns, pressure washers, ladders and power sanders against theft, loss and accidental damage. Cover limits typically range from £1,000 to £15,000.
Contract Works Cover
Insures materials and partly finished work against damage before a job is signed off. Useful if you buy client-specification paints and wallpapers in advance.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
If you advise clients on colour schemes, coatings or heritage restoration techniques, professional indemnity insurance protects you against claims for financial loss caused by incorrect advice.
Van Insurance
If you drive a works van, commercial van insurance covers the vehicle, tools in transit and any signwriting.
How Much Does Painter And Decorator Insurance Cost?
Public liability insurance for a self-employed domestic decorator typically costs between £6 and £15 per month, depending on the cover level and the type of work you carry out.
| Cover Level | Sole Trader (Domestic) | Small Firm (2–4 Staff) | Commercial Contractor |
| £1 million PLI | £5–£8/month | £12–£20/month | £25–£40/month |
| £2 million PLI | £7–£12/month | £18–£30/month | £35–£55/month |
| £5 million PLI | £10–£15/month | £25–£40/month | £45–£70/month |
| £10 million PLI | £15–£22/month | £35–£55/month | £60–£100/month |
| Add EL (£10 million) | +£5–£8/month | +£12–£25/month | +£20–£40/month |
Worked example: a sole-trader interior decorator in Birmingham with £2 million public liability, £3,000 tool cover and no employees would pay around £100–£200 per year. Adding one labourer and £10 million employer’s liability takes the total to roughly £220–£380.
What Affects Your Painter And Decorator Insurance Premium?
Insurers price decorator policies based on how much risk your business presents, not a flat trade rate.
Type of Decorating Work
Interior domestic painting carries less risk than exterior work at height or spray painting on commercial sites. The higher the risk profile, the higher the premium.
Working at Height
Decorators who regularly use scaffolding towers, cherry pickers or ladders above two storeys face higher premiums because falls from height are a leading cause of injury in the trades.
Cover Level
Jumping from £1 million to £5 million public liability adds only a few pounds a month, but £10 million costs noticeably more.
Number of Employees
Each employee or apprentice increases the employer’s liability premium. Subcontractors may also need to be declared.
Claims History
A clean claims record keeps your premium low. Even a single settled claim can push the price up at renewal, which is why comparing quotes across the wider business insurance market matters.
How To Save Money On Painter And Decorator Insurance
Cutting costs without dropping important cover comes down to matching the policy to the work you actually do.
Pick the Right Cover Level
If your contracts only require £2 million public liability, paying for £10 million wastes money. Review your client requirements before choosing.
Bundle Your Policies
Buying public liability, employer’s liability and tool cover from the same insurer often triggers a multi-policy discount.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess lowers your monthly premium. Set it at a level you could comfortably pay if you needed to claim.
Join a Trade Body
Some insurers offer lower rates to decorators registered with the Painting and Decorating Association because membership signals competence and reduces the likelihood of claims.
Review at Renewal
Auto-renewing without checking the market is the most common way to overpay. Tradesmen across every discipline, from electricians to plumbers, save money by comparing quotes annually.
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Compare painter and decorator insurance quotes from UK insurers in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Public liability insurance is not legally required, but employer’s liability insurance is compulsory once you employ anyone. Most clients and main contractors also require proof of PLI before you start work.
Most policies can be arranged online and start the same day. You receive your certificate of insurance by email within minutes.
Accidental paint spills on carpets, furniture or flooring are covered under public liability or accidental damage cover. Deliberate or reckless damage is excluded.
Most insurers offer monthly direct debit at a markup of around 8–11% on the annual price. Paying upfront in a lump sum is the cheapest option.
Interior work still carries risks: paint spills, solvent damage and ladder injuries happen on every type of job. The size of the project does not limit the size of the claim.
Most standard policies cover spray painting, but some insurers exclude overspray risk unless you declare the activity. Always confirm with your insurer before starting spray work.
Public liability insurance covers claims arising from work at height, but some policies cap the maximum height. Check your policy wording matches the jobs you take on.
Not automatically. Tool and equipment cover is an add-on you select when arranging your policy, with limits typically ranging from £1,000 to £15,000.
It depends on your policy: some insurers include bona fide subcontractors under your public liability cover, while others require each subcontractor to hold their own. Declare them when arranging cover to avoid refused claims.
Decorators typically pay less than builders or construction contractors because the fire and structural risk is lower. However, exterior decorators working at height pay more than interior-only cleaners.
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