How much does plasterboarding cost in Yorkshire? (2026 guide)
Honest 2026 plasterboarding prices across Yorkshire — per wall, per room, dot-and-dab vs stud, and boarding-only vs board-and-skim.
Plasterboarding covers everything from a single new stud wall to boarding out a whole extension. Prices vary quite a bit depending on the method, the room size and whether you want it skimmed on top or left board-only for taping and jointing.
Here are the 2026 figures I'm quoting across Yorkshire. If you want to see how the boarding actually gets done on site, have a look at the plasterboarding service page alongside this guide.
How much does it cost to plasterboard a wall?
Rough 2026 ranges for a single wall, all-in (materials, labour, waste removal):
Dot-and-dab a standard bedroom wall onto existing brick or block: £180–£300 board-only, £320–£500 board-and-skim.
New stud wall (timber frame, boarded both sides): £450–£750 board-only, £650–£1,000 board-and-skim.
Metal stud partition wall: similar to timber stud, sometimes slightly more for the framework.
How much does it cost to plasterboard a room?
For a full room (walls only, ceiling separate — see below):
Small bedroom, dot-and-dab onto existing walls: £650–£1,000 board-only, £1,100–£1,600 board-and-skim.
Standard double bedroom: £900–£1,400 board-only, £1,400–£2,100 board-and-skim.
Living room / lounge: £1,200–£1,900 board-only, £1,900–£2,800 board-and-skim.
Boarding a ceiling (overboard existing) in a standard bedroom: £250–£400, plus £180–£300 to skim on top.
Boarding only vs board and skim
Boarding-only means the walls are fixed and screwed off, joints taped and jointed with filler ready for direct decoration. It's cheaper and quicker, and fine for garages, utility rooms, workshops or anywhere you don't need a perfect finish.
Board-and-skim means we go over the top with a 2–3mm plaster skim, giving that proper smooth flat finish you want in a living room or bedroom. Costs roughly 40–60% more than board-only but looks a lot better under paint. For most people's living spaces, skim it.
Dot-and-dab vs stud wall
Dot-and-dab is used when you have an existing solid wall (brick, block or old lath-and-plaster hacked off) and you want a fresh flat surface to skim. Blobs of plasterboard adhesive fix the boards straight onto the wall — quick, cheap and adds a bit of insulation. Best for internal walls that are already there.
Stud walls are used to build a brand-new wall — splitting a bedroom, closing off a hallway, framing round a soil pipe or building an ensuite. Timber or metal frame, insulation in the void, board both sides. Costs more because you're building the wall from scratch, not covering an existing one.
You often need both on the same job — for example, dot-and-dabbing the existing walls of an extension and studding out a new ensuite inside it.
What affects the cost?
Board type. Standard boards are cheapest. Moisture-resistant (green) boards for bathrooms and utility rooms are dearer. Fire-rated (pink) boards for garages and stairwells add cost again. Insulated backer boards (thermal laminate) are the most expensive but save you fitting separate insulation.
Ceiling height and access. Standard heights are quick. Tall Victorian ceilings, stairwells and landings all take longer and often need extra hands to lift the boards.
How much cutting. Long straight walls are fast. Rooms full of angles, sloped ceilings in loft conversions and around dormer windows take a lot more time.
Waste and skip. A single room's offcuts we'll take away in the van. A full-house strip and reboard usually needs a skip — factor £250–£400 for that on top.
How long does the job take?
As a rough guide: a single stud wall boarded both sides and skimmed is a 1–2 day job. Dot-and-dabbing a standard bedroom is a day for the boarding and another day for the skim. A full extension boarded out top to bottom is usually 3–5 days on site, plus drying time before painting.
Fresh skim on new boards needs the same drying time as any skim — usually 5–7 days before you can mist coat and paint.
Get a proper price
Every job is different — these are guide ranges, not fixed quotes. Send me the room measurements or a couple of photos on WhatsApp and I'll come back to you with a proper figure. Quotes are always free and there's no obligation. Ring 07736 467406 or use the form below.
Frequently asked
- Do I need board-and-skim or is board-only enough?
- For living rooms, bedrooms and anywhere you want a proper smooth painted finish, get it skimmed. For garages, workshops, utility rooms and lofts where the finish isn't critical, tape-and-jointed board-only is fine and saves money.
- Can you dot-and-dab over old wallpaper or paint?
- Wallpaper needs to come off first — the adhesive won't bond through it properly. Sound painted walls are usually fine after a scuff and prime. If the existing plaster is blown or crumbling, we hack it back first.
- Which plasterboard should I use for a bathroom?
- Moisture-resistant (green) board on any wall that'll see splashes or steam. For a full wet room around the shower area, use a proper tile backer board instead.
- Do you supply the boards or do I?
- I supply everything as standard — boards, adhesive, screws, tape, plaster, the lot. It's included in the quote so there are no trips to the merchant for you.