Painters and decorators insurance
Painters and decorators insurance from just £5.35^
a month
Compare business insurance quotes from leading UK insurers
What is painter and decorator insurance?
Painters and decorators insurance is specialised business insurance for painting and decorating companies, sole traders and contractors.
You can buy different types of insurance:
Public liability insurance - covers costs if members of the public are harmed
Tool insurance - covers costs if your tools are lost, damaged or stolen
Employers liability insurance - covers costs if employees are harmed
Do I need to be insured?
🚩 Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff
🚩 Clients may insist you have public liability insurance
Whether you own a decorating business or are a self-employed painter, insurance can financially protect you if something goes wrong at work.
Without insurance you could end up paying some very high costs if your equipment is stolen, your employee is hurt, or you accidentally damage your client's property.
Do I need public liability insurance as a painter and decorator?
While not legally required, public liability insurance is considered essential for any tradesperson like painters and decorators.
This is mainly because it covers compensation and legal costs arising from incidents like paint spills or accidents caused to a third party, like a client or member of the public as a result of your work.
Why should I get plasterers insurance?
Clients are more likely to hire you: Some people can be wary about hiring painters and decorators without insurance, especially if you're a commercial painter and decorator. Government contracts, for example, will usually insist you have a public liability insurance policy of at least £5-£10 million
Protection for stolen or damaged tools: Tool cover can offer similar protection for tools. The risk of some types of equipment losses is growing. London saw tool theft from vans increase by 60% between 2020 and 2023
Avoid a £2,500 fine: If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you then by law you must have employers liability insurance. Without it, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're not insured. This will also cover you against staff injuries
Helps cover legal costs: From paint spills damaging furniture or flooring, to accidentally over-sanding surfaces or damaging a wall when stripping wallpaper, your insurance can help cover the costs of accidental damage, whether it's a client, supplier, or member of the public
Did you know?
£68 million in insurance claims ^
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
What insurance types might a painter and decorator need?
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Public liability
Public liability insurance protects you if your work harms members of the public.
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Employers' liability
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
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Tools insurance
Tool insurance covers costs if your tools are stolen, damaged, or lost.
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Commercial van
Business van insurance protects your work vehicle and its contents.
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Personal accident insurance
Personal accident insurance protects you if you're injured.
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Business interruption
Business interruption insurance protects against disruption from events like fires.
What is and isn't covered by painters and decorators insurance?
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Covered
Your tools and equipment: Cover to repair and replace any of your tools and equipment that are damaged or stolen
Financial loss: Compensation payouts to third parties that had their person or property harmed by your work
Your van: Standard motor insurance policies won't usually cover vehicles such as vans that are used for work
Personal accident insurance: Offers a lump sum payment if you or an employee are hurt and no longer able to work
Accidental death: Offers a lump sum should you or an employee die as a result of an unforeseen incident
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Not covered
Intentional harm or damage: Either by yourself or an employee
Poor workmanship: Most insurance policies won't cover you for events that are caused by incompetence
Drugs or alcohol: If you or your employees were under the influence when the event you want to claim for occurred
Wear and tear: Insurance won't pay out for damage or breaking of tools or equipment that are the result of general wear and tear
Breach of contract: Some types of insurance will exclude cover for costs arising from you breaching a contract
How much does painter and decorator insurance cost?
(Per Year) | Cheapest | Average |
|---|---|---|
Painter and decorator insurance . | £64.16 ^ | £87.54^ |
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for painter and decorating insurance.
Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
What’s the cheapest price I could pay?
£5.35^ a month
According to our latest data, 10% of customers paid this when taking out an annual painter and decorator insurance policy.
How much is the average business insurance claim?
£3,377^
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
How likely is it that my insurance claim will be accepted?
Almost 9 in 10
All insurance has conditions and exceptions, so you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
When it comes to business insurance, the cheapest option may not be the best option for you. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to get a better level of cover.
Our expert says…
Every year around 604,000 people are injured at work, according to government figures, and painters and decorators who are often up ladders or in other precarious positions are at high risk of having an accident or an injury.
That’s why having insurance in place is a financial safeguard and can help if you’re unable to work because of an illness or injury. It provides a lot more on top of this cover, including protection for your equipment and tools along with the costs for legal claims.
Rebecca Goodman Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
What other trades could I get insurance for?
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Tradesmen
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Electricians
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Carpenters / joiners
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Window cleaners
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Plasterers
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Construction workers
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Roofers
Why compare painter and decorator insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
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Quick and easy
Give us a few details and we'll show you multiple quotes in minutes, saving you time and effort.
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Save money
Our mission is to save you money. We've helped thousands of customers insure their business for less.
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Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
We're also the UK's most recommended price comparison website
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MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Are decorators legally required to have business insurance?
No, painters and decorators are not legally required to have business insurance, unless they own a company which hires other people. If this is the case they will need employers liability insurance.
However, insurance is strongly recommended for painters and decorators to secure more work, cover their tools, and to provide financial protection if a client or a member of the public makes a claim against them.
What insurance do I need if I employ other painters and decorators?
If you employ anyone else within your painting and decorating business, you are legally required to have employers liability insurance.
This type of insurance will cover you if your employee makes a claim if they injure themselves whilst working for you.
How do I find the right insurance policy?
The right insurance policy for you will depend on your business and the type of work you carry out. You can find the right insurance policy to suit your needs in minutes by using a comparison website like MoneySuperMarket. We’ll ask for a few details and then show you a range of quotes from major UK providers to suit your budget.
Can I cover my tools and equipment?
Yes, you can purchase tool insurance to help protect your painting and decorating tools and specialist equipment against loss, damage, and theft.
What do I need to be a self-employed painter and decorator?
If you’re self employed as a painter and decorator, you will need to be registered with HMRC, usually as a sole trader. You don’t need insurance legally but you may find it useful, especially as it can cover your costs if you can’t work for any reason.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is business insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time business insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Who are Simply Business?
Simply Business is one of the largest insurance brokers in the UK. They work with leading and specialist insurers to provide cover for small business owners, landlords and self-employed workers.
MoneySuperMarket has a commercial partnership with Simply Business. They offer various business and landlord insurance policies from different insurers through our platform, allowing our customers to find affordable quotes and policies that suit your specific needs.
Reviewed on 5 Dec 2025
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less monthly for a painter and decorator insurance policy. Figure based on annual policies purchased in 2024.
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual painter and decorator insurance policy. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 51% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual painter and decorator insurance policy. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024.
88% of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted in the 12 months before March 2025. Data from SimplyBusiness.
Simply Business data 2024
Average claims value for MoneySuperMarket customers who claimed on their business insurance in the last 12 months. Data provided by SimplyBusiness.