How much does a painter and decorator charge per day in Glasgow?
Typical day rates, prices per room and per square metre, and why tenement rooms take longer than you think.
The best painters and decorators in Glasgow, 2026
Top 10
painters.
We looked at more than 50 painters and decorators working in Glasgow, checked 20 of them in depth across Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Traders and the Trading Standards Trusted Trader scheme, and ranked the best ten. Nobody paid to be here.
The table
First edition, so every entry is new · Reviews counted 3 November 2026
| Pos | Move | Decorator | Based in | Reviews | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | New | W G Stewart Decorators | Airdrie | 173 Checkatrade | 7.6 |
| 02 | New | McGlynn Decorators | Glasgow | 197 Checkatrade | 7.4 |
| 03 | New | A & A Decorator | Glasgow | 181 Checkatrade | 7.4 |
| 04 | New | Charles Stewart Quality Decorators | Paisley | 122 Trusted Trader | 7.4 |
| 05 | New | Decorating Trades | Johnstone | 92 Trusted Trader | 7.2 |
| 06 | New | KMC Decorators | Glasgow | 84 Checkatrade | 6.8 |
| 07 | New | Fresh Big Licks | Paisley | 90 Checkatrade | 6.6 |
| 08 | New | Decor Ervis | Glasgow | 95 Checkatrade | 6.5 |
| 09 | New | Ace Decor | North Glasgow | 58 Which? | 6.5 |
| 10 | New | Lada Decorators | Glasgow | 126 Checkatrade | 6.4 |
Ties are split by the unrounded score, then by review count. Every firm listed covers Glasgow, even where its base is outside the city.
Why they rank
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Number 1: W G Stewart Decorators
Airdrie · Covers Glasgow and Lanarkshire
7.6out of 10
The longest standing Checkatrade member among the Glasgow decorators we found, a member since 2014, with 173 reviews averaging 9.78 out of 10. William Stewart says he has more than 40 years in the trade and takes on both homes and businesses, including stripping and repainting wooden sash windows.
- Reviews 2.9 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 2.0 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.78 / 10 from 173 Checkatrade reviews
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since March 2014. Says over 40 years in the trade.
- Best for
- Interiors, sash window stripping and painting, commercial work
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Number 2: McGlynn Decorators
Glasgow · Covers Glasgow
7.4out of 10
Very close to perfect: 9.99 out of 10 from 197 Checkatrade reviews, the most of any decorator in this table. Mark McGlynn set up as a sole trader in 2018 and became a limited company in 2019, and reviewers single out his wallpapering and preparation.
- Reviews 3.0 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.7 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.99 / 10 from 197 Checkatrade reviews (29 in the last year)
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since March 2019
- Best for
- Painting, wallpapering, careful preparation
-
Number 3: A & A Decorator
Glasgow · Covers Glasgow
7.4out of 10
9.94 out of 10 from 181 Checkatrade reviews, and a member since 2017. Alexander Podmore's team offers more specialist work than most, including timber resin repairs, window restoration, paint spraying, murals and anti vandal coatings.
- Reviews 3.0 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.7 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.94 / 10 from 181 Checkatrade reviews
- Vetting
- Checkatrade, SafeContractor approved
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since December 2017
- Best for
- Exterior painting, timber and window repairs, murals
-
Number 4: Charles Stewart Quality Decorators
Westgate House, Paisley · Covers Glasgow and Renfrewshire
7.4out of 10
A Trusted Trader since 2012 with a 4.9 from 122 reviews and more than 30 years of experience. As well as painting and wallpaper, it handles plastering and cornicing, which is useful in older Glasgow homes where decorating turns up cracked ceilings.
- Reviews 2.7 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 2.0 / 2
- Reviews
- 4.9 from 122 Trusted Trader reviews
- Vetting
- Trusted Trader since 2012. No trade body named.
- Track record
- Trusted Trader member since 2012. Says over 30 years of experience.
- Best for
- Painting, wallpaper, plaster and cornice repairs
-
Number 5: Decorating Trades
Craigston Road, Johnstone · Covers Glasgow and Renfrewshire
7.2out of 10
Another Trusted Trader since 2012, with a 4.9 from 92 reviews for domestic and commercial decorating. Reviewers mention paperhanging, varnishing and cornice work, and the firm takes on exterior painting too.
- Reviews 2.5 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 2.0 / 2
- Reviews
- 4.9 from 92 Trusted Trader reviews
- Vetting
- Trusted Trader since 2012. No trade body named.
- Track record
- Trusted Trader member since 2012
- Best for
- Interior and exterior decorating, paperhanging, cornice work
-
Number 6: KMC Decorators
Glasgow · Covers Glasgow
6.8out of 10
Kenny McDonald has more than 25 years in the trade and a 9.89 out of 10 from 84 Checkatrade reviews. He covers interiors, exteriors, wallpaper and sash windows. Checkatrade shows his public liability insurance as unverified, so ask for proof before work starts.
- Reviews 2.5 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.7 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.89 / 10 from 84 Checkatrade reviews
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since April 2018
- Best for
- Interiors, exteriors, wallpapering, sash windows
-
Number 7: Fresh Big Licks
Paisley · Covers Glasgow and Renfrewshire
6.6out of 10
Rated 9.96 out of 10 from 90 Checkatrade reviews, with eight years in painting and decorating. It offers paint spraying and timber resin repairs alongside the usual painting and wallpaper.
- Reviews 2.6 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.4 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.96 / 10 from 90 Checkatrade reviews
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since June 2021
- Best for
- Interiors, paint spraying, timber repairs
-
Number 8: Decor Ervis
Glasgow · Covers Glasgow
6.5out of 10
9.85 out of 10 from 95 Checkatrade reviews. Ervis Kambo covers full interior and exterior decorating, wallpaper and murals, and door stripping.
- Reviews 2.5 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.4 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.85 / 10 from 95 Checkatrade reviews
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since May 2022
- Best for
- Full redecoration, wallpaper and murals, door stripping
-
Number 9: Ace Decor
Millhouse Drive (G20) · Covers Glasgow
6.5out of 10
A perfect 5.0 from 58 Which? Trusted Traders reviews, with every reviewer saying they would recommend it. It says it has been established since 1999, and owner Terry has 36 years in the trade.
- Reviews 2.2 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.7 / 2
- Reviews
- 5.0 from 58 Which? reviews
- Vetting
- Which? Trusted Trader. No trade body named.
- Track record
- Endorsed by Which? since August 2018. Says established in 1999.
- Best for
- Interior and exterior decorating, plastering
-
Number 10: Lada Decorators
Glasgow · Covers Glasgow
6.4out of 10
One of the busiest new decorators in the city: 126 Checkatrade reviews averaging 9.9 out of 10, 42 of them in the last year. It only joined Checkatrade in 2023, which holds back its track record score for now.
- Reviews 2.8 / 4
- Vetting and memberships 1.6 / 2.5
- Track record 1.0 / 2
- Reviews
- 9.9 / 10 from 126 Checkatrade reviews (42 in the last year)
- Vetting
- Passed Checkatrade's vetting checks. No trade body named.
- Track record
- On Checkatrade since September 2023
- Best for
- Painting, paint spraying, wallpaper, murals and paint effects
Just outside the ten
Good firms that missed out on this edition
- Dr. Decorator RenovationGlasgow · 9.92 / 10 from 87 Checkatrade reviews · not checked in depth
- T K Home Renovation10 / 10 from 103 Checkatrade reviews · mainly renovation
- Mark Collins No1 DecorGlasgow · 240 FreeIndex reviews · profile unavailable during our checks
- Beardmore DecorDumbarton · 5.0 from 49 Trusted Trader reviews
- Craig LangKilsyth · 80 FreeIndex reviews
How we scored this table
We built a long list from Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Traders, the Trusted Trader scheme and FreeIndex, then checked 20 firms in depth. Each got a score out of ten from the checks on the right. The table is that score, highest first.
Decorators have no official registration scheme, so our second check looks at independent vetting and named trade bodies. None of this edition's top ten named a body such as the Painting and Decorating Association or Dulux Select Decorators. Google Maps blocked our checks, and responsiveness has not been tested yet; scores are based on the other three checks, scaled to ten.
-
Reviews4 points
Volume and average rating on the main platform, plus credit for strong reviews on a second platform.
-
Vetting and memberships2.5 points
Independent vetting such as Checkatrade, Which? or Trusted Trader, plus named trade bodies or manufacturer schemes.
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Track record2 points
Years trading, backed by Companies House or a membership date where we could find one.
Before you hire a decorator in Glasgow
Most of a good paint job is the preparation you never see. Ask about it up front.
Ask what the price includes
Filling, sanding, a mist coat on new plaster and two finishing coats should all be in the quote. A low price often means less preparation.
Look for a trade body
There is no official register for decorators. Trade bodies such as the Painting and Decorating Association, and manufacturer schemes such as Dulux Select Decorators, inspect their members' work.
Know the Glasgow rules
- Old woodwork in homes built before the 1960s may have lead paint. Dry sanding or burning it off creates toxic dust, so ask how the decorator will deal with it.
- Tenement closes are shared by every owner. Painting the close usually needs a majority of owners to agree, under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas may need permission before you paint stonework that has never been painted, or change the colour of windows and doors.
Questions
Who is the best painter and decorator in Glasgow?
In our 2026 table, W G Stewart Decorators scores highest, with 7.6 out of 10. It has been on Checkatrade since 2014, with 173 reviews averaging 9.78. McGlynn Decorators has the most reviews and the highest rating in the table.
Why are the scores lower than on the electricians table?
Decorators have no official register to check, and none of the top ten named a trade body, so most score lower on our second check. Scores are fair to compare between decorators, not across trades.
Did any of these decorators pay to be listed?
No. Nobody can buy a place in the table. Some firms pay to be on Checkatrade or Which?, but that only counts here because those schemes check identity, insurance and references.
How often is this table updated?
Once a year. Each annual edition is a full review of every firm, and from the 2027 edition the movement column will show who has climbed or dropped since the year before.
Guides for hiring painters and decorators
All 20 guides
Do I need permission to paint my windows or front door in a Glasgow conservation area?
What counts as maintenance, what needs planning permission or listed building consent, and how to check before you start.
Do I need a permit for scaffolding or a skip in Glasgow?
Current council fees for skips and scaffolding, who normally applies, and the fixed penalty for going without.
Is it safe to remove an Artex ceiling?
Why older textured ceilings may contain asbestos, how to test, and why skimming over is often the safest option.
Other tables
Glasgow decorator not on the list?
Send us your trade body memberships and where we can read your reviews. Getting assessed is free. Getting ranked is earned.