Public liability insurance for painters and decorators covers you if a client or member of the public suffers injury or property damage as a result of your work. A paint spill on a client’s flooring, a ladder that slips and breaks a window, or overspray that ruins a parked car — each of these can result in a claim against you. Without cover, you pay out of pocket.
This guide explains what PLI covers for painters, what it costs, how much cover you need, and what other insurance to consider alongside it.
Key Takeaways
- Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement for painters and decorators under UK law, but many clients and trade platforms require proof of it before you can list or work
- Sole traders typically pay between £80 and £300 per year for £1 million cover, with some providers offering monthly options from around £6.68/month (SimplyBusiness, 2026)
- Painting and decorating claims often involve property damage — spilled paint, solvent damage, or damage from working at height — rather than personal injury
- PLI does not cover your tools, your van, injuries to employees, or the cost of redoing defective work
- If you employ anyone, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement — minimum £5 million cover under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Do Painters and Decorators Need Public Liability Insurance?
No UK law specifically requires painters and decorators to hold public liability insurance. It’s voluntary rather than statutory.
That said, not having it puts real limits on the work you can take:
- Domestic clients — Homeowners increasingly ask for proof of insurance before work starts, especially on larger jobs like full interior repaints or period property work
- Checkatrade and similar platforms — Most lead generation directories require a valid PLI certificate to create or maintain a listing. No certificate, no profile.
- Letting agents and property managers — Most will only use contractors who can show £1–2 million PLI before accessing a managed property
- Commercial contracts — Any commercial or public sector painting job will require proof of cover before you start work
- New-build and main contractors — If you work as a subcontractor on larger sites, the main contractor will always require valid PLI
So while it’s technically optional, most self-employed painters find that operating without PLI closes off a significant share of available work.
What Does Public Liability Insurance Cover for Painters?
PLI responds to third-party claims — injuries or damage suffered by someone who isn’t you or your employee. Painting and decorating generates a distinctive set of risks compared to other trades.
| Scenario | Covered? |
|---|---|
| You spill paint on a client’s carpet, floor tiles, or furniture | Yes |
| A ladder slips and breaks a window or damages a wall | Yes |
| Overspray or masking tape residue damages a client’s car | Yes |
| A client or visitor trips over dust sheets or equipment on site | Yes |
| Solvent fumes cause a reaction requiring medical attention | Yes (check policy for injury from fumes/VOCs) |
| A paint tin left on scaffolding falls and injures a passer-by | Yes |
| Your tools are stolen from the client’s property | No — needs tools and equipment insurance |
| One of your workers is injured on site | No — needs employers’ liability insurance |
| You need to repaint a section you’ve done wrong | No — PLI covers third-party losses, not your own rework costs |
| A client claims a preparation mistake caused later paint failure | Depends — check for “completed works” or defective workmanship cover |
A note on completed works cover: Standard PLI covers incidents while you’re on site. Completed works cover extends this to claims that arise after you’ve left — for example, a client discovers that solvent from your work damaged their hardwood flooring two weeks later. Not all policies include this automatically. Worth checking before you buy.
What Does Public Liability Insurance Not Cover?
Knowing the exclusions matters:
- Your tools and equipment — Brushes, rollers, sprayers, ladders, and scaffolding need a separate tools and equipment policy if you want them covered
- Your van — Standard motor insurance doesn’t cover business use. You need commercial vehicle or motor trade insurance
- Injuries to your employees or regular subcontractors — Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you employ anyone
- Your own injury or illness — Covered separately under personal accident insurance
- Repainting defective work at your own cost — PLI covers third-party losses, not the direct cost of your own mistakes
- Deliberate acts or criminal behaviour — Never covered
How Much Does Public Liability Insurance Cost for Painters?
Painting and decorating is generally considered a lower-risk trade than gas or electrical work, which keeps premiums relatively affordable. Costs vary based on cover level, the type of work you do, and your annual turnover.
| Painter Type | Typical Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Self-employed sole trader, domestic interiors | £80 – £200/year |
| Decorator doing external or commercial work | £120 – £280/year |
| Painter using spray equipment | £150 – £300/year |
| Small firm with employees | £350 – £700+/year |
According to SimplyBusiness, painter and decorator insurance starts from £6.68 per month. Protectivity lists cover from £3.96/month, though final pricing depends on your specific circumstances, work type, and annual turnover.
Factors that push your premium higher:
- Higher cover limits — £2 million or £5 million costs more than £1 million
- Commercial work — Higher footfall and exposure than domestic decorating
- Spray painting equipment — Treated as a higher risk because overspray can cause wide-area damage
- Working at height on scaffolding — Some insurers load premiums for regular scaffold work
- Claims history — Any previous claims will increase your premium
- Higher turnover — More work means more exposure, which insurers price into your premium
How Much Cover Do Painters Need?
| Work Type | Recommended Cover |
|---|---|
| Domestic interiors — rooms, hallways, kitchens | £1 million |
| External work, period properties, or larger projects | £2 million |
| Commercial premises or contractor work | £2 – £5 million |
| Public sector or local authority contracts | £5 million (check the contract) |
Most self-employed painters doing domestic work start with £1 million. If you plan to take on commercial work, lettings contracts, or work for property management companies, get at least £2 million from the outset — it’s usually a requirement, and the cost difference at sole-trader level is modest.
What Other Insurance Do Painters and Decorators Need?
PLI is the foundation. A complete insurance setup for a self-employed painter looks like this:
| Insurance Type | Who Needs It | Legally Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | All self-employed painters | No |
| Employers’ liability | Anyone with employees or exclusive subcontractors | Yes — minimum £5 million |
| Tools and equipment | Anyone with valuable tools (sprayers, ladders, scaffolding) | No |
| Commercial vehicle insurance | If you use a van for work | Yes — standard motor insurance doesn’t cover commercial use |
| Personal accident insurance | Sole traders with no sick pay safety net | No |
Employers’ liability is the one to understand clearly. Under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, any business with employees must hold a minimum of £5 million cover. This applies to part-time workers and, in some cases, labour-only subcontractors who work exclusively for you. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can fine you up to £2,500 per day for operating without it.
Where to Get Public Liability Insurance as a Painter
Several insurers specialise in trade cover and make it straightforward to get a quote online:
- SimplyBusiness — Aggregator that compares multiple insurers. Often the easiest starting point.
- Protectivity — Specialist trade insurer with monthly payment options
- AXA Business Insurance — Includes PLI in their painter and decorator policy bundle
- Tradesman Saver and PolicyBee — Both specialise in tradesperson cover
- Rhino Trade Insurance — Known for competitive rates for sole traders
Get at least two or three quotes before committing. Annual cover is almost always cheaper than paying monthly, and the difference can be significant — monthly payments typically add 10–20% to the total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a painter and decorator need public liability insurance? It’s not a legal requirement in the UK, but most clients, trade platforms, and commercial contracts require proof of PLI before you can work. Operating without it limits your market considerably — particularly if you rely on Checkatrade, MyBuilder, or similar platforms for leads.
What type of insurance does a painter need? Public liability insurance is the starting point. You should also consider tools and equipment insurance to cover your brushes, sprayers, and ladders, and commercial vehicle insurance if you use a van. If you employ anyone, employers’ liability insurance is legally required.
How much does public liability insurance cost for a painter? Sole traders doing domestic decorating typically pay £80–£200 per year for £1 million cover. Monthly options are available from around £6.68/month with some providers. Spray work, commercial jobs, and larger cover limits push the premium higher.
What happens if a client claims after I’ve finished the job? Standard PLI covers incidents that occur while you’re on site. “Completed works” cover extends this to claims made after you’ve left. Check whether your policy includes completed works cover — if it doesn’t, ask for it, or factor it in when comparing quotes.
Do I need insurance to list on Checkatrade? Yes. Checkatrade requires a valid public liability insurance certificate to create and maintain a listing. You’ll need to provide the certificate number, insurer details, and expiry date when you sign up, and update it when your policy renews.
Building your painting business means keeping your administration tight — insurance, qualifications, and a professional online presence all matter. If you’re looking to get found by more clients online, Digital Tradies builds professional websites for UK painters and decorators from £49/month, no upfront cost, live in three days.
Related reading: Public Liability Insurance for Builders | Employers’ Liability Insurance for Tradespeople | What a Trade Website Should Include
