Price by room size and finish level
| Room | Floor size | Wall + ceiling surface | Price installed (TTC 17 %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office / nursery | 8–10 m² | ~35 m² | €350–€520 |
| Standard bedroom | 12–16 m² | ~45 m² | €520–€750 |
| Master bedroom | 18–22 m² | ~60 m² | €750–€980 |
| Living room (single tone) | 20–26 m² | ~70 m² | €850–€1 150 |
| Living room (2-tone + accent wall) | 20–26 m² | ~70 m² | €1 050–€1 400 |
| Kitchen (moisture paint) | 12–18 m² | ~42 m² | €650–€950 |
| Bathroom (anti-mould paint) | 6–10 m² | ~30 m² | €480–€780 |
| Stairwell (2 floors) | — | ~45 m² | €750–€1 200 |
| Open-plan living-dining | 40–55 m² | ~120 m² | €1 400–€2 100 |
Per-m² labour rate drivers:
- Paint sheen: matt ~€28/m², eggshell ~€30/m², satin ~€32/m², semi-gloss ~€35/m²
- Ceiling height > 2,60 m: surcharge €3–€5/m² for scaffolding or stilts
- Filler prep > 1 m²: add €40–€80 per m² of repair
- Stain-block primer (ceiling water stains, smoke): add €80–€150 per room
- Colour change light to dark: add a third coat, +20–30 %
Base-price components on a €650 bedroom quote:
- Prep and masking: €120–€160
- Primer (if needed): €60–€100
- Paint material (2 coats, 10 l covers ~100 m²): €90–€150
- Application labour, two coats: €340–€420
- Clean-up, waste: €40–€70
A €540 net project at TVA 17 % reaches €632 TTC — always compare TTC.
Paint brand, sheen and quality tiers
Three tiers are sold in Luxembourg, separated by washability, coverage and VOC content.
Entry tier — €30–€50 per 10-litre can:
- Generic matt wall paint, acrylic emulsion
- Coverage 7–9 m² per litre on second coat
- Washable after 28 days but shows scuff marks
- Suitable for low-traffic bedrooms, ceilings
- Brands: white-label distributor paint, basic Tollens entry
Mid tier — €60–€110 per 10-litre can:
- Standard washable matt or eggshell, low VOC
- Coverage 9–12 m² per litre on second coat
- Washable after 7 days, scuff-resistant
- Suitable for living rooms, offices, kitchens
- Brands: Dulux Easycare, Levis Ambiance, Seigneurie Saint-Marc
Premium tier — €120–€250 per 10-litre can:
- Chalky, mineral or eco-washable finish
- Coverage 11–14 m² per litre, denser pigment
- Scrub-resistant, low-VOC, often A+ label
- Superior depth and colour retention
- Brands: Farrow & Ball Estate, Little Greene Intelligent, Flamant, Argile
Choosing tier by room:
- Bedroom: mid tier matt — best value
- Living room: mid to premium matt or eggshell, especially for deep tones
- Kitchen and bathroom: mid or premium satin specifically formulated for moisture
- Ceiling: entry-level matt, unless feature
- Hallway / high-traffic: premium washable, justified by service life
Ask the decorator which brand and code is quoted. A good decorator will not cut on paint brand — they cut on prep time, which hurts you later.
Inclusions, exclusions and prep work
Included in a standard €520–€750 bedroom quote:
- Floor, furniture and skirting-board masking with film and tape
- Light sanding of existing paint, flat surfaces
- Minor filler on small holes and dents (less than 1 m² total)
- Primer on stained or patched areas
- Two finish coats on walls and ceiling
- Mid-tier paint, colour of client choice
- Furniture carry-back to original position
- Site clean-up, waste removal
Commonly excluded — expect a line or separate quote:
- Heavy wall repair (crack filling > 1 m², plaster patching): €40–€90/m²
- Wallpaper removal: €12–€20/m²
- Mould treatment: €80–€180 per room + stain-block primer
- Skirting-board paint (usually gloss, different paint): €5–€9/linear metre
- Door repaint (per door, 2 coats): €80–€160
- Radiator paint: €45–€85 per radiator
- Window-frame paint: €80–€180 per window
- Stain or varnish on parquet skirting or wood: separate trade
The four prep-stage traps:
- Old painted gloss over matt — requires a deglossing sand; skipping it causes peeling within months
- Unfilled plaster cracks — reappear through two coats of paint
- Unprimed new plaster — paint absorbs unevenly, shows patchy finish
- Wrong undercoat for high-sheen finish — adhesion failure, visible brush marks
Reputable decorators write the prep steps into the scope. If the quote says "paint walls and ceiling" with no prep detail, it is either a rush job or the prep will be invoiced as extras.
TVA — 17 % default, 3 % on labour at primary residence
Interior painting of a dwelling is a textbook renovation labour — fully eligible for TVA 3 % on the labour portion if the property is the owner's primary residence held for more than 2 years. The paint material itself stays at TVA 17 %.
Rate in practice:
- Painting existing rooms in a primary residence > 2 years old: labour TVA 3 % via logement.lu declaration, material TVA 17 %
- Painting in a new build < 2 years old: TVA 17 % on everything
- Painting in a rental: TVA 17 %; landlord with VAT on commercial rental may deduct
- Painting in a secondary residence: TVA 17 % regardless
- Painting a home office proportion of the dwelling: residential portion at 3 %, business portion at 17 % (pro rata)
Split invoice pattern:
- Paint and material line: net + TVA 17 %
- Labour line (prep, priming, application, clean-up): net + TVA 3 %
- Reference to signed logement declaration on the invoice
- Painter's TVA number and Autorisation d'établissement reference
Worked example on a €650 TTC bedroom (€556 net, 30 % material / 70 % labour):
- Material €167 + TVA 17 % €28 = €195
- Labour €389 + TVA 3 % €12 = €401
- Total: €596 TTC vs €650 TTC at full 17 %
- Saving: €54 per room
On a full-apartment repaint at €3 500 net, the 3 % treatment saves €340–€380 overall. Ask for the logement declaration pack before signing. The painter issues the split invoice and retains the signed declaration.
Comparing three decorator quotes
Two quotes on the same room often differ by €200 — not because one is overpriced, but because each decorator read the prep scope differently.
The seven checks that matter:
- Wall surface area in m² — the quote should state the measured wall + ceiling surface, not the floor area
- Paint brand and reference — specified, not "quality paint"
- Sheen level — matt, eggshell, satin; each priced differently
- Coats — always two; three coats for colour change or rich tones
- Prep scope — sanding, filling, priming specifics, square-metre of filler
- Masking scope — floor, furniture, skirting, radiators, electrical outlets
- TVA line — 3 % on labour if primary residence, 17 % on paint, or blended 17 %
Briefing pack to send each decorator:
- Floor plan or room photos with dimensions
- Target colour and finish (matt, satin)
- Paint brand preference or budget
- Number of rooms, surfaces to include, surfaces to exclude
- Any special prep (mould, cracks, old wallpaper)
Typical decorator segments:
- One-person freelance at €28–€32/m² — agile, good for single-room jobs
- Small firm (2–4 painters) at €30–€36/m² — faster, can cover full apartment
- Multi-trade renovation firm at €34–€40/m² — priced higher, convenient when part of a larger project
Quotes on the same brief cluster within ±15 %. A 30 % gap usually means prep or paint brand is different. Call the cheapest for clarification before signing — often the clarification brings the price up to market and the quality of the site stays with you.
FAQ — Room painting costs in Luxembourg
Painting a room in Luxembourg sits between €350 and €950 for 12–16 m² with two coats on walls and ceiling, driven by wall surface, paint sheen, quality tier and prep scope. The preparation and primer stage is the single biggest quality lever — more so than paint brand. Book painters in January-March for spring slots, specify paint brand and sheen in writing, and request a split invoice with TVA 3 % on labour if the residence qualifies. Fynd.lu lists declared decorators with Autorisation d'établissement, public-liability cover and written scope — request three quotes on a shared brief with photos, wall-surface area and target colour before signing.