Painter & decorator insurance

Painting and decorating is more than just a job—it’s a craft. But while you’re busy transforming walls into works of art, accidents and mishaps can creep in uninvited. That’s where painter and decorator insurance steps in.

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Overview

What is painter and decorator insurance insurance?

Painter and decorator insurance is a customised policy designed to protect professionals in this field from the risks of their trade. From accidental spills on a client’s carpet to equipment theft, this insurance covers various challenges that can arise while working on-site or in transit.

Whether you’re a self-employed painter or run a decorating business, having the right insurance ensures you can work confidently, knowing you’re protected.

How much does painter and decorator insurance cost?

The cost of painter decorator insurance depends on factors like the size of your business, team and turnover. For example:

  • A self-employed painter decorator might pay as little as £100–£200 annually for basic public liability insurance.
  • Larger businesses or those requiring more comprehensive coverage, like tools and legal expenses, could see premiums rise accordingly.
Public liability insurance
Public liability

Protects you against accusations of causing an accidental injury or property damage to either your clients or a third party.

Up to £10,000,000 cover including products liability

No excess

Expert legal team

A+ specialist insurers

Covers claims against your client caused by your business

From
£8.41
per month
Key cover
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

No excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competative prices

From
£11.41
per month
Key cover
Employers' liability insurance
Employers' liability

Provides coverage for compensation costs, legal fees, and medical expenses related to employee injuries sustained at work.

£10,000,000 cover as standard

Flexible cover

No deductible

Underwritten by top insurers - Admiral Business

From
£1.25
per month with public liability
Flexible
Electronic devices insurance
Electronic devices

Pays for repair or replacement if your portable electronic equipment (and accessories) get damaged or lost.

Up to £10,000 cover

Accessories included

Hired equipment is covered

Worldwide cover

From
£9.24
per month with a key cover
Worldwide
Trade tools insurance
Trade tools

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your tools if they’re stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Sport business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Hairdressing business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Pet business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Massage business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Music equipment insurance
Musical instruments

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Business stock insurance
Stock

Protects your inventory from various risks, including theft, fire, flooding, or malicious damage.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Plant and machinery insurance
Owned & hired plant

Protects heavy equipment and machinery used in industries like construction, engineering, and agriculture.

Up to £50,000 cover

Insure for as long or as short as you need

Competitive prices

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£9.50
per month with a key cover
Flexible
Contract works insurance
Contract works

Covers the work you’re responsible for during construction or renovation projects.

Cover up £500,000

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£12.00
per month with a key cover
UK wide
Commercial legal expenses insurance
Commercial legal expenses

Protects you and your business against a range of issues not typically covered by professional indemnity or public liability.

IR35 & HMRC investigations

Legal matters concerning your business

Negative PR (£25,000 cover)

Criminal prosecution

Compliance & regulation issues

Unpaid invoices (over £200)

Also includes free telephone advice & help from qualified professionals.

Tax and commercial legal advice

Counselling for you and your staff

Access to a legal template library

Identity theft assistance

Included

with every subscription.
Included
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Nil excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competative prices

From
£8.41
per month
Key cover
Public liability insurance
Public liability

Protects you against accusations of causing an accidental injury or property damage to either your clients or a third party.

Up to £10,000,000 cover including products liability

No excess

Expert legal team

A+ specialist insurers

Covers claims against your client caused by your business

From
£8.41
per month
Key cover
Employers' liability insurance
Employers' liability

Provides coverage for compensation costs, legal fees, and medical expenses related to employee injuries sustained at work.

£10,000,000 cover as standard

Flexible cover

No deductible

Underwritten by top insurers - Admiral Business

From
£1.25
per month with public liability
Flexible
Electronic devices insurance
Electronic devices

Pays for repair or replacement if your portable electronic equipment (and accessories) get damaged or lost.

Up to £10,000 cover

Accessories included

Hired equipment is covered

Worldwide cover

From
£9.24
per month with a key cover
Worldwide
Trade tools insurance
Trade tools

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your tools if they’re stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Sport business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Hairdressing business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Pet business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Massage business equipment insurance
Business equipment

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Music equipment insurance
Musical instruments

Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your business equipment if it's stolen, damaged, or lost.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Business stock insurance
Stock

Protects your inventory from various risks, including theft, fire, flooding, or malicious damage.

Up to £20,000 cover

Optional cover in a vehicle overnight

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£5.60
per month with a key cover
Van cover
Plant and machinery insurance
Owned & hired plant

Protects heavy equipment and machinery used in industries like construction, engineering, and agriculture.

Up to £50,000 cover

Insure for as long or as short as you need

Competitive prices

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£9.50
per month with a key cover
Flexible
Contract works insurance
Contract works

Covers the work you’re responsible for during construction or renovation projects.

Cover up £500,000

Flexible cover

Low deductibles

Cover anywhere in the UK, including transit

From
£12.00
per month with a key cover
UK wide
Commercial legal expenses insurance
Commercial legal expenses

Protects you and your business against a range of issues not typically covered by professional indemnity or public liability.

IR35 & HMRC investigations

Legal matters concerning your business

Negative PR (£25,000 cover)

Criminal prosecution

Compliance & regulation issues

Unpaid invoices (over £200)

Also includes free telephone advice & help from qualified professionals.

Tax and commercial legal advice

Counselling for you and your staff

Access to a legal template library

Identity theft assistance

Included

with every subscription
Included
A few questions to get an instant price.
A few questions to get a price.
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Insurance Times Awards 2023, finalist, excellence in technology.
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In detail

Public liability insurance for painters and decorators

Public liability insurance is a must-have for painters and decorators. This cover protects you if your work causes injury to a third party or damage to property.

For example:

  • A paint tin tipping over and ruining a client’s expensive sofa.
  • A ladder accident that injures someone on-site.

Without public liability insurance for painters and decorators, such incidents could leave you with hefty compensation claims and legal costs. This policy ensures you’re covered and keeps your reputation intact.

Professional indemnity insurance for painters and decorators

While not always essential, professional indemnity insurance can be a lifesaver for decorators offering advice or specialist services.

For instance:

  • If a client claims your colour scheme advice led to financial losses due to expensive reworks.
  • If your recommendations on materials or techniques result in project delays or dissatisfaction.

Professional indemnity insurance ensures your legal defence and any compensation costs are taken care of.

Other business insurance for painters and decorators

Running a painting and decorating business involves more than just brushes and ladders. Here are additional types of coverage you might need:

Employers’ Liability

If you employ staff, even on a part-time basis, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement in the UK. It covers claims for injury or illness suffered by employees due to their work.

Tools & Materials

Your tools are the backbone of your trade. Tools & materials insurance protects against theft, damage, or loss, ensuring you can replace essential items without financial stress.

Hired in Plant

If you use rented equipment, such as scaffolding or paint sprayers, hired-in plant insurance covers these items against theft or damage, so you’re not left footing the replacement bill.

Commercial Legal Expenses

Disputes happen. Commercial legal expenses insurance covers the costs of resolving issues like contract disagreements, debt recovery, or employment claims, ensuring your business remains financially stable.

In this section
Suited awards.
FAQs

Common questions

Do I really need public liability insurance as a painter and decorator?

Public liability insurance for painters and decorators protects you against claims for property damage or injury caused during your work. It’s often a requirement for securing contracts or working in certain locations.

Can self-employed painters and decorators get insurance?

Self-employed painters and decorators can get insurance easily these days. Suited offers tailored coverage for individuals working solo. This includes public liability insurance, tools coverage, and more, depending on your needs.

When would I need professional indemnity insurance for painters and decorators?

If you are asked to come up with designs or offer advice, including professional indemnity in your painter and decorator insurance is a wise move.

Is pain and painting equipment covered under tools & materials insurance?

Anything that you have purchased and need to do your job as a painter/decorator is covered by tools & materials insurance covers against loss, theft, or malicious damage.

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