Drylining Cost per m² London 2026

Typical drylining prices per m²

A standard metal stud partition typically costs £30 to £55 per m², including labour and materials. London jobs often sit towards the top of the range.

Work	Typical price per m²	What it usually covers
Metal stud partition	£30–£55	Track, studs, one board layer on both faces, taping and jointing
Acoustic partition	£55–£90	Two board layers with mineral wool insulation
Wall lining, dot and dab	£18–£35	Board fixed to existing masonry
Suspended tile ceiling	£25–£50	Metal grid with 600 x 600 mm tiles

Supply and fit is included. These are typical UK ranges, not a Vayton quote. Decoration is extra, so check whether a price includes it and VAT. Your price depends on the measured scope below.

Building one new wall in a home? See stud wall cost.

What does a drylining price per m² cover?

One rate will not fit every wall or ceiling. A board-fixing labour rate, a complete partition price and a finished ceiling price describe different packages. For a useful comparison, give each contractor the same drawings, specification, quantities, access information and supply responsibilities.

Price description	What needs to be stated
Partition per m²	Whether the measured area is one face of the wall, and whether the rate includes the complete frame, specified boards on both sides, insulation and finish.
Board fixing per m²	Whether the quantity counts every boarded side and layer, plus board type, thickness, substrate and who supplies materials.
Ceiling per m²	Ceiling type, plan area, suspension depth, board or tile specification, edge details, access panels and finish.
Finishing per m²	Jointing or skimming, preparation and decoration, with the measured surfaces and any separately priced stages confirmed.

Worked example: one partition, three different quantities

Assume a rectangular partition 5 m long and 2.7 m high. The following quantities are gross, before door openings, returns or waste. They explain measurement and are not a system specification or a material order.

Measurement	Calculation	Quantity
Partition area on one face	5 × 2.7	13.5 m²
One board layer on each of two sides	13.5 × 2 sides × 1 layer	27 m² of board
Two board layers on each of two sides	13.5 × 2 sides × 2 layers	54 m² of board

If a complete partition is quoted using one-face area, its specified boards may already be included in that rate. Do not multiply the complete-system price by the total board area. If the two sides have different build-ups, measure their board layers separately and show the difference in the work schedule.

How to measure an MF or suspended ceiling

For a rectangular room 6 m long and 4 m wide, the ceiling plan area is 24 m². Count this once. A two-layer boarded ceiling would have 48 m² of board before waste, but the complete ceiling may still be priced against the 24 m² plan area.

List bulkheads, perimeter details, changes of level, access hatches and service openings separately. MF plasterboard and demountable tile-and-grid systems have different components and finishing requirements. State the ceiling type, height, suspension depth and access conditions, and mark any unknown specification for confirmation.

Calculate wall and ceiling areas with the enquiry planner

Labour-only and supply-and-fit: compare the same scope

Item	Agree before comparing prices
Materials	Who supplies framing, boards, insulation, fixings, compounds, trims and access panels? Who checks deliveries and provides dry storage?
Site logistics	Who handles unloading, moving materials, access equipment, protection and waste? State floor levels and loading restrictions.
Openings and backing	Doors, reveals, plywood backing, service openings, reinforcement and any separate support requirements.
Finish and handover	Jointing or skimming, decoration, inspection points, snagging and the work left for other trades.

Ask how setting out, material handling, access equipment, waste and return visits are priced. A labour-only rate can leave those responsibilities with the main contractor, and a supply-and-fit price still needs its boundaries stated. Check the VAT basis, exclusions, provisional items and the process for instructed changes.

What changes the cost?

Wall height, board types and layers, insulation, backing, door details and the finish all affect the cost. Mark plywood pattressing zones, service openings and access panels on the drawings so they can be allowed for. High ceilings, restricted deliveries, small separated areas and repeated visits also change the work. For occupied premises, state the working hours and areas that must stay usable.

Plan plywood pattressing and wall backing before boarding

Fire and acoustic performance must come from the specified complete system and its details. Board quantity or colour alone does not establish a performance rating. As one manufacturer reference, British Gypsum’s system selector records the boards, frame, fixings, sealant and junction requirements together. Any changes should be reviewed with the design team.

Technical reference: British Gypsum system specification example ↗. Checked 12 October 2026. This is a reference, not a system selected for your project.

Prepare a drylining enquiry

Send the postcode, latest plans, wall and ceiling types, dimensions or measured quantities, preferred programme and the labour-only or supply-and-fit arrangement you need. Include openings, backing, finishes and access restrictions. If drawings or system details are not ready, tell us what is still to be decided.

The planner calculates gross rectangular areas and can carry them into the enquiry form. It does not deduct openings, select a compliant system, add waste or confirm a price. Measurements and specification still need reviewing before a quotation or material order.

Dry lining and ceiling contractors in London See first-fix work at IQ Nursery

Drylining cost per m²: labour-only and supply-and-fit

Turn your quantities into a clear trade package.