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UK DIY Costs
DIY is the abbreviation for ‘Do It Yourself’ and it is the activity of decorating, building, and making repairs at home yourself, rather than employing a professional to do it for you.
To investigate the costs and trends of DIY in the UK, at Bobbi Beck, we have conducted our own research as well as gathered information from other trusted sources which will be included and referenced throughout this collection of statistics.
The growth of DIY
During the national lockdown in 2020, the DIY and homeware sector was booming, with the UK turning their attention to home improvements.
- During the first lockdown in 2020, online sales of DIY products grew by 50%
- In March and April 2020, the average person spent 39 minutes per day doing DIY and gardening, this is an increase of 143%
The annual turnover of retail sales of decorating and DIY products has increased gradually in the UK from 2008 to 2020. In 2020, the turnover of retail sales reached approximately 9.1 billion pounds which is a significant increase from years prior.
This increase in turnover coincides with research that uncovered that in 2019, 34% of people in the UK said that they were going to undertake more DIY tasks than they had done before.
The number of Brits doing DIY
In a recent study, it found that 60% of Brits would either try to carry out household tasks by themselves or they would rely on a partner, friend or family member to help them carry out the task. Therefore, only two fifths of Brits would call a professional to do the job for them.
When it comes to who does the DIY in their household, another survey found that 52% of Brits say that they are responsible and 27% say that their partner will take the lead. One in eight Brits say that they will have other family members come over to help them with their DIY projects and one in six reported that they do not undertake any DIY projects or they would get it done by a professional instead.
Out of those who are responsible for the DIY projects in their home, it is younger people who are least likely to be in charge with only 35% of people aged from 18 to 25 agreeing to get their hands dirty. This then changes when Brits hit the age of 25, and 54% of those aged 25 and over are in charge of the DIY responsibilities.
The data also shows that almost two in five (38%) women are responsible for the DIY projects in their households compared to 67% of men.
The most common DIY projects that Brits carry out
When it comes to carrying out a DIY project, it seems as though men and women have different approaches, with over half of females stating that they would use YouTube and tutorials to find out how to carry out a DIY job. This differs from men, 64% of whom said that they would just “wing it”.
Some of the most common DIY projects that Brits feel that they can successfully carry out are:
- Decorating and installing furniture, which 82% of Brits say they would take on
- Basic carpentry and woodworking jobs, which 41% of Brits say they would take on
- Plumbing and electrical jobs, which 25% of Brits say they would take on
- Building work, which 17% of Brits say they would take on
Out of the Brits that do not participate in DIY jobs, 29% reportedly don’t think they have the skills to successfully complete the project. However, only 11% of people believe that a professional would do a better quality job.
Costs of DIY compared to hiring a professional
To find out whether DIY is cheaper than hiring a professional, we undertook research to see which option has the lower cost for different types of DIY projects.
Changing a plug socket
Materials needed for DIY: Insulated screwdriver £6.47, voltage indicator £64, pipe and cable detector £36, hammer action drill £79 with masonry bits £6.41, wire strippers £11.99, new double socket £5.70, wall plugs and screws £4.49, green/yellow sleeving £7.
DIY total cost: £221.06
Cost hiring a professional: £40 (labour only)
Conclusion: cheaper (and safer) to hire a professional
Hanging wallpaper
Materials needed for DIY: Paste brush £4.50, paper-hanging scissors £4.89, wallpaper table £16, plumb line/chalk line £4.79, wallpaper scorer £16.99, paper-hanging brush £4.50, wallpaper steamer £22.03, seam roller £1.99, combination smoother/cutter £2.60.
DIY total cost: £36.40
Cost hiring a professional: £800 (labour only)
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: DIY for cheap wallpaper but get a professional if your wallpaper is expensive
Replacing a light fitting
Materials needed for DIY: Circuit tester £9.99, small slot or Phillips screwdriver £7.31, wire strippers £11.99, new light fixture, wire nuts £5.98, electrical tape £2.03.
DIY total cost: £37.30
Cost hiring a professional: £50-£75
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: Cost-saving is minimal; it would be smarter and safer to hire a professional if you're unsure of what to do
Fixing an indoor leaking tap
Materials needed for DIY: Adjustable spanner £6.39, slot or cross-head screwdriver £5.35, small allen key £3.99, assorted washers £5.69, replacement cartridge £9.99 or assorted washers and O-rings £4.99.
DIY total cost: £36.40
Cost hiring a professional: £140
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy / medium
Recommednation: DIY
Sealing windows and doors
Materials needed for DIY: Window sealant £7.50.
DIY total cost: £7.50
Cost hiring a professional: £100
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Unblocking a sink
Materials needed for DIY: Baking soda £3.55. Vinegar £6.90.
DIY total cost: £10.45
Cost hiring a professional: £50-£70
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Hanging pictures & mirrors
Materials needed for DIY: Pipe, cable and stud detector £36, drill £24.48, screwdriver £3.60, tape measure £3.69, pencil £0.23, hammer £4.99, carpenters awl £1.99, spirit level £6.95.
DIY total cost: £81.93
Cost hiring a professional: £45
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Hanging shelves
Materials needed for DIY: Pipe, cable and stud detector £36, a floating shelf, 50mm or 38 mm screws £1.99, small screws for fixing the shelves to the bars £4.25, wall plug £4.49.
DIY total cost: £42.24
Cost hiring a professional: £200
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Painting woodwork
Materials needed for DIY: Acrylic caulk £3.19, latex paint additive £12.99, paint, painter's tape £1.50, primer £4.99, spackling compound £3.98, two-part wood filler £3.34
DIY total cost: £29.99
Cost hiring a professional: £95
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Putting up a curtain rail
Materials needed for DIY: Curtain pole and brackets £6, steel measuring tape £17.21, pencil £0.23, bradawl £3.44, drill and bits £50, wall plugs £4.49, masking tape £0.59, screwdriver £5.68.
DIY total cost: £87.64
Cost hiring a professional: £45
Conclusion: cheaper to hire professional
Assembling flat pack furniture
Materials needed for DIY: Allen key £3.99, wrench £6.64, a drill £24.48, a Phillips and flathead screwdriver £7.31, a hammer £4.99, a tape measure £3.69, a level £6.95
DIY total cost: £58.05
Cost hiring a professional: £90
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Painting walls and furniture
Materials needed for DIY: Paint, paint roller £5.50, paint roller extension pole £6.54, drop cloths £4.99, paintbrushes £1.95, paint tray £2.49, sandpaper £3.04, painter's tape £6.10, rags, putty knife £6.29.
DIY total cost: £36.9
Cost hiring a professional: £270
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Wiring a light switch
Materials needed for DIY: A new light switch £2.87, VDE screwdriver £7.76, pliers £2.78, electrical tape £2.03
DIY total cost: £15.44
Cost hiring a professional: £150
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: only DIY if you're experienced. If not, it would be safer to hire a professional
Resealing a bath
Materials needed for DIY: Safety gloves £0.90, safety glasses £0.90, masking tape £1.80, safety knife £3.30, caulking gun £6.49, silicone sealant £3.50, silicone applicator £4.99.
DIY total cost: £21.88
Cost hiring a professional: £85
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Change a radiator
Materials needed for DIY: New radiator brackets £6, 2 adjustable spanners £20.86, washing up bowl £3, radiator bleed key £1.29, pipe/cable/stud detector £36, a drill £24.48, a masonry drill bit £1.39, some steel wood, cloths or a rag, PTFE tape £0.29
DIY total cost: £93.31
Cost hiring a professional: £125
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: only DIY if you're experienced. If not, it would be smarter to hire a professional
Plastering a wall
Materials needed for DIY: Plasterer's trowel and bucket trowel £14.99, plasterers float £9.48, corner trowel £9.99, hawk £13.99, 2 buckets £11.96, mixing stick or paddle £6.58, plaster £10.18, clean water, sandpaper £3.19, stepladder or stilts £99.99, flat mask £5.94.
DIY total cost: £186.29
Cost hiring a professional: £1,100
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: hard
Recommednation: Hire a professional
Fitting a carpet
Materials needed for DIY: Your carpet, linoleum knife £11.98, carpet seam roller £14.49, large magnet/weight £12.54, carpet tape £5.99, trowel and trimmer £8.98, power stretcher £886.80, bonding iron £98.69.
DIY total cost: £1039
Cost hiring a professional: £120-150
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Tiling a bathroom
Materials needed for DIY: Your tiles, pencil £0.23, protective clothing £6.78, dust sheet £4.99, sponges and cloths £5.99, spirit level £5.89, stanley knife £6.99, tape measure £3.98, step ladder £99.99, scraper £3.45, rubber mallet £5.49, wooden baton £3, spacers £10.99, trowel £14.99, bucket £5.98, tile cutter £49.99, grout float £7.99, grout finisher £3.49, dustpan and brush £2.26
DIY total cost: £242.47
Cost hiring a professional: £1000
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: DIY if you feel confident, otherwise hire a professional
Laying a patio
Materials needed for DIY: Hardcore building sand £2.98 and cement £10.15, paving slabs £679, shovel £7.29, rake £12.30, wheelbarrow £39.99, pickaxe £12.99, wooden pegs £9.99, hammer £4.99, spirit level £5.89, rubber mallet £5.49, bolster chisel £12.99, pointing trowel £5.78, tape measure £3.98, string £2.75, gloves £0.90, goggles £2.46, ear protectors £4.77, face mask £5.94, vibrating plate compactor £399, cement mixer £279.99.
DIY total cost: £1509.62
Cost hiring a professional: £1200
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Laying decking
Materials needed for DIY: Pencil £0.23, tape measure £3.98, spirit level £5.89, builder's line or string and pins to secure in place £16.45, spade £10, tamper £35, a saw £7.59, drill with wood bit £40, decking boards £15.84, wood for decking frame £6.78, decking screws £29.99, weed control fabric £6.85 and gravel £3.70, coach screws £6.29.
DIY total cost: £188.59
Cost hiring a professional: £1500
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: DIY if you feel confident, otherwise hire a professional
Wall-mounting a TV
Materials needed for DIY: Cross-head and flat-head screwdrivers £7.95, impact drill £36.50, stone drill bits size 5 £0.79, a spirit level £5.89, pair of scissors £0.95, a stud finder £26.94, a tape measure £3.98, various sized plugs £9.99 and hex keys £2.99.
DIY total cost: £95.98
Cost hiring a professional: £100
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: medium
Recommednation: Cost-saving is minimal; DIY if you feel confident, otherwise hire a professional
Fitting a lock
Materials needed for DIY: Drill £24.48, screwdriver £3.60, utility knife £9.99, wood chisel £4.79, tape measure £3.98, hammer £4.99, sawhorses £34.99, door lock instalation kit £79.98, hole saws £7.13, safety glasses £0.90, work gloves £0.90, hearing protection £4.77, lockset £36.95, small wood block £1.50.
DIY total cost: £218.05
Cost hiring a professional: £80
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Cleaning the gutter
Materials needed for DIY: Ladder £89.99, wet/dry vacuum £39.98, outdoor gloves £3.99, pressure washer £149.98, leaf blower £18.99, grabber/scoop £7.80, collection container £1, liquid cleaner £2
DIY total cost: £313.73
Cost hiring a professional: £150
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Bleeding radiator
Materials needed for DIY: A radiator bleed key £1.29, an old cloth.
DIY total cost: £1.29
Cost hiring a professional: £100
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Replacing a doorknob
Materials needed for DIY: Flat-head screwdriver £3.60, Phillips-head screwdriver £5.68, doorknob set.
DIY total cost: £9.28
Cost hiring a professional: £10 per door
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Painting front door
Materials needed for DIY: Masking tape £1.80, general-purpose household cleaner £1, flat scraper £3.45, sandpaper £3.19, primer and undercoat, filler if necessary £18.45, methylated spirit £12.65, topcoat paint £14.99, paintbrush £1.95.
DIY total cost: £57.48
Cost hiring a professional: £175-275
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Chimney sweeping
Materials needed for DIY: Duct tape £3.98, large dust sheet £1.12, old bed sheet, torch £12.99, chimney brush £10.99, set of universal rods £18.99, mask £5.94 and gloves £0.90, vacuum £37.
DIY total cost: £91.91
Cost hiring a professional: £50-£80
Conclusion: cheaper to hire a professional
Filling in cracks in a wall
Filling paste £7.04, joint compound or resin £5.49, filler knife/plaster trowel £5.50, curved tool for scraping (old knife or screwdriver) £3.60, cleaning cloths £5.89, cotton cover to protect flooring and furniture £1.12.
DIY total cost: £28.64
Cost hiring a professional: £200
Conclusion: cheaper to DIY
Difficulty: easy
Recommednation: DIY
Summary
From our research and the research from other trusted sources, we can see that it is likely that you will save money from carrying out a DIY task rather than hiring a professional to do the job for you. The research also shows that Brits are becoming more willing to carry out DIY tasks for their homes in the future, which is a great way to save money.
Methodology
The sources used for the actual locating the price for each DIY item were based on being the average online price and it coming from a popular, trusted DIY retailer (eg/ B&Q, Toolstation, Screwfix, Amazon etc).
The sources for the actual redecorating / renovating jobs were found from articles recommending which jobs would add value to the home.