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Which white paint should you use on a ceiling?
Most ceilings are painted in a flat matt emulsion, because matt hides small dents and lines better than a sheen, and the shade of white is a matter of the light in the room. Kitchens, bathrooms and stained ceilings may need a paint made for those conditions.
Last reviewed:What makes ceiling paint different?
Ceilings are painted for different reasons from walls. Nobody touches them, so they do not need a tough, wipeable finish. What they do need is a paint that covers evenly, hides small imperfections and does not drip or spatter while it goes on. Paints sold as ceiling paint are usually flat matt emulsions, often thicker than wall paint, and some are tinted when wet so you can see where you have been.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. This page helps you choose a paint, or brief a decorator.
Which finish and shade should you choose?
| Choice | What it means | When it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Flat matt | No sheen, reflects light evenly | Most ceilings, especially with dents or plasterboard joins |
| Soft sheen or silk | A slight shine, easier to wipe | Kitchens, where grease may need wiping |
| Brilliant white | A bright, cool white | Rooms with good light, or a crisp look |
| Soft or warm white | A white with a hint of colour | North-facing rooms, or next to warm wall colours |
| Kitchen and bathroom paint | Designed for steam and mould | Bathrooms, shower rooms and kitchens |
| Stain-block paint or primer | Seals stains so they do not show through | Water marks, smoke or nicotine stains |
If you are painting the walls a colour, ask for a sample of a white with a little of that colour in it. It can make the room feel more joined up than pure brilliant white.
What do the labels on the tin tell you?
Paint tins carry a lot of information, and three parts are worth reading:
- The finish, such as matt, flat matt or soft sheen.
- The coverage, usually given per litre, which helps you work out how much to buy.
- The VOC content. Volatile organic compounds are solvents that evaporate as paint dries. The regulations define a product's VOC content as the mass of volatile organic compounds, in grams per litre, in the product in its ready to use condition [S1]. They apply to the paints and varnishes listed in them when those products are to be used in any part of the United Kingdom [S3].
Water-based emulsions are low in solvent compared with many oil-based paints. Still, keep windows open while you paint and while it dries.
What if the ceiling is stained, cracked or textured?
New paint will not fix the surface underneath. Before you choose a paint, look at what you are painting over:
- Water stains. Find and fix the leak first, let the ceiling dry, then use a stain-block before the top coat. Otherwise the mark comes back through.
- Cracks. Fine cracks can be filled. Long or widening cracks, or a ceiling that sags, need a plasterer or builder to look before you decorate.
- Flaking paint. Loose paint has to be scraped back and the surface prepared, or the new coat will peel with it.
- Mould. Treat the mould and improve the ventilation, then use a kitchen and bathroom paint.
- Textured ceilings such as Artex. Painting over a sound textured ceiling is generally fine. Do not sand, scrape or drill it until you know what it contains. HSE says work on textured coatings that contain asbestos can be done by non-licensed workers who are trained to recognise and work safely with asbestos, and that higher-risk removal such as wet abrasive blasting needs a licensed contractor [S2].
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
When should you hire a decorator?
Painting a ceiling is hard work on the arms and neck, and it means working from steps or a platform. A decorator is worth it when:
- the ceiling is high, such as over a stairwell
- there are stains, cracks or flaking paint to prepare
- the ceiling is textured and may need testing before any preparation
- you want walls and woodwork done at the same time
- you are not comfortable working at height
HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Ask the decorator which paint they plan to use, how many coats, and what preparation is included. Some decorators price materials in, others ask you to buy the paint, so agree that in writing.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Living room ceiling has a water stain from an old leak, now fixed. Need it sealed and repainted white."
- "Bathroom ceiling has mould around the shower. Want it treated and painted with a bathroom paint."
- "Repainting the hall, stairs and landing, including a high ceiling over the stairs."
Get quotes from decorators
Describe the room, the ceiling and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can send you a quote [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See our painters and decorators and plasterers pages. For textured ceilings, see our guide to Artex ceilings.
Questions about ceiling paint
Should ceiling paint be matt or silk?
Matt is the usual choice for ceilings. A flat finish reflects light evenly, so it hides small dents, joins in plasterboard and roller marks better than a sheen. Silk or soft sheen can be easier to wipe, which some people prefer in kitchens, but it shows every bump.
Is brilliant white the right white for a ceiling?
It is the most common, but not the only option. Brilliant white looks crisp and bright, while softer or warmer whites can look less stark in north-facing rooms or next to coloured walls. Try a sample patch and look at it in daylight and with the lights on.
What paint should I use on a bathroom ceiling?
Use a paint made for kitchens and bathrooms, which is designed to cope with steam and to resist mould. Fix the cause too: a working extractor fan and some ventilation do more for a mouldy ceiling than paint alone. Ask a decorator to treat existing mould first.
Can I paint over an Artex ceiling?
Painting over a sound textured ceiling is generally fine, but do not sand, scrape or drill it until you know whether it contains asbestos. HSE says work on textured coatings that contain asbestos can be done by non-licensed workers who are trained to recognise and work safely with asbestos, and that higher-risk removal such as wet abrasive blasting needs a licensed contractor.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
Related trades
Related pages
- White Radiator Paint: Choosing It and Using It. How to choose a white paint made for radiators, why the radiator must be cold, how long to leave it off, and when to hand the job to a decorator instead.
- Bath Tub Paint: The Bath, Not the Walls. What people mean by painting a bath, how that differs from bathroom wall paint, and what to ask before anyone coats or replaces the bath.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ and app README.
- S1: The Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2012, regulation 2, legislation.gov.uk. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1715/regulation/2
- S2: Locations of asbestos and taking the right action, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/location-materials.htm
- S3: The Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2012, regulation 3, legislation.gov.uk. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1715/regulation/3