Published 11 September 2026
Typical price ranges for a metal stud wall
For a straightforward internal partition, supplied and fitted with plasterboard both sides, most homeowners in South Yorkshire can expect somewhere between £45 and £75 per square metre for labour and materials. That assumes a standard 70mm C stud frame, a single layer of 12.5mm plasterboard each side, and easy access on a ground floor. Prices in London and the south east tend to sit £15 to £25 per square metre higher.
Add a skim finish and the total usually moves to £60 to £95 per square metre, since a plasterer will need a separate visit. Acoustic insulation in the cavity adds around £6 to £12 per square metre depending on density. A fire rated wall using fire board, sealed at the head and base, will generally land in the £80 to £130 range because of the extra board weight, fixing centres and inspection detail.
One point worth knowing: a per square metre rate rarely holds on very small jobs. A single 6 square metre wall will still need a van, a day's labour and a minimum board order, so you may see a fixed day rate of £220 to £300 plus materials instead.
- Basic stud and board, no finish: £45 to £75 per m2
- With skim plaster finish: £60 to £95 per m2
- With acoustic insulation: add £6 to £12 per m2
- Fire rated (30 or 60 minute): £80 to £130 per m2
- Small jobs under 10 m2: often priced by the day instead
What pushes the price up or down
Height is the first thing an estimator looks at. A standard 2.4 metre domestic ceiling uses one board length with minimal waste, while a 3 metre plus commercial ceiling means deeper studs, more bracing and more offcuts. Stud depth matters too. Moving from 70mm to 92mm or 146mm sections increases material cost and is usually needed for tall walls, heavy services or better sound performance.
Board choice makes a big difference. Standard wallboard is the cheapest option. Moisture resistant board for bathrooms, sound block board for bedrooms next to living spaces, and fire board for garage or boiler room walls each cost more per sheet and often need double layering. Doorways, openings and returns add framing time and are usually itemised separately.
Access and preparation also count. First floor rooms with a narrow staircase, removing an existing wall, or working around live electrics and pipework all add labour hours. Ask whether the quote includes rubbish removal, as a skip in Rotherham currently runs to roughly £200 to £280 for a small one.
Fire and acoustic walls: where the cost goes
In a passive fire protection contract, the wall is only part of the job. Fire rated partitions must continue through to the structural soffit above any suspended ceiling, and every penetration for cables, pipes and ducts needs a tested fire stopping detail. This is where much of the extra cost sits, not in the studs themselves. Expect a proper fire wall to carry a documentation trail showing the tested system used, which matters if the building is inspected or insured.
Acoustic walls work in a similar way. Insulation quilt alone will not stop sound if there are gaps at the perimeter, so resilient bars, acoustic sealant and staggered board joints all add small costs that make the difference between a wall that performs and one that does not. If a contractor quotes an acoustic wall at the same rate as a basic partition, ask what is actually included.
How to compare quotes sensibly
Ask every contractor to break the price into framing, boarding, insulation, finishing and making good. A single lump sum hides the differences. Check whether the rate is per square metre of wall face or per square metre measured one side only, as this alone can make one quote look 30 percent cheaper than another for identical work.
Confirm who supplies the materials and whether VAT is included, since sole traders under the threshold may quote without it. Finally, ask about lead time and whether the plastering is done by the same firm or subcontracted. In our experience across Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster, most delays on small partition jobs come from waiting on a separate plasterer rather than the stud work itself.
- Get the price split by stage, not a lump sum
- Check how the square metres are measured
- Confirm VAT and material supply arrangements
- Ask what fire or acoustic detail is included in writing
