Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost

National average

$700 - $1,500

(professional cost for a 10'x10' room, plus re-texture and painting)

Low: $50 - $100

(DIY)

High: $3,000

(asbestos popcorn ceiling removal in high ceiling with furniture removal)

Cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from paint removal experts in your city.

Alternative

Cost

House Painting

$4,000 - $13,800

$150 - $300

Bathroom Painting

$195

Paint Ceiling

$300 - $500

Hallway Painting

$155 - $320

Kitchen Painting

$700 - $950

Living Room Painting

$700 - $1,500

Popcorn Ceiling Removal

$400 - $800

Room Painting

$350 - $450

Stairway Painting

$4,200

Wall Decorative Finish Painting

$8,020

Wall Mural Painting

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost

National average

$700 - $1,500

(professional cost for a 10'x10' room, plus re-texture and painting)

Low: $50 - $100

(DIY)

High: $3,000

(asbestos popcorn ceiling removal in high ceiling with furniture removal)

Cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from paint removal experts in your city.

In this guide

Materials
Labor
Enhancements
Additional Considerations

How much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling¹ texture?

Popcorn ceiling¹ is a cottage cheese-like texture applied to ceilings that was popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. The texture is fairly easy to apply and has natural acoustic properties and it easily to covers imperfections in the ceiling. However, it has been linked to asbestos² and is generally not a technique used in modern construction or remodels.

Popcorn ceiling¹ removal can be a DIY project, but hiring a professional is always recommended. For this discussion, we will consider the costs of removing popcorn ceiling¹ in a 10'x10' room with minor issues, which averages between $700 and $1500.

Simply patching or repairing popcorn ceiling¹ can be difficult and expensive, so it is usually worth simply removing it instead of repairing it. Another reason to remove popcorn ceiling¹ is that it is commonly viewed as an outdated design practice that can date a home.

Removing popcorn ceiling¹ is typically done in five steps:

The walls and floor of the room are covered with plastic sheets, removing popcorn ceiling¹ is a fairly messy process.
If the popcorn ceiling¹ was installed before 1977, a small section of the popcorn ceiling¹ is tested for asbestos² (for an average cost of $50-$100).
The ceiling is sprayed with water in sections (the ceiling area around fans or fixtures shouldn’t be sprayed with water because it can damage the fixture and cause electrical issues. For these areas, it is better to use sandpaper to loosen the popcorn ceiling material).
Once the water has been absorbed into the popcorn ceiling material, it is scraped off.
After all the material has been removed, the ceiling is smoothed and made even.

Plaster popcorn ceiling¹ would be removed with the same process.

Popcorn ceiling¹ doesn’t automatically need to be removed. There are pros and cons to the ceiling application:

Ceiling application	Pros	Cons
	Fairly easy to install Covers ceiling imperfections Cheap to install Dampens sound and provides good acoustics	Difficult to repair Heavy Difficult to paint and clean Older applications (before 1977) commonly had asbestos², which can be deadly

Ceiling application

Pros

Cons

Fairly easy to install

Covers ceiling imperfections

Cheap to install

Dampens sound and provides good acoustics

Difficult to repair

Heavy

Difficult to paint and clean

Older applications (before 1977) commonly had asbestos², which can be deadly

Cost breakdown

Materials

A water sprayer, plastic sheeting, drop cloths, and scrapers, typically average $50-$100 for a 10’x10’ room.

Labor

Most professionals charge based on the square footage of the ceiling instead of an hourly labor cost. The average cost per square foot is $1-$3 depending on the size of the room, the quality and age of the popcorn ceiling¹, and if there is paint and/or asbestos². In general, materials cost are included in the square footage price.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Adding a detailed texture to the new ceiling can cost $200-$250.
A basic paint job on the new, smooth ceiling averages $75-$125 professionally.

Additional considerations and costs

Another option instead of scraping off the popcorn ceiling¹ is to cover it with drywall³. This process eliminates much of the mess of the project, but does lower the ceiling of the room. The cost of drywall³, nails, and a stud-finder for a 10’x10’ room averages $140-$200.
All furniture needs to be removed before popcorn ceiling¹ can be removed. In most cases, homeowners can do this themselves. If professionals move the furniture, it will add $75-$125 to the total cost.
Rooms with high ceilings can cost an additional $50-$150 depending on the height of the ceiling.
Painted popcorn ceiling¹ takes much longer to remove because the water doesn’t saturate into the ceiling as quickly. In some cases, the “wet and scrape” process must be repeated three to five times. For non-enamel painted ceilings, plan to add $150-$250 to the total cost. Enamel-painted ceilings add $300-$600 for a 10’x10’ room.
If asbestos² is found in the popcorn ceiling¹, you have two options: leave it alone or remove it.
- Leave it: asbestos² only becomes harmful if it is disturbed and the fibers enter the air; if your popcorn ceiling¹ is in good condition and it won’t be bumped or nudged to disrupt the asbestos², you can leave it as is. You can also spray paint it to add a protective layer against the asbestos², but that may make it harder to remove the popcorn ceiling¹ if you decide to later on.
- Remove it: removing popcorn ceiling¹ with asbestos² adds an extra step in the process and cost. Homeowners can legally remove their own asbestos² popcorn ceiling¹, although it is definitely not recommended. Your best bet is to hire a professional who is experienced in asbestos² popcorn ceiling¹ removal. Everyone working on the project will need to wear protective clothing and masks at all times, and the homeowners may need to leave the house while the project is being completed. You’ll likely need to file a report with your local community office. Removing popcorn ceiling¹ with asbestos² also takes longer because you will need to dispose of the popcorn ceiling¹ in batches. In general, removing asbestos² popcorn ceiling¹ costs $3-$5 per square foot.

Was this guide helpful to you?

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.
See full cheat sheet.

¹ Popcorn ceiling: A spray-on or paint-on treatment for the upper interior surface of a room which has a rough curd-like texture and is used to hide imperfections, absorb sound, and reduce echoes

² Asbestos: A group of fire-resistant silicate minerals found in construction materials including paint, particularly in older homes. When the asbestos deteriorates, particles can become airborne and this is a serious health hazard.

³ Drywall: Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper

How much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture in my city?

Cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.