How Much Does It Cost to Repair Drywall?

In this guide

Drywall Repair Cost

On average, you’ll pay $240 for a contractor to repair multiple holes in a single room using patches and joint compound ¹. Drywall repair is important because of aesthetics and structural integrity. Holes and dents visible on the walls and ceiling decrease the home’s value. Plus, weak or damaged drywall could lead to larger-scale repairs or even new installations if not addressed promptly. Along with the materials, the cost of repairing drywall will be around $70 to $100 per hour. Keep in mind that most drywall jobs take place over several days because compounds need at least 24 hours to dry before sanding. Drywall repair requires the services of a professional, such as a general contractor or painter. The selected professional should have experience using different types of drywall and compound to repair holes, dents, and other forms of sheetrock damage.

A handyman drywall ² repair cost may be all-inclusive. When you receive a quote for the job, confirm that the cost breakdown lists all materials needed for the job, such as drywall repair sheets, nails, mud, and more. Contractor costs differ widely, so shop around for the best quote. The majority of contractors provide estimates at no cost to potential clients. A handyman may charge less for drywall repairs than a painter, but it depends on their experience levels.

Cost to Repair Drywall Ceiling

Most contractors charge around $150 to $250 for small drywall ceiling repairs. Extensive repairs or repairs made on vaulted ³ ceilings could cost anywhere from $400 to $700.

Drywall can easily become damaged on ceilings. The most common cause of drywall ceiling damage is from water leaks on upper floor levels. For example, if you have a bathroom with a leak on the second floor, the ceiling on the first floor may become damaged by prolonged exposure to the water. Before repairing any drywall on a ceiling, you need to start by marking the joists so that you know where to nail the sheets. Typically, standard ceilings have a joist every 16 inches.

Difficult areas, including archways, vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings, or any area that is not a standard flat installation, require equipment such as scaffolding ⁴ to reach the area. For these complex areas, contractors charge about ⅓ more than a typical job, which would be around $0.53-$1.06 for ceiling drywall cost per square foot for just materials and $2.40 to $4.50 per square foot for labor and materials.

Drywall Repair Cost per Square Foot

The most expensive part of any drywall repair job is labor. Materials to make the fixes are relatively low-cost. You will need compound, patches, drywall nails, and adhesive. Without labor costs, you can expect to pay an average of $0.45 to $0.65 per square foot for drywall repair for materials only. With labor, the cost more than doubles with an average of $2.05 to $4.15 per square foot for drywall repairs. The following are the average repair sizes and the estimated cost for drywall repair per square foot.

Cost to Repair Drywall by Number of Rooms

In some cases, your home may have damaged drywall in multiple rooms. Typically, if you plan to sell soon, you’ll want a contractor to come in and repair the drywall. During an initial visit, a contractor checks for nail holes, stress cracks, soft drywall spots, and nail pops from the house settling. The following are the expected costs you’ll pay for materials and labor to fix each room that needs drywall repairs.

Average Cost of Drywall Repair by Type of Repair

The average price for drywall repair is based on the materials you need and the time it takes for a contractor to complete the job. Some jobs are labor-intensive and require hours or even multiple single-day visits to access the damaged area, remove old sections of drywall, and apply a patch. Keep in mind that after the repair, you may have additional costs to pay. You’ll want to paint the repaired wall or ceiling to match the rest of the room. The following are what costs you can expect when looking for a contractor to complete a drywall repair request.

Drywall Hairline Crack Repair

Small hairline cracks fixed with caulk start at $50. Extensive hairline drywall cracks cost as much as $330 to repair using wood supports, new drywall section, adhesive, and multiple coats of compound. Hairline cracks in drywall occur for several reasons. Hairline cracks in drywall joints may happen when fasteners ⁵ pop out of the construction material. Drywall cracks also occur when there’s some type of movement below the drywall. Homes settling could cause hairline cracks in ceiling drywall. Perils like earthquakes are also linked to hairline cracks in drywall.

Cost to Repair Drywall Hole

The average cost to fix drywall nail holes is about $60 per hole for labor and materials. You’ll likely make multiple hole repairs at the same time. You can expect to pay between $60 and $200 to fix a few small drywall holes around the home with labor and materials. A commonly requested repair is to fix drywall nail holes. Nail holes come from picture hooks and usually measure less than ⅛.”

Repair Drywall Anchor

Fixing drywall anchor holes averages between $75 and $105 for labor and materials. A patch is needed to repair a drywall anchor hole after the hole is cleared out of any debris. Drywall anchor issues are common in homes. Drywall anchors are used for many household items, including paper towel holders, towel racks, and curtain rods. Holes can occur in a wall due to expanded anchors. Once the expansion occurs around the anchor, the piece is likely to become dislodged from the hole.

Drywall Ceiling Hole Repair

Most nail holes on the ceiling that measure less than a ¼” cost under $75 to fix. Larger drywall holes will likely cost $115 or more to repair each section. Ceiling holes are typically caused by moisture exposure or impact. Before any drywall ceiling repairs, use the home breaker to turn off power to the ceiling circuits. Prep work will involve using ceiling tape to mark ceiling joists. Since working overhead is more challenging, ceiling hole repair costs slightly more than wall holes. Large hole drywall repair is likely to have a higher average cost than small hole drywall repair.

Drywall Nail Pop Repair

The average cost for drywall nail pop repair is $75 to $140. Drywall nail pops have become a less common household repair. In decades past, drywall was secured with nails that could become dislodged due to impact or the home settling. Using nails that were too short is another reason that drywall nail pop occurs. Modern systems use drywall screws, which are rarely dislodged. Fixing drywall nail pops is similar to repairing damage from holes. The nails are removed. The area is patched up with compound, and the nails are replaced.

Drywall Dent Repair

The average cost to fix a single dent in the wall will be between $80 and $120. Drywall dent repair is needed frequently among homeowners. Dents occur when any type of object knocks into a wall. Dents are commonly made by moving around furniture pieces. Doorknobs slamming into walls are another frequent cause of wall dents. Drywall dents are repaired in a similar manner as drywall holes. Dented areas are cut out of the wall and then sealed with a patch and spackle. Once the compound has dried, the area can be sanded and prepped for paint.

Repair Punched Drywall

Expect to pay between $80 and $120 to fix a punch in the wall. Drywall isn’t as hard as most people think, and a hard punch to the wall can leave behind a fist-sized hole. Punched out drywall is a common repair handled by contractors and won’t involve replacing an entire sheet of the sheetrock. Punched drywall is handled in the same manner as dented drywall. The area is patched and filled with spackle ⁶ or another compound alternative.

Repair Loose Drywall Tape Ceiling

The average cost to repair loose drywall tape on the ceiling is between $80 and $190 for labor and materials. Loose drywall tape gives an area on the ceiling an unattractive appearance. Peeling drywall tape starts as bubbles before loosening more to show the edges of the adhesive. Contractors will need to remove the damaged adhesive before securing new tape to the area and filling in with compound.

Drywall Tape Repair Cost

The average cost for a fix, including drywall joint ⁷ tape repair, will be $80 to $190. A common problem in certain rooms of the home is drywall tape issues, including the need to repair the drywall tape seam. Drywall tape will often separate from the wall or ceiling in rooms with high humidity levels. The wall will first start to bubble before strips of the tape appear to peel off. A contractor is needed to help repair peeling drywall tape. They can remove the old adhesive and secure new taped sections.

Repair Peeled Drywall

The cost to repair peeled drywall is from $90 to $270 when done by a professional. Peeled drywall occurs when the top layer of the sheetrock ² starts to tear away from the solid layer. Before the peeling drywall can be fixed, the loose paper must be removed with a razor blade. A primer and joint compound are the only needed materials to make this fix.

Repair Torn Drywall

Expect to pay an average of $95 to $300 for drywall tear repair jobs. A contractor should handle any tears in your drywall. Torn sections are stripped away before patches are used for cracks or holes. Drywall tear repairs may require multiple coats of compound to hide the damage.

Drywall Joint Repair

The average cost of drywall joint repair is between $120 and $280. Drywall joints become damaged for several reasons, but the repair is often needed due to cracks or water damage. Contractors will use drywall tape to secure the damaged joint before using compound to fill in any joint gaps that may have occurred.

Mold Drywall Repair

To remove and replace a section of sheetrock with mold, expect to pay around $160 to $350. Mold remediation efforts involve removing sections of drywall with mold present. Before removing the moldy drywall, contractors need to address any underlying causes of the mold. Mold is often caused by too much humidity in the air. The humidity level can be reduced by using a dehumidifier. Addressing any plumbing and roof leaks also prevent future mold issues. If certain rooms are not getting enough ventilation and causing mold to form, you may have to run fans or install additional vents.

Cost to Repair Drywall Cracks

Expect to pay an average of $210 to $305 for a contractor to repair large drywall cracks with sheetrock and fasteners. Drywall cracks only grow larger over time. Temperature changes are typically the cause of drywall cracks. Temperature changes cause the drywall to expand and contract—leading to stress cracks. A small crack may end up spreading throughout a wall or ceiling. Most contractors measure the size of the damaged area to give you drywall stress crack repair cost.

Repair Drywall Seams

The average cost to repair cracks in drywall seams is between $215 and $360. When the contractor repairs drywall seams separation, they should use enough compound to prevent a recurrence of the problem. Drywall seams separation could occur when not enough compound was added during installation. Ideally, drywall seams are meant to disappear and blend naturally in the wall. Cracks in drywall seams make them appear on both walls and ceilings. Repairing drywall seams in the ceiling is done in a similar manner but may have a higher contractor cost if accessibility to the area is difficult.

Repair Drywall Corners

The average cost to repair drywall on interior corners starts at $220 and goes up to $315. Drywall corner crack repair may be more costly than other types of wall damage since the area will not involve fixing flat seams. The most common issue with fixing the area is the failure to use enough mud or compound on the interior wall corners.

Cost to Repair Drywall Ceiling Water Damage

The cost of drywall ceiling repair is around $285 to $400. Before fixing any drywall ceiling water damage, address any plumbing issues that caused the problem. You don’t want to fix the water-damaged ceiling and then expose the area to moisture once again. The cost depends on the repair size. Contractors must cut out water-logged pieces before securing the new pieces.

Drywall Water Damage Repair Cost

For a single room, you can expect the cost to repair drywall water damage to be around $300 to $485. Drywall water damage is one of the most costly to fix in a home. Drywall exposed to water becomes soft and must be removed before new pieces can be installed. Moist pieces of drywall are also prone to mold buildup. The prices of drywall repair due to water damage are determined by the size of the affected area.

Flood Cut Drywall Repair

Flood cut drywall ² repair costs an average of $310 to $700. Flood cut is a type of remediation used after a home has become water damaged. For this type of repair, the contractor removes the drywall approximately two feet above the waterline of the flood. This repair is needed after an area has been submerged due to a flood or broken appliance. The drywall becomes soft and loses its structural integrity when exposed to water. Sections of the drywall may become loose and fall off.

Vaulted Ceiling Drywall Repair

Expect to pay between $400 and $700 to make professional repairs on a damaged drywall vaulted ceiling. A vaulted ³ ceiling is one of the more expensive home drywall repairs. Contractors charge for extra labor and equipment since a specialized fix will be needed to repair holes, tears, and water damage.

Drywall Repair Prices by Solution

The method your contractor uses to make a drywall fix impacts the final price of the job. In many cases, several methods are combined to renew the damaged wall or ceiling completely. The following are the most common drywall solutions and the average cost for each.

Drywall Repair Sanding

To hire a professional to sand, you’ll pay an average of $50 to $70. When it comes to drywall repair sanding, the method is usually coupled with another technique to fix holes and cracks. Compound is used on the damaged section and then sanded down to match the texture of the surrounding wall.

Fixing Hairline Cracks in Drywall with Caulk

The average cost to fix hairline cracks with caulk is between $50 and $80. If a small hairline crack has appeared in the wall, a major drywall repair may not be necessary. Instead, the painter or contractor may try a lightweight caulk to fill in the wall or ceiling. Homeowners should address hairline cracks promptly to avoid the damage spreading to more areas of the wall.

Cost to Spackle Drywall

Expect to pay between $50 and $80 for a professional to spackle a small area of repaired drywall. Spackle is a different compound to use instead of mud ¹ and is a better choice for small nail holes. Spackle has a faster drying time and won’t shrink significantly after application. Mud, on the other hand, is better for large coverage areas because of the longer drying time. Contractors don’t want mud to dry before the drywall area is fully repaired. Along with spackle, a contractor must sand and paint a repaired area.

Drywall Patching Cost

The average cost to patch drywall is between $60 and $115 when done by a professional. Drywall patches are often used to make many home repairs. You can patch drywall ceiling after a leak or patch drywall corner pieces in hard to reach areas. Contractors use self-adhesive patches to cover up small to mid-sized drywall holes. The final cost to patch the drywall hole depends on whether the area needs additional coats of compound. In many cases, if holes measure over six inches, patches are not a recommended method.

Cost to Tape Drywall

The cost to use tape on drywall during a repair is between $65 to $145. When you tape drywall, you also need to prime the damaged area that has any holes and cracks. Debris is removed, and the area is covered with a layer of compound. Tape is then placed over the mud. The area would later need to be sanded to even out the texture.

Drywall Mud Cost

For a professional to mud a damaged section of drywall, the cost will be around $85 to $175. Drywall mudding cost per square foot is between $0.40 and $0.70. The cost per square foot to mud and tape drywall increases by $0.45 to $0.75. The average cost to mud drywall depends on the amount of compound needed and the type your contractor plans to use. With the mud technique, large amounts of compound are applied to hide seams.

Signs You Need Drywall Repair

Most types of drywall repairs are immediately apparent to the homeowner. In some cases, you’ll see holes in the wall and understand that you need a patch to fix the area. Most holes are caused by nails or other objects punctured through a wall. Around the holes could be smaller fractures or hairline cracks. Drywall cracks may appear in other areas of walls and ceilings, unrelated to holes. Drywall develops cracks over time naturally. It’s not unusual to notice cracked sections of the walls and ceilings in your home. Some cracks are not a sign of a serious issue and should be repaired for aesthetic reasons. Contractors will assess damaged areas during a cost estimate visit and let you know if the cracks could lead to structural issues. Along with holes and cracks in the drywall, you could find dents caused by impact.

Another indicator of the need for drywall repair is visible water damage. The drywall may have discoloration in spots. The area may also appear soft and feel damp to the touch. It’s especially important to check for drywall water damage following any type of home leak. A musty smell seeping out of the drywall could alert you to hidden mold buildup.

Causes of Drywall Damage

One of the leading causes of drywall damage is plumbing leaks. If tubs overflow or pipes burst, any drywall that the leaking water comes into contact with will be compromised. Water may leak through the ceiling and cause soft spots and discoloration. Any home floods could cause water-damaged drywall.

Home accidents are usually the cause of drywall holes and dents. The drywall may have been dented while moving a furniture piece, or a door stopper wasn’t installed on a wall. Kids could be playing roughly in the home and smacked a foot or hand through the drywall. Hanging pictures with nails also leaves behind holes in the drywall. Hanging paper towel holders or towel racks with drywall anchors cause larger holes in the wall when the holder or rack is removed.

The foundation settling causes the drywall in the home to crack or experience nail pops. Pests like termites could also invade the home and chew through the drywall.

Textured Drywall Repair

A specialized drywall job involves making repairs to textured walls. The contractor will need to test different amounts of mud after patching the damaged area. The mud will be blended until it matches the surrounding wall texture as closely as possible. Excess mud may need to be scraped off before paint is applied. The contractor’s goal will be to make the transition between the old drywall and new drywall blend seamlessly. For a textured drywall repair for a hole or wall dent, you will likely pay a professional upwards of $155.

Drywall Maintenance

When you have drywall repaired or purchase a newly built home, you can take preventative measures to prolong the lifetime of the sheetrock. For example, drywall nails can pop out due to the home settling. Remove popped out screws and replace them immediately to prevent further damage. Contractors may recommend replacing old drywall nails with modern screws during repairs to prevent future issues. You should also consider hiring an exterminator to perform routine pest inspections to look for signs of wood-boring pests like termites.

Preventing water damage is another part of drywall maintenance. Fix any leaks immediately by getting in touch with a plumber. Also, check the exterior of your home for water issues since this could eventually cause drywall issues. Inspect the roof for leaks and clean the gutters routinely. Without proper drainage, water can seep inside and compromise drywall on the walls or ceiling.

Stop drywall from cracking by not nailing anything into your walls. Instead, use a sticky putty or adhesive to hang pictures. Patch holes made from nails or anchors instead of reusing the hole and making the puncture larger.

Repair vs Replace Drywall

The extent of the damage to your home’s drywall determines whether to make the necessary repairs or hire a contractor for a larger replacement job. In most cases, if you only have small holes in a few areas, repairing is feasible and less expensive. If the issues are only cosmetic, you may not want to invest the money in major drywall installation work. For example, drywall repairs are an inexpensive way to prep a home for sale.

In many cases, if a home has experienced flooding, the drywall will be replaced instead of repaired. Water-soaked drywall needs removal and a complete replacement. Moisture buildup could lead to mold on the drywall. This is another reason why replacement is preferred over repair.

The contractor may consider the drywall’s age when deciding whether to repair or replace the existing material. Drywall installed decades earlier may have deteriorated to the point that fixes aren’t possible. If the drywall has been damaged by pests like termites, replacement will be necessary.

The average cost to install 1,000 square feet of drywall is $1,750 If your repair quote is close to the same as a new install, you may want to scrap the old drywall altogether and start fresh.

Drywall vs Sheetrock

When you’re searching for drywall repair cost information, you’re likely to find quotes on sheetrock repair cost. Drywall and sheetrock are two terms that most contractors use interchangeably. Drywall is the common name for the building material, while sheetrock is the brand name from the manufacturing firm U.S. Gypsum Company. The company includes certain compounds that permit them to patent the sheetrock name.

Sheetrock cost per square foot will likely be the same as other drywall quotes and land at an average of $2.05 to $4.15 per square foot, including labor and materials. Sheetrock repair prices remain the same because patches and compounds can be used on any drywall brand, including sheetrock.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Retexture Drywall

As part of a repair job, you could ask your contractor to enhance the appearance of your existing drywall. As an example, your home may have a popcorn ceiling in one or more rooms. Popcorn ceilings were popular in homes built through the 1980s and feature a textured look. The texture on the drywall was created through the use of materials such as stucco and styrofoam. Contractors can scrape off the popcorn ceiling and retexture the ceiling to a more modern look. Expect to pay around $1,100 to $1,600 to remove a popcorn ceiling in a single room.

Cost to Paint Drywall

After drywall repairs are made, it’s standard practice to ask the contractor to paint the repaired area to match the rest of the wall or ceiling. You can either choose to paint the entire area a new color or use the same paint shade on the repaired drywall. On average, you’ll pay between $625 and $1,050 to have a professional paint a single room.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

² Drywall: (Also known as Sheetrock) Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper

⁴ Scaffolding: A temporary structure used during construction/maintenance/painting projects to raise and support workers (or one worker), required materials, and equipment

⁶ Spackle: A paste, composed of gypsum plaster, glue, and water, used to repair holes and cracks in plaster before painting or wallpapering