Popcorn ceiling removal costs $1 to $6 per square foot, or about $900 to $2,500 for a typical room with a smooth new finish.13 Angi’s national average is $2,012 across 4,083 verified projects.1 With retexturing and painting included, HomeGuide puts a whole-home job at $2,000 to $9,000.2 DIY runs $100 to $500 in materials — but test for asbestos first.2 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on ceiling size, height, texture thickness, finish choice, and whether asbestos is present.
$2,012
average project, Angi (4,083 projects)
$1 – $6 /sq ft
removal, Angi
$2 – $6 /sq ft
remove + texture + paint, HomeGuide
$100 – $500
DIY materials, HomeGuide
Quick math: HomeGuide’s factors reproduce its own size table: removal $1 to $2 + texture $1 to $2 + paint $1 to $2 = $2 to $6 per square foot, and 1,000 × $2 to $6 = $2,000 to $6,000 — exactly its 1,000 sq. ft. row.2 Fixr’s 300 sq. ft. bedroom math checks the same way: 300 × $1 to $4 = $300 to $1,200 for removal alone.3
Cost by ceiling size
| Ceiling size | Angi (removal) | HomeGuide (with finish) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq. ft. | $500 – $2,500 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| 750 sq. ft. | $750 – $3,750 | — |
| 1,000 sq. ft. | $1,000 – $5,000 | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| 1,250 sq. ft. | $1,250 – $6,250 | — |
| 1,500 sq. ft. | $1,500 – $7,500 | $3,000 – $9,000 |
| 2,000 sq. ft. | $2,000 – $10,000 | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Angi’s column is scraping only; HomeGuide’s includes retexture and paint, which is why it runs roughly double.12 Per room, Fixr prices a 200 sq. ft. bedroom at $200 to $800, a 225 sq. ft. kitchen at $225 to $900, and a 330 sq. ft. living room at $330 to $1,320 for removal alone.3
The asbestos question
Popcorn installed before the mid-1980s can contain asbestos, and testing ($250 to $850) comes before any scraping — DIY included.23 If it comes back positive above 1%, licensed abatement is required and homeowners insurance will not cover it.3
| Source | Asbestos removal cost |
|---|---|
| Fixr | $3 – $7 per sq. ft. ($900 – $2,100 for 300 sq. ft.) |
| HomeGuide | $4 – $20 per sq. ft. |
| Angi | $5 – $20 per sq. ft. + $75 – $200/hr labor |
The sources disagree by 3x or more here — Fixr’s figure is the abatement line item alone, while Angi and HomeGuide fold in the licensed crews, containment, and EPA-compliant disposal.123 Get abatement-specific quotes; do not budget from the low number.
After removal: refinishing options
| Finish | Cost per sq. ft. (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Splatter | $0.80 – $1.50 |
| Orange peel | $0.80 – $1.50 |
| Knockdown | $1 – $2 |
| Crow’s foot | $1.50 – $2 |
| Smooth drywall | $1.50 – $2 |
| Skip trowel | $1.50 – $2 |
| Prime and paint only | $1 – $3 |
Popcorn hides ceiling flaws, so budget for what the scraping reveals: minor hole and crack repairs run $150 to $50012, and water damage repairs $45 to $55 per square foot.1 Fixr’s smooth-finish bundle for a 300 sq. ft. room (sanding + skim coat) adds $600 to $1,300 on top of removal.3
Labor, disposal, and the rest of the bill
Pros charge $15 to $50 per hour per person2 (Angi and Fixr both quote $15 to $40)13, and the work is slow: about 12 hours per 300 sq. ft.3 or 20+ hours per 500 sq. ft.2 Disposal adds $300 to $475 for a week’s dumpster rental or $60 to $600 for a junk removal service.1 High and vaulted ceilings, painted popcorn (harder to wet and scrape), and furniture moving all push quotes up.12
Worked examples
Example 1 — 300 sq. ft. bedroom, smooth finish (Fixr’s average job). Removal 300 × $1 to $4 = $300 to $1,2003 plus smooth finishing at $600 to $1,3003 totals $900 to $2,500 — Fixr’s published range, average $1,700. Our arithmetic matches theirs.
Example 2 — 1,500 sq. ft. main floor, full finish. 1,500 × $2 to $6 = $3,000 to $9,000, matching HomeGuide’s table row.2 Angi’s removal-only equivalent: $1,500 to $7,500.1 The $1,500 gap between columns is the retexture and paint.
Example 3 — DIY, asbestos-free test in hand. Materials $100 to $5002 + testing $250 to $8502 + junk pickup $150 to $3502 = $500 to $1,700 all-in, our arithmetic — versus $1,700 average for the same room hired out.3 Worth it on one room; the 20-hour-per-500-sq.-ft. pace2 is what you trade for the savings.
FAQ
Does my popcorn ceiling have asbestos? If it was installed before the mid-1980s, possibly. Testing costs $250 to $850 and must come before any scraping — disturbing asbestos is a serious health risk.23
Is DIY popcorn removal realistic? Technically yes — $100 to $500 in materials, a sprayer and a scraper — but it is slow, very messy, and off-limits until an asbestos test comes back negative.2
How long does removal take? Roughly 12 hours per 300 sq. ft. for a pro crew3; HomeGuide budgets 20+ hours per 500 sq. ft.2
Does removing popcorn ceiling add value? Yes — smooth ceilings read as modern and better lit, and agents routinely list popcorn removal among the highest-return cosmetic updates.12
Can I just cover it instead? Yes: new drywall over the top runs $2 to $4 per square foot, and drop or tile ceilings $4 to $20 — sometimes cheaper than scraping painted or asbestos-suspect texture.2
DIY shopping
DIY shopping: popcorn ceiling scrapers and removal tools at Home Depot (plain link, no affiliate relationship) — a scraper, sprayer and drop cloths cover most of the $100 to $500 DIY materials bill. Test for asbestos before you buy anything.
Sources
- Angi, How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost? (2026 data; average from 4,083 verified projects).
- HomeGuide, How Much Does It Cost to Remove Popcorn Ceiling? (2023).
- Fixr, Cost to Remove Popcorn Ceiling (updated January 2025).
Related guides
Drywall Repair Cost
Interior Painting Cost
Asbestos Removal Cost
All cost guides