Installing crown molding costs about $1,302 on average in 2026, with most homeowners paying $609 to $2,125 (Angi).1 HomeGuide averages $1,200 and quotes $7 to $16 per linear foot, while Fixr averages $3,150 for a whole house.2,3 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the material, ceiling height, number of corners and how much of the house you do.
$1,302
average, Angi
$1,200
average, HomeGuide
$7 – $16
per linear foot, HomeGuide
$3,150
whole house, Fixr
Cost by room size (HomeGuide)
| Project | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft kitchen | $210 – $570 |
| 15 x 14 ft living room | $460 – $1,100 |
| Entire home | $2,000 – $4,000 |
Fixr is not comparable to the other two. Its $2,000 to $4,000 range covers wood molding throughout a whole house, while Angi and HomeGuide describe a typical job of one or a few rooms.1,2,3 Match your own project to the right source.
Cost by linear footage (Angi)
To measure, add up the length of every wall you will trim. HomeGuide’s example is a 15 by 14 ft room: two 15 ft walls plus two 14 ft walls gives 58 linear feet.2
| Linear feet | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| 25 | $100 – $575 |
| 50 | $200 – $1,150 |
| 75 | $300 – $1,725 |
| 100 | $400 – $2,300 |
Molding price by material (per linear foot, materials only)
| Material | Angi | Fixr | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid wood | $3 – $30 | $3 – $30 | $1 – $6 (common); $10 – $45 (exotic) |
| MDF | $1 – $7 | $1 – $7 | $1 – $3 |
| Polyurethane | $2 – $10 | $2 – $4 | $2 – $6 |
| PVC or vinyl | $1 – $4 | $2 – $4 | $1 – $3 |
| Foam | $1 – $4 | $0.50 – $4 | $1 – $2 |
| Plaster | $6 – $20 | $6 – $15 | $6 – $12 |
| Metal | $10 – $30 | $10 – $25 | $20 – $25 |
Angi and Fixr print the same ranges for wood and MDF, so treat them as overlapping data, our reading. Angi lists metal and foam as including installation while Fixr lists materials only, so compare those rows with care.1,3
Labor
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Labor per linear foot | $3 – $12; custom work $15 – $20 | Angi |
| Labor per linear foot, one worker to expert carpenter | $6 – $12 | HomeGuide |
| Hourly rate | $50 – $100, about 2 to 3 hours per room | Angi |
| Painting or staining | $1 – $3.50 per linear foot | Angi |
Angi says labor is 50% or more of the total, and HomeGuide says most of the cost is labor when the molding is wood, since it needs precise angle cuts.1,2 Plaster is heavier and can crack during install, so HomeGuide says it needs a pro.2
Molding width by ceiling height
| Ceiling height | Crown width (Angi) | Crown width (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 2.5 – 6 in | 3-1/4 – 4-1/4 in (8 to 9 ft) |
| 9 ft | 3 – 7.5 in | 3-1/4 – 4-1/4 in (8 to 9 ft) |
| 10 ft | 4 – 9 in | 4-1/4 – 5-1/4 in (9 to 11 ft) |
| 12 ft or more | 6 – 12+ in | 7 in or more |
Wider profiles cost more per foot, and Angi warns that an oversized profile makes a small room feel crowded.1
DIY or hire
HomeGuide calls MDF and foam easy enough for one person to hang, and says foam cuts with a knife and goes up with adhesive.2 Angi says foam can be cut with scissors and secured with double-sided tape or glue.1 Wood is where mistakes get expensive because of the miter and coped cuts. To compare quotes by material, Home Depot’s crown molding section lists current profiles and prices (plain link, not affiliate).
Related guides
Staircase Installation Cost
See also: our guide to window trim installation costs.
See also: our guide to trim painting costs.
Carpenter Cost
Shiplap Installation Cost
Baseboard Installation Cost
Wainscoting Cost
Interior Painting Cost
Handyman Cost
Kitchen Remodel Cost
Paint Calculator
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — How Much Does It Cost to Install Crown Molding?
2. HomeGuide — Crown Molding Costs
3. Fixr — Cost to Install Crown Molding