Removing a wall costs $3,000 on average according to Angi and HomeAdvisor, and $1,200 to $5,000 according to Fixr.1,2,3 Angi (2026 data) and HomeAdvisor publish a matching $3,000 national average, with most homeowners paying $1,000 – $10,000 and reported prices spanning $500 to $15,000.1,2 Fixr (updated January 2025) puts the national average at $2,500 for removing a 120 sq ft load-bearing plaster wall with little to no utility lines, with low-end jobs at $300 (an 80 sq ft non-load-bearing drywall partition with no utilities to move) and high-end jobs at $10,000 (a 200 sq ft exterior brick load-bearing wall containing windows, utility lines, and plumbing).3 Prices below are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on whether the wall is load-bearing, the material, what utilities run through it, and your home’s number of stories.
Before demolishing walls in an older home. The EPA says you generally can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, and advises that asbestos removal be done only by a trained and accredited asbestos professional – never saw, sand, scrape, or drill materials that may contain asbestos.4 Homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint, and the EPA notes that renovation work disturbing painted surfaces in older homes can create large amounts of lead dust; even small amounts can pose health risks.5
$3,000
national average wall removal (Angi/HomeAdvisor)
$2,500
national average – 120 sq ft load-bearing plaster wall (Fixr, 2025)
$300–$1,000
non-load-bearing wall (all three sources)
$1,200–$10,000
load-bearing wall (Angi/HomeAdvisor)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Oct 2026) | $3,000 average; most homeowners $1,000 – $10,000; span $500 – $15,000 | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor |
| HomeAdvisor (updated Jun 2026) | $3,000 average; normal range $1,000 – $10,000; span $500 – $15,000 | Matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration between the siblings |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | $2,500 average for a 120 sq ft load-bearing plaster wall; range $1,200 – $5,000; low-end $300; high-end $10,000 | Average carries a defined job scope; figures are older |
All three sources publish $300 – $1,000 for non-load-bearing wall removal. The sibling pair’s matching figures are presented as published; Fixr’s are separately published, and the pages state no shared sourcing.
Cost by wall type
Whether the wall carries structural load is the biggest price factor. The publishers structure load-bearing pricing differently, so the columns are not compared directly.1,2,3
| Wall configuration | Angi/HomeAdvisor | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-load-bearing | $300 – $1,000 | $300 – $1,000 |
| Load-bearing, single-story home | $1,200 – $5,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Load-bearing, multi-story home | $3,000 – $10,000 | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Load-bearing, any home (combined range) | – | $1,500 – $10,000 |
Load-bearing ranges include the replacement support structure. Angi notes its single-story range does not include the structural engineer, who is hired separately.1
Cost by wall location
Fixr (2025) prices removal by whether the wall sits inside or on the perimeter of the home; exterior walls are almost always load-bearing and may require removing siding, windows, or doors first.3
| Location | Average cost (Fixr, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Interior wall | $300 – $5,000 |
| Exterior wall | $3,500 – $10,000 |
Cost by wall material
Angi and HomeAdvisor publish per-wall removal prices by material, plus debris-removal costs when billed separately.1,2
| Wall material | Removal (Angi/HomeAdvisor) | Debris removal (HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall / studs | $300 | $100 – $300 |
| Plaster | $600 | $100 – $300 |
| Brick | $1,000 | $250 – $500 |
| Concrete | $1,000 | $250 – $500 |
Fixr (2025) prices demolition per square foot by material – a different basis, so the figures are not compared directly.3
| Wall material | Cost per sq ft (Fixr, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Drywall | $0.30 – $0.45 |
| Wood paneling | $0.40 – $0.60 |
| Plaster | $0.45 – $0.75 |
| Stud wall | $0.65 – $1.30 |
| Concrete block | $2.20 – $4.70 |
| Brick | $2.90 – $6.40 |
Structural engineer and support beams
Removing a load-bearing wall requires a replacement support structure, and the sources recommend professional evaluation before any wall comes down.1,2,3 Angi and HomeAdvisor price a structural engineer at $200 – $1,400 depending on scope, with an engineer’s report averaging about $500; Fixr prices engineer assistance on load-bearing walls at $100 – $500 – a different scope, not compared directly.1,2,3
| Support option | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LVL beam (materials) | $55 – $400 | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| LVL beam labor, per beam | $200 – $400 | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| Steel I-beam installed | $1,300 – $5,000 | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| New support wall built nearby | $1,000 – $2,000 | Angi |
| Beam in place of the wall | $300 – $5,000 | Fixr (2025) |
| Support posts | $1,200 – $5,000 | Fixr (2025) |
| Temporary supports during the work | $15 – $45 per sq ft | Fixr (2025) |
Fixr also publishes beam material prices per linear foot: LVL $3 – $12, wood $5 – $30, glulam $6 – $34, concrete $7 – $16, and steel $50 – $100.3
Utility rerouting and finishing work
Walls often contain wiring, pipes, or cable lines that need rerouting.1,2,3
| Work | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber (pipes or gas lines) | $45 – $200 per hour | All three sources |
| Electrician | $50 – $100 per hour | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| Electrician | $40 – $100 per hour | Fixr (2025) |
| Moving main gas lines or new copper piping | to $1,000+ | Angi |
| Cable line move (provider service call) | $50 – $200 | Fixr (2025) |
| Drywall patch after removal | $1.50 – $3.50 per sq ft (siblings: $1.50 per sq ft or $65 per 8×4 ft sheet) | All three sources |
| Interior painting after removal | $300 – $750 per room | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| Wall painting | $1.50 – $3.50 per sq ft; $3 – $4 with trim | Fixr (2025) |
| Wallpaper removal / replacement | $650 – $950 / $800 – $1,200 | Fixr (2025) |
Related demolition work
Fixr (2025) prices these related projects.3
| Project | Average cost (Fixr, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Half wall or pass-through in a load-bearing wall | $2,200 – $5,500 |
| Wall replacement – non-load-bearing (remove and rebuild) | $1,000 – $3,500 |
| Wall replacement – load-bearing (remove and rebuild) | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Mold remediation when water damage is found | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Asbestos removal | $400 – $500 |
| Lead paint removal, whole home | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Termite extermination if discovered mid-project | $240 – $2,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to knock down a wall?
Angi and HomeAdvisor report a $3,000 national average, with most homeowners paying $1,000 – $10,000. Fixr reports $1,200 – $5,000 for the average load-bearing wall – about $2,500 for a 120 sq ft plaster wall.1,2,3
Can a load-bearing wall be removed?
Yes – but the sources describe the work as always requiring a replacement support structure, such as a beam or a new support wall, and they recommend a professional structural evaluation before removal.1,2,3
What drives the price up?
The sources name load-bearing construction, harder materials like brick and concrete, multi-story homes, exterior walls, utility lines inside the wall, and finishing work afterward as the main cost drivers.1,2,3
Related guides
Structural Engineer Cost
Drywall Installation Cost
Mold Remediation Cost
Lead Paint Removal Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Wall? (2026 data)
2. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does Wall Removal Cost? (updated 2026)
3. Fixr — Cost to Remove a Wall (2025)
4. US EPA — Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos
5. US EPA — Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure at Home