Ceiling repair costs a national average of $1,077, with a normal range of $438 to $1,718, per HomeAdvisor’s data.1 The published averages spread widely: Fixr puts the national average at $450 with a $250 to $850 range, HomeGuide at $700 with a $300 to $1,200 range, and Bob Vila at $884 with a $419 to $1,359 range — a spread of averages the sources do not reconcile.3,4,5 Figures below are the latest published national figures* from each source.
*National figures, not local quotes. HomeAdvisor was updated June 17, 2026; Angi was updated May 30, 2026; HomeGuide was updated November 21, 2025; Fixr was updated January 31, 2025; Bob Vila was updated November 3, 2022. Your price depends on ceiling material, damage type, repair size, and local labor.
$1,077
national average (HomeAdvisor)
$450
national average (Fixr)
$700
national average (HomeGuide)
$884
national average (Bob Vila, 2022)
What sources say
| Source | Figure | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | $1,077 average; normal range $438 – $1,718; extremes $150 – $4,500 | Ceiling repair guide (updated June 17, 2026) |
| Angi | $1,077 average; typical range about $150 – $4,500 by damage severity | Ceiling repair guide (updated May 30, 2026) |
| HomeGuide | $700 national average; $300 – $1,200 average range; $100 minimum, $2,500 maximum | Ceiling repair/replace guide (updated November 21, 2025) |
| Fixr | $450 national average; $250 – $850 average range; $100 low, $2,000 high | Ceiling repair guide (updated January 31, 2025) |
| Bob Vila | $884 national average; $419 – $1,359 typical range, attributed to Angi and HomeAdvisor | Ceiling repair cost guide (updated November 3, 2022) |
Angi and HomeAdvisor are corporate siblings: Angi’s average and per-type repair tables match HomeAdvisor’s exactly (Angi’s own summary line gives a $4,420 top end while its body text says $4,500).1,2 Bob Vila attributes its headline figures to Angi and HomeAdvisor, but its $884 average and $419 to $1,359 range — published in 2022 — no longer match their current pages; matching and attributed figures across pages alone don’t establish independent corroboration.1,2,3
Cost per square foot by material
HomeAdvisor, Angi, and Bob Vila quote $45 to $90 per square foot overall, while Fixr and HomeGuide quote $50 to $100 — differing rate bands the sources do not reconcile.1,2,3,4,5 Per-material rates from HomeAdvisor and Angi: traditional drywall $45 to $55, lightweight drywall $50 to $60, plaster and lath $65 to $80, popcorn $75 to $90, and drop-tile $2 to $17 per square foot; Angi adds concrete at $50 to $80 and wood at $70 to $90.1,2 Fixr’s per-material figures differ: drywall $50 to $80, plaster $65 to $90, wood $70 to $90, stucco $75 to $100, and drop tile at $5 to $50 per tile.4 HomeAdvisor notes a drywall ceiling replacement (versus repair) runs about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot.1
Cost by repair type
| Repair type | Angi | Fixr | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cracks | $400 – $1,350 | $100 – $500 | $100 – $400 (hairline to large) |
| Holes | $180 – $370 | $100 – $600 | $50 – $400 (small to large) |
| Seams | $150 – $500 | $150 – $500 | $150 – $400 (with cracks/corners) |
| Water damage | $45 – $55 per sq. ft. | $200 – $1,500 | $200 – $500 minor; $500 – $2,500 with leak |
| Sagging | $75 per hour (labor) | $250 – $1,000 | $250 – $1,000 |
| Joists | $150 – $750 | $150 – $700 | — |
| Support beam | $1,500 – $10,000 | $150 – $1,000 (beam repair) | — |
The repair-type figures differ in both amount and scope — Angi’s $1,500 to $10,000 covers replacing a main structural support beam while Fixr’s $150 to $1,000 is beam repair — and the sources do not reconcile them (HomeGuide’s sagging range matches Fixr’s exactly).2,4,5 HomeGuide adds ceiling replacement at $400 to $1,000 and structural damage at $2,000 to $8,000.5
Labor and fees
Hourly rates differ by source: HomeAdvisor and Angi cite $60 to $90 per hour, HomeGuide $40 to $100, and Bob Vila $50 to $150 depending on trade — differing figures, not reconciled.1,2,3,5 HomeGuide notes most contractors charge a $125 to $200 minimum for ceiling repairs.5 Bob Vila cites callout fees of $50 to $100 (often waived if hired), inspections at $100 to $200, and emergency same-day service at $100 to $200.3
Fixing the cause, not just the ceiling
Water-damage repairs often require fixing the source first. HomeAdvisor and Angi list plumbing repairs at $175 to $3,000, HVAC repairs at $200 to $1,500, roof repair at $360 to $1,550, and roof replacement at $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot.1,2 Bob Vila repeats the same figures and adds mold remediation at $10 to $25 per square foot where growth is present.3 On older popcorn ceilings specifically, HomeAdvisor notes pre-1980s installations may contain asbestos.1 EPA guidance: you generally can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, so if in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. Have a trained and accredited asbestos professional inspect before any remodeling that would disturb the material or when it is damaged, and let that professional take any samples, because sampling done incorrectly can itself release fibers. Undamaged material that won’t be disturbed generally does not need testing and should be left alone.6
Related guides
Ceiling Painting Cost
Vaulted Ceiling Cost
Drywall Repair Cost
Drywall Installation Cost
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does Ceiling Repair Cost? (updated June 17, 2026)
2. Angi — How Much Does Ceiling Repair Cost? (2026 data, updated May 30, 2026)
3. Bob Vila — How Much Does Ceiling Repair Cost? (updated November 3, 2022)
4. Fixr — Cost to Repair a Ceiling (updated January 31, 2025)
5. HomeGuide — How Much Does It Cost to Replace or Repair a Ceiling? (updated November 21, 2025)
6. U.S. EPA — Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos (accessed October 25, 2026)