Painting a ceiling costs an average of $250, with a published normal range of $200 – $500, according to Angi and HomeAdvisor.1,2 The corporate siblings publish the same average, range, and low/high ends ($150 / $10,000); matching figures between the sibling sites alone don’t establish independent corroboration.1,2 Fixr (updated January 2025) separately reports the same $250 national average, within an average range of $120 – $300, a $50 low end (bathroom ceiling), and a $2,500 high end (basement ceiling).3 All three publishers report the same average; Fixr’s is separately published, and the pages state no shared sourcing. Prices are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on ceiling size, height, texture, and prep work.
Asbestos caution for textured ceilings
Angi and HomeAdvisor advise that popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 may contain asbestos and price its removal at $5 – $20 per sq.ft. before painting begins – a publisher rule of thumb, not a government cutoff.1,2 For any material you suspect may contain asbestos, regardless of age, the EPA says you generally can’t tell whether it contains asbestos by looking at it; if in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. Material that is sanded, scraped, drilled, or otherwise disturbed can release asbestos fibers, and the EPA recommends that sampling and any removal be done by a trained and accredited asbestos professional.4
$250
average (all three sources)
$200 – $500
normal range (Angi/HomeAdvisor)
$120 – $300
average range (Fixr)
$1 – $2.50
per sq.ft. (Fixr)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Sep 2026) | $250 average; normal range $200 – $500; low $150; high $10,000 | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor; headline figures match HomeAdvisor’s |
| HomeAdvisor (2026 data) | $250 average; normal range $200 – $500; low $150; high $10,000 | Sibling-published figures match Angi’s. HomeAdvisor’s general per-sq.ft. rate is omitted: its page states both $0.50 – $3 and $0.50 – $5. A “$200 – $500 per square foot” overview sentence is also omitted (unit inconsistent with the rest of its page) |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | $250 national average; average range $120 – $300; low $50; high $2,500 | Separately published, pages state no shared sourcing; the $250 average matches the sibling figure |
Cost per square foot
Angi reports ceiling painting at $0.50 – $5 per sq.ft. on average, with single-room projects around $1 per sq.ft. at the low end and smaller jobs costing more per square foot due to fixed overhead.1 Fixr reports $1 – $2.50 per sq.ft., materials and labor, excluding cathedral and vaulted styles.3
By ceiling type, each publisher prices per square foot; Angi and HomeAdvisor publish identical type tables:1,2,3
| Ceiling type | Angi / HomeAdvisor | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth or flat | $0.50 – $3 | $1 – $2.50 |
| Popcorn | $1 – $3 | $2 – $3.50 |
| Tongue and groove | $1.50 – $5 | — |
| Exposed basement | $2 – $6 | — |
| Grid or drop tiles | $0.50 – $3 | — |
| Acoustic | — | $1 – $3 |
| Vaulted | $2 – $6 | $2 – $4 |
| Cathedral | — | $2 – $4 |
The sibling figures in this table match each other; matching figures between the sibling sites alone don’t establish independent corroboration.1,2 Angi summarizes that most ceiling styles run $1 – $3 per sq.ft., with specialty types (tongue and groove, exposed basement) at $1.50 – $6.1 Fixr prices spraying an exposed 1,000 sq.ft. basement ceiling black at $1,000 – $3,200.3
HomeAdvisor adds that each additional coat increases the estimate by about 50%.2
Cost by ceiling size
Angi and HomeAdvisor publish the same size table (matching sibling figures):1,2
| Ceiling size | Cost (Angi/HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|
| 100 sq.ft. | $100 – $500 |
| 200 sq.ft. | $100 – $1,000 |
| 300 sq.ft. | $150 – $1,500 |
| 400 sq.ft. | $200 – $2,000 |
| 500 sq.ft. | $250 – $2,500 |
| 1,000 sq.ft. | $500 – $5,000 |
| 2,000 sq.ft. | $1,000 – $10,000 |
Fixr publishes its own size table, materials and labor included, on a lower per-sq.ft. basis:3
| Ceiling size | Cost (Fixr) |
|---|---|
| 70 sq.ft. | $70 – $175 |
| 100 sq.ft. | $100 – $250 |
| 130 sq.ft. | $130 – $325 |
| 160 sq.ft. | $160 – $400 |
| 190 sq.ft. | $190 – $475 |
| 220 sq.ft. | $220 – $550 |
Cost by ceiling height
Fixr prices height per square foot, materials and labor:3
| Ceiling height | Cost per sq.ft. (Fixr) |
|---|---|
| 8 to 9 feet | $1 |
| 10 to 12 feet | $1.50 |
| 12 to 18 feet | $2.50 |
Angi notes most ceilings sit around 8 feet and that anything beyond 10 feet can add $100 – $500 to the total for additional labor.1 HomeAdvisor prices ceilings taller than 10 feet, including vaulted, at $2 – $6 per sq.ft.2
Cost by room (Fixr)
Fixr prices ceiling painting by room, materials and labor, using its stated average room sizes:3
| Room | Average size (Fixr) | Cost (Fixr) |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | 50 sq.ft. | $50 – $125 |
| Kitchen | 150 sq.ft. | $150 – $375 |
| Bedroom | 200 sq.ft. | $200 – $500 |
| Garage | 400 sq.ft. | $400 – $1,000 |
| Basement | 1,000 sq.ft. | $1,000 – $2,500 |
Fixr cautions that most companies charge a minimum fee of $150 or more regardless of room size, so the smallest projects can cost more than the per-foot figure suggests.3 HomeAdvisor separately prices repainting a bathroom ceiling at $150 – $300, noting most painters charge a $150 minimum even for small spaces.2
Fixr’s living-room row is omitted: its table lists $340 – $850 while its own text says $224 – $850, and the page does not reconcile the two.
Paint and materials
All three publishers price ceiling paint at $20 – $60 per gallon, covering 350 – 400 sq.ft. per coat (Angi and HomeAdvisor are siblings; Fixr’s matching figures are separately published with no stated shared sourcing).1,2,3 Fixr also prices standard latex paint at $20 – $70 per gallon, noting ceilings often need two or more coats of standard latex.3
Angi adds that a five-gallon bucket covers 1,750 – 2,000 sq.ft. with one coat, or 875 – 1,000 sq.ft. with the two coats most ceilings require.1
Labor costs
Angi and HomeAdvisor report professional painters at $25 – $75 per hour (matching sibling figures).1,2 Fixr separately reports $40 – $60 per hour, rising to $70 in higher cost-of-living areas.3
Fixr also breaks an average labor-plus-materials job of $150 – $350 into roughly 60% labor ($90 – $210) and 40% materials ($60 – $140).3
Angi and HomeAdvisor note many contractors set a minimum project fee of $150 – $300 regardless of job size.1,2
Related and add-on costs
Crown molding or trim painted alongside the ceiling costs $0.50 – $3 per linear foot per Angi and HomeAdvisor (matching sibling figures); Fixr separately reports $1 – $6 per linear foot including labor and materials.1,2,3
Prep and repair: skim coating runs $1.10 – $1.30 per sq.ft. per Angi and HomeAdvisor (matching sibling figures).1,2 Angi prices ceiling repairs at $440 – $1,500,1 while Fixr prices small drywall ceiling repairs at $100 – $250 and extensive or vaulted-ceiling repairs at $400 – $700.3
Popcorn ceiling removal costs $300 – $5,700 per Angi,1 while Fixr prices removal at $1 – $2 per sq.ft. – a $900 – $2,500 project averaging $1,700 – plus $50 – $2,000 to repaint the new surface.3 The publishers state these on different bases (project range versus per-square-foot), so the figures are not directly comparable.
Angi prices painting a room’s walls at $300 – $2,800 and a full home interior at $350 – $5,700;1 Fixr prices painting a room’s walls and ceiling together at $300 – $1,000 per room.3
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a bathroom ceiling?
HomeAdvisor reports $150 – $300 to repaint a bathroom ceiling, noting most painters charge a $150 minimum even for small spaces.2 Fixr reports $50 – $125 for an average 50 sq.ft. bathroom ceiling, cautioning that minimum fees of $150 or more often apply.3
How much does it cost to paint a ceiling per square foot?
Angi reports $0.50 – $5 per sq.ft. on average depending on size and type.1 Fixr reports $1 – $2.50 per sq.ft. excluding cathedral and vaulted styles.3
How much ceiling paint do I need?
All three publishers put one gallon’s coverage at 350 – 400 sq.ft. per coat.1,2,3 Angi notes most ceilings require two coats, so a five-gallon bucket realistically covers 875 – 1,000 sq.ft.1
Related guides
Bathroom Painting Cost
Kitchen Painting Cost
See our guides to interior painting costs, popcorn ceiling removal costs, ceiling repair costs, and cabinet painting costs.
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Ceiling? [2026 Data] (accessed Nov 2, 2026)
- HomeAdvisor – How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Ceiling? [2026 Data] (accessed Nov 2, 2026)
- Fixr – Ceiling Painting Cost (updated Jan 2025)
- U.S. EPA – Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos (accessed Nov 2, 2026)