Sandblasting costs $1.50 to $7 per square foot according to Angi and HomeAdvisor, and $2 to $5 per square foot according to Fixr.1,2,3 HomeAdvisor (2025 data) reports a $977 national average for sandblasting a home’s exterior, with most prices ranging $455 – $1,651.2 Angi (2026 data) puts the national average at $3,200 for a 1,000-square-foot home exterior, with most homeowners paying $1,500 – $12,500.1 Fixr (updated January 2025) reports $3,000 – $7,500 for a 1,500-square-foot job, with most homeowners spending around $5,250 to lightly sandblast 1,500 square feet using soda or aluminum oxide; its low-end is $1,500 (very light pressure with corn cobs on 1,500 sq ft) and its high-end $24,000 (heavy-duty pressure with copper slag on 1,500 sq ft).3 The three averages carry different project scopes and bases, so they are not compared directly. Prices below are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the surface type, its size, the blasting method and medium, the cleaning intensity, and local labor rates.
Silica dust and lead paint. OSHA says abrasive blasting with sand exposes workers to respirable crystalline silica – particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand – and that inhaling these particles increases the risk of serious diseases including silicosis (an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death), lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease.4 The EPA says homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint, and that renovation or repair activities disturbing painted surfaces in older homes may create large amounts of lead dust; projects creating even a small amount of dust can pose health risks.5
$1.50–$7
per sq ft (Angi/HomeAdvisor)
$977
national average, home exterior (HomeAdvisor, 2025 data)
$3,200
national average, 1,000 sq ft exterior (Angi, 2026 data)
$5,250
national average, 1,500 sq ft light blasting (Fixr, 2025)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Oct 2026) | $3,200 average for a 1,000 sq ft home exterior; most homeowners $1,500 – $12,500; $1.50 – $7 per sq ft | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor |
| HomeAdvisor (2025 data, updated Jun 2026) | $977 average for a home exterior; normal range $455 – $1,651; $1.50 – $7 per sq ft | Matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration between the siblings |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | $5,250 average for lightly sandblasting 1,500 sq ft with soda or aluminum oxide; range $3,000 – $7,500; low-end $1,500; high-end $24,000 | Average carries a defined job scope |
The siblings publish matching per-square-foot, surface, and media figures; those matches are presented as published. Where Fixr’s figures match them, they are separately published, and the pages state no shared sourcing.
Cost by blasting method
HomeAdvisor and Fixr price the four common methods per square foot. Wet sandblasting is priced differently by the two publishers; the figures are shown side by side and not compared directly.2,3
| Method | HomeAdvisor | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro blasting (water only) | $1 – $2.50 | $1 – $2.50 |
| Wet sandblasting | $1.70 – $3.25 | $1.30 – $3.50 |
| Dry sandblasting | $2 – $4.50 | $2 – $4.50 |
| Dry ice sandblasting | $3.50 – $5 | $3.50 – $5 |
Hydro blasting uses only pressurized water; wet sandblasting mixes water with abrasives; dry sandblasting uses air alone; dry ice blasting uses solid carbon dioxide.2,3
Cost by cleaning intensity
Both Angi (2026) and Fixr (2025) price four cleaning intensities per square foot, differing only at the lightest setting.1,3
| Intensity | Cleaning depth | Angi (2026) | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very light | 1/32 inch | $1.50 – $3 | $1 – $3 |
| Light | 1/16 inch | $2 – $5 | $2 – $5 |
| Medium | 1/4 inch | $4 – $8 | $4 – $8 |
| Heavy-duty | 3/8 inch | $7 – $16 | $7 – $16 |
The sources describe heavy-duty intensity as rare outside industrial work – typically steel and iron – and softer surfaces like stucco and wood as calling for lower pressure.1,3
Cost by surface type
All three sources publish the same per-square-foot prices by surface; asphalt appears only in the sibling pair’s tables.1,2,3
| Surface | Cost per sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tile | $1.50 – $3 | All three sources |
| Stucco | $1.50 – $3.50 | All three sources |
| Wood | $2 – $3 | All three sources |
| Brick | $2.50 – $3 | All three sources |
| Concrete | $2.50 – $3.50 | All three sources |
| Asphalt | $2 – $5 | Angi/HomeAdvisor |
| Wrought iron | $4 – $8 | All three sources |
The sources describe stucco and wood as soft surfaces needing lower pressure and a less abrasive medium, and wrought iron as the most time-consuming because of its fine detail.1,2,3
Cost by project size
Angi (2026) and Fixr (2025) each price whole-exterior jobs by area. Fixr’s figures assume light sandblasting with labor included; Angi does not state an intensity for its table, so the two are not compared directly.1,3
| Surface area | Angi (2026) | Fixr (2025, light blasting) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,500 – $7,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $2,250 – $10,500 | $3,000 – $7,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $14,000 | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $3,750 – $17,500 | $5,000 – $12,500 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $4,500 – $21,000 | $6,000 – $15,000 |
Blasting media cost per pound
All three sources publish matching per-pound media prices (materials only), except that Angi and HomeAdvisor alone price corn cobs and silicon carbide; the matches are separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing.1,2,3
| Medium | Cost per pound |
|---|---|
| Corn cobs | $0.80 – $1 (Angi/HomeAdvisor) |
| Sand silica | $1.50 – $1.80 |
| Baking soda | $1.50 – $2.50 |
| Glass bead | $1.50 – $2.50 |
| Aluminum oxide | $2 – $2.50 |
| Steel grit | $2 – $2.50 |
| Walnut hulls | $2 – $3 |
| Pumice | $2.50 – $3.50 |
| Silicon carbide | $4 – $4.50 (Angi/HomeAdvisor) |
| Acrylic (plastic grit) | $4 – $4.50 |
| Copper slag | $4 – $5 |
The sources describe corn cobs and walnut hulls as soft organic media for delicate surfaces, sand silica as the traditional option, and silicon carbide as the hardest and among the most expensive.1,3
Labor and hourly rates
Most sandblasting jobs are priced per square foot, but small or detail-heavy work is often billed hourly. Angi and HomeAdvisor quote $50 – $80 per hour for typical work, and Fixr quotes $45 – $75; all three sources put complex jobs at up to $300 per hour – the siblings’ match is presented as published, and Fixr’s matching ceiling is separately published with no shared sourcing stated.1,2,3 Fixr adds that wood sandblasting is often billed hourly at $75 – $300, and Angi notes small jobs like a door are typically billed at its standard hourly rate.1,3 Hourly pricing covers preparation, planning, blasting, finishing, and cleanup, according to all three sources.1,2,3
Other sandblasting jobs
Fixr (2025) prices these specific projects.3
| Project | Cost (Fixr, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Swimming pool, per sq ft | $1 – $2 |
| Driveway, per sq ft | $2 – $5 |
| Car rims, per wheel | $20 – $70 |
| Car shell, plastic media blasting | $550 – $750 |
| Car shell, glass bead blasting | $800 – $1,100 |
| Trailer (about two hours) | $80 – $150 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does sandblasting cost per square foot?
Angi and HomeAdvisor report $1.50 – $7 per square foot; Fixr reports $2 – $5 per square foot, with heavy-duty work reaching $16. The price depends on the surface, method, medium, and intensity.1,2,3
What does it cost to sandblast a house exterior?
HomeAdvisor reports a $977 national average with most prices ranging $455 – $1,651; Angi reports $3,200 for a 1,000-square-foot exterior; Fixr reports $5,250 for lightly sandblasting 1,500 square feet with soda or aluminum oxide. The scopes differ, so the figures are not compared directly.1,2,3
Which blasting method is cheapest?
Hydro blasting, which uses only pressurized water, is the lowest-priced method in both publishers’ tables at $1 – $2.50 per square foot; dry ice blasting is the highest at $3.50 – $5.2,3
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All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — How Much Does It Cost to Sandblast? (2026 data)
2. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does It Cost to Sandblast? (2025 data)
3. Fixr — Sandblasting Cost (2025)
4. US OSHA — Silica, Crystalline: Overview
5. US EPA — Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead