To add paneling to the walls of a 12-by-12-foot room, you’ll likely spend between $1,000 and $15,000, depending on the type of panel materials you choose.
Adding paneling to your walls can elevate your home's interior design with texture and sophistication. There are many wall paneling ideas to choose from, whether you love the minimalist look of flat paneling or you prefer something more ornate, like a raised panel with a custom design.
But before you land on a style, it helps to understand wall paneling prices. It typically costs $3,000 to $4,500 to add wall paneling to a 12-by-12-foot room, but prices vary according to several factors. Learn more about the costs to install wall paneling based on factors like style, material, and whether you hire a pro to do it.
Wall paneling is typically priced per square foot. The average cost to add wall paneling is around $20 per square foot, but it ranges from $1 to $40 per square foot, depending on the style.
There are several types of wall paneling, and the style you choose will be the primary determining cost factor. For example, shiplap is a more budget-friendly material, while decorative overlays or raised panels cost significantly more per square foot.
The table below includes typical pricing for different kinds of wall paneling to help you figure out which kinds are likely to fit into your budget.
| Type of Wall Paneling | Average Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Bead board | $7–$20 |
| Board and batten | $7–$20 |
| Flat panel | $7–$10 |
| Raised panels | $10–$30 |
| Shiplap | $1–$30 |
| Wainscoting | $1–$10 |
| Overlay | $10–$40 |
You’ll also need to consider the type of material that goes into the production of your paneling. Panels made from materials with a lower production cost and durability, like medium density fiber (MDF) board are likely going to sit toward the lower end of the price range, while hardwood and especially more desirable exotic wood species are going to climb toward that $40 per square foot price tag.
Beadboard paneling comprises vertical wood planks separated by small grooves or indentations between each plank. Beadboard ranges from $7 to $20 per square foot. You can use beadboard to create wainscoting, or you can run the beadboard paneling from floor to ceiling.
Board-and-batten panels are composed of vertical molding pieces affixed to the seams of large, flat panel boards. This paneling type usually costs around $7 to $20 per square foot, and the labor to measure and get everything set correctly makes up for a good portion of this price.
Flat paneling is among the least expensive paneling types at around $7 to $10 per square foot. Flat panels feature a modern design free of ornamentation, contributing to a sleek, streamlined look. Flat paneling used to be much more popular in the 1950s and 60s, and although it has fallen out of favor to some extent, you can still achieve a clean, modern look with this style.
Overlays are decorative moldings you can add to an existing wall panel to dress it up with a fun texture or design. Overlays usually cost around $10 to $40 per square foot. They’re the most expensive type of paneling, but also the most ornate.
Raised panels feature a beveled middle panel, usually a square or rectangle, set within a larger panel. Raised panels cost around $10 to $30 per square foot.
Shiplap walls feature a series of panels—usually oriented horizontally but sometimes vertically—that add texture to a wall. Shiplap panels usually cost around $1 to $7 per square foot, although that price can climb higher if you choose a unique hardwood board.
Wainscoting is a combination of different panel types and styles, sometimes with a beadboard back and horizontal runs on the top and bottom. Another popular style is to include large, flat panels, with rectangular shapes made from trim to create depth and intrigue. Wainscoting usually covers only the lower half of a wall. Expect to pay between $1 and $10 per square foot for this style of paneling.
The paneling prices above include just the materials, and labor can push up the total by between $0.25 and $3 per square foot, depending on the complexity of your design. Installing simple beadboard or flat panels will usually cost the least, while more labor-intensive board and batten or wainscoting will push you toward the higher end. In most cases, though, labor won’t make up more than 10% to 15% of your total cost to install wall paneling.
If you hire a general contractor by the hour to install wall panels, you can expect to pay around $90 per hour in labor costs in addition to the price of the paneling.
Installing wall paneling is a job to consider DIYing, as the process is usually fairly straightforward. Armed with the right tools and some woodworking experience, you shouldn’t have much trouble with the following types of paneling:
Beadboard
Flat panels
Pre-cut raised panels
Shiplap
However, the other styles require some precise measuring and cutting, which can make it difficult to achieve a professional appearance. We recommend considering hiring a carpentry service near you to get the job done correctly.
If you do tackle the job yourself, you’ll likely save somewhere between $100 and $300 on the labor costs for a standard-size room. Since labor makes up a small portion of the cost to install wall paneling, you may want to go with an expert from the get-go to avoid any issues or mistakes.
Yes, you can paint most wall panels. In fact, many wall panels come unfinished, meaning you can stain or paint them in any color you choose. Unfinished wall panels are usually less expensive than finished panels, although you should consider the time it will take you to finish them yourself when deciding if the monetary savings are worth it. You can save some money on the labor of finishing your panels if you go the DIY route, though.
If your wall panel already has a stain or paint color on it, you can often paint over it as well. You'll just want to make sure you properly treat the area before painting.
Wall panels offer functional and aesthetic benefits. From a practical standpoint, panels can improve your home's insulation and energy efficiency, especially if you opt for solid wood panels. They can also help protect your existing wall.
Aesthetically, wall panels have a knack for adding dynamic texture, warmth, and sophistication to a room. And thanks to their many different shapes, sizes, and styles, wall panels can elevate a wide variety of home designs.
Finally, it’s relatively easy to cover wall panels, so you have some flexibility if you end up not liking the look over time.
Removing existing wall panels usually costs between $0.60 to $1.15 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the panels and installation. Removing wall paneling is a pretty straightforward task, so if you have the time and the tools, you can consider doing the work yourself. If you want to add new panels in their place, you might need to install new drywall, which costs around $1.60 to $2.35 per square foot. If you’re not keen on the look of paneling, you can install drywall over paneling and just finish the drywall instead.
