Replacing plaster with drywall costs around $8,000, but it can increase depending on your project size and any finishing needed.
The cost to replace plaster with drywall averages $8,000, but it can range between $4,000 and $18,000. Replacing plaster with drywall isn’t the easiest DIY task. It involves removing an existing wall, evaluating the load-bearing beams, and then putting up a new wall. Afterward, the drywall requires a finish. Those purchasing an older home should think twice about removing plaster as it’s a longer-lasting material.
However, sometimes the plaster is damaged and needs to be removed, or a new homeowner simply wants a change. This involves demolition work and may require two specialized contractors. Read on to learn more about the cost of removing plaster and replacing it with drywall.
While the complexity of the work required doesn’t change much, it's important to remember that every wall in a house is different and will require a different approach. Removing plaster from a load-bearing wall will take much longer than removing it from a non-load-bearing wall. The age of the plaster will also factor into removal time. If you choose to finish the drywall, once it’s installed, you will need additional budget dollars for these materials.
For these reasons, many homeowners contract this work out to a general contractor, demolition team, or drywall installation company. If you're experienced with heavy tools, like sledgehammers and jackhammers, you can do the demolition work yourself, but be aware that damage to a load-bearing wall can cause significant damage to your home. For this reason, we suggest hiring a local drywall installation professional.
Many demolition teams, plaster specialists, and drywall installers will quote your project by the square foot. These are two different quotes, with the demolition cost being double or triple the cost of drywall installation. Like many other DIY projects, there is an economy of scale at play, so increasing the square footage will increase the total cost, but it should decrease the cost per square foot.
The following prices do not include drywall finishing:
| Wall Size (Square Feet) | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 4x8 | $350–$650 |
| 8x8 | $600–$1,050 |
| 10x8 | $720–$1,250 |
| 12x9 | $970–$1,700 |
Removing plaster and installing drywall shouldn't require specialized materials. Drywall is one of the most affordable wall materials available, and removing plaster is mostly elbow grease. We think it’s difficult to save too much money on the materials needed for this project, as they’re fairly basic, and using low-quality materials could lead to low-quality results.
Labor to remove plaster and install drywall takes the lion’s share of the budget. Removing plaster is extremely labor intensive and can often take days for a single wall. You can DIY the demo, but you’ll need to rent specialized tools and commit to the project.
Demo work can also be extremely fun but can wear you out quickly. Remember that you’re removing not just the plaster but also the lath behind it.
Here are some common labor costs associated with removing plaster and adding drywall:
Hourly rate for demolition work: $50–$100
Price per square foot for demolition work: $4–$17
Hourly rate for drywall installation: $50–$100
Price per square foot for drywall installation: $1.50–$3.00
General contractor project rate: $3,000–$18,000
You can get creative with drywall finishes and determine if you want to texture the wall, paint over the drywall, or add an interesting coat on top—maybe Venetian plaster. The least expensive option is to paint the wall, but it will also be the most simplistic. How you finish the drywall is up to you.
The cost table below details the pricing for the finishing only, not the plaster removal or drywall installation:
| Finishing Type | Average Cost (per Square Foot) |
|---|---|
| Primer and paint only | $0.50–$1.00 |
| Smooth finish | $1.00–$1.80 |
| Spray sand | $1.05–$1.20 |
| Venetian plaster | $3.00+ |
Handy DIYers may look at a project like this and know they can save quite a bit of money on labor. If you have the tools, the time—and more importantly—the experience, replacing a plaster wall with drywall is nothing too complicated. If you measure precisely and work carefully (for example, avoid damaging load-bearing beams), a skilled DIYer can complete this task for around 75% less than hiring a pro.
However, the work is highly labor intensive. If you don’t have the time, the skill, or the desire to take on a project that can take one week or more to complete, call a pro. The peace of mind knowing the job will be done right, while freeing you up for other tasks, is worth the cost. You can expect to pay around $8,000 for a large project if you hire a pro.
Before deciding to invest in a project like this one, including the demolition, drywall installation, finishing, and general contractor rate (if applicable), it’s beneficial to weigh the pros and cons of switching out plaster for new drywall.
If you're purchasing an older home, think twice about replacing—or covering—plaster with drywall. While plaster may seem outdated or high maintenance, it's a longer-lasting material overall.
The following table details the benefits and disadvantages of replacing plaster with drywall.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Plaster can have a dated look | Removing plaster can become costly |
| Drywall may be a cost-effective option if plaster repairs are too expensive | Studs can be difficult to find behind plaster |
| Drywall has a clean, modern look | Plaster lasts longer, is of higher quality, and increases home value |
| It’s convenient to replace plaster if you’re also taking down walls to replace plumbing and electrical | It’s difficult to install drywall in an older home where walls and floors aren’t level |
| Plaster can contain asbestos, complicating removal |
If the pros outweigh the cons for your project, then replacing your plaster with drywall may be worth the cost. However, if your plaster walls are in good condition and the plumbing and electrical are in good shape, you can save money by not changing them out. Keep in mind that plaster walls are thicker, more durable, a better insulator of sound and temperature, and more resistant to water than drywall.
The cost of drywall installation doesn’t vary too much, as the materials are already fairly inexpensive, and even professional drywall installation is reasonably priced. Some tips to help you reduce your overall project costs include:
Negotiate the estimate with your contractor.
See if you can work alongside your contractor to save on labor costs.
Expand the project to include more space to save on the price per square foot.
Finish the drywall yourself.
Drywall can be better than plaster if you’re installing a new wall and want to keep costs low. It’s much cheaper than installing plaster and provides a smooth, uniform surface. Many homeowners simply paint over the drywall or add a texture like sand or orange peel. It’s also much easier to DIY than plaster, and if you need to change your layout, it’s much easier to remove.
Plaster is a beautiful finish but is labor-intensive to install and remove. It’s vulnerable to cracking and more sensitive to moisture variance than drywall. Installing plaster on a new wall is an expensive process that can take days to weeks, depending on the scope. Removing a plaster wall can also be quite expensive and time-consuming.
Depending on the quality of the plaster and the moisture in the building, plaster can last over 100 years in some cases. It may develop cracks in some places, but many find it aesthetically appealing. As long as no structural damage affects the plaster and maintenance is being performed—mainly repairing small patches and addressing water damage—plaster can last a long time.
Plaster that sags or bulges, shows extensive deep cracks, or is crumbling from water damage or simply time may need replacement. Plaster walls can look a little “worn” for a long time before they need replacing. The only real way to know if it needs a replacement is to hire a professional to assess the condition of the plaster.
Technically, you can drywall over plaster, but it isn’t the best idea. If you can afford the expense, removing the plaster wall entirely before installing drywall is much better. When you drywall directly over plaster, you’re sealing in the plaster (and its lath), and if there are any problems in the future, you will need to remove everything down to the structural beams before rebuilding.
