The average cost of drywall repair is $608. The cost ranges between $294 and $924, depending on the damage, the type of damage, and the location of the repair.
Whether you want to spruce up a few dents and dings or fix a large surface area, investing in drywall repair can return your walls to a smooth, flush look. The average cost to repair drywall is $608, ranging between $294 and $924. Some contractors charge between $50 and $75 per square foot.
Similar work will cost between $60 and $90 per hour if the contractor charges hourly. Basic repairs like small holes are on the lower side of the cost range, while fixing extensive damage and drywall replacement are on the higher end.
When determining drywall repair costs, you’ll need to consider the project's size and scope, the location of the damage, the materials used, and whether additional repair work is needed. Numerous factors—like the extent of the damage or the accessibility of the location—will impact the overall price. Here’s a look at how the costs break down.
The more damage, the more it will cost to repair your drywall. Size and scope are two major factors. You can fix a small hole with a DIY repair kit for $10 to $30, but it could cost upward of $1,300 for a large ceiling repair. It all depends on the extent of the work and how long it will take.
| Square Footage | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 | $50–$75 |
| 2 | $100–$150 |
| 4 | $200–$300 |
| 5 | $250–$375 |
| 8 | $400–$600 |
| 10 | $500–$750 |
| 20 | $1,000–$1,500 |
You can purchase a drywall repair kit for a small repair, but for a larger job, you’re better off buying the materials separately. Expect to pay about $45 for drywall, spackle, a putty knife, wood, screws, and sandpaper. Add $15 to $25 for a quart of paint or $20 to $55 for a gallon.
For more significant drywall issues, some of the materials you will need include drywall sheets, screws, drywall tape, and spackle. You may hear the term drywall and Sheetrock® used interchangeably. Sheetrock is actually a specific brand that costs slightly more than generic drywall.
| Drywall Repair Materials | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Patches | $7–$10 |
| Drywall tape | $4.50 per roll |
| Spackle | $5–$15 per container |
| Sandpaper or sanding sponge | $5–$10 |
| Drywall repair kit | $10–$30 |
| Standard drywall | $10–$25 per sheet |
| Drywall screws or nails | $5–$10 per box |
| Paint | $15–$55 per gallon |
| Putty knife | $2–$15 |
| Drywall mud (joint compound) | $5–$10 |
When hiring a local drywall repair company, you’ll choose between a handyperson and a construction contractor. Handypeople are best for smaller projects and charge about $60 per hour. However, it's best to call a contractor if you have extensive damage or need to replace entire walls. You can expect to pay these professionals about $90 per hour.
Remember to budget for hiring other pros as needed. If the drywall damage extends to the wiring behind the wall, contact an electrician for repairs. The average cost to hire an electrician is $50 to $100 per hour. If your wall needs painting and you don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire a painter for about $70 to $130 per hour.
"Drywall and plaster work require extensive practice and talent. You can try a DIY repair if a patch is small enough or where you won’t mind looking at a less-than-professional job when it’s done. If an entire wall needs repair, trust the pros to do the work so you're happy with the results."
— Brandon Walker, Superintendent at ASAP Restoration LLC, Phoenix, AZ
Damage in spots that are not easily accessible may warrant higher repair costs. For example, holes on tall walls, on the ceiling, or under sinks may require extra time and equipment, like ladders. Repair people might tack on an additional fee for these, or in the case of hourly workers, you’ll pay more because the job takes longer.
Larger repairs can get messy. Your contractor will charge an additional $200 to remove the construction debris, though smaller jobs can cost much less.
Some homeowners have texture on their drywall. After repairs, you’ll need a pro to reapply the drywall texture, which costs about $1 per square foot.
Once you repair your drywall, you’ll most likely have to paint it. Painting the interior of your house costs $2 to $6 per square foot or $70 to $130 per hour.
Depending on your project, you may need to factor additional items into your total drywall repair cost. Your contractor will help you figure out what your project needs, but here are some of the most common add-ons:
Popcorn Ceiling Removal: If you want popcorn ceilings removed, expect to spend about $6 per square foot to hire a pro. If your home has high ceilings or other factors that make the removal more difficult, plan to spend more. You can DIY it for less, but be sure you know how to do it correctly and rule out the presence of asbestos before you begin.
Spray Foam Insulation: Adding insulation can be a long-term money saver, but you’ll need to budget for the installation. If you choose polyurethane spray foam, expect to pay between $0.45 and $1.50 per board foot (a board foot is a piece of lumber measuring 12 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 1 inch thick). Other, more eco-friendly options can double the cost.
Blown Insulation: Blown-in insulation averages $0.50 to $2.30 per square foot for materials alone, depending on the type of insulation you choose. Add another $2 to $8 per square foot for labor when you hire a pro. The benefits can outweigh the cost, as blown-in insulation can increase your home’s energy savings.
Homeowners spend between $150 and $1,800 on professional drywall repair. Drywall installation costs range widely due to varying circumstances. For example, your drywall might have a few small nicks from furniture, or there could be serious water damage and mold. Here are some common repairs and their associated costs.
| Type of Drywall Damage | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Small holes | $20–$120 |
| Large holes | $50–$200 |
| Cracks | $60–$400 |
| Dents | $20–$150 |
| Tears | $20–$120 |
| Joints and seams | $40–$200 |
| Beads | $50–$160 |
| Ceiling | $220–$1,300 |
| Water damage | $600–$1,550 |
| Nail pop repair | $10–$60 |
Most homeowners spend between $20 and $120 repairing small holes in drywall (up to 4 inches across), but repairing several holes could cost as much as $300. This doesn’t include extra work like repairing texture or applying new paint. Most contractors also have a minimum fee per trip, so small repairs—like fixing or removing loose drywall anchors—may not be cost-effective.
If you want to tackle the project on your own, a DIY drywall repair kit costs $10 to $30.You might even end up with leftover materials you can use the next time something nicks your drywall.
Large holes happen, whether they’re from heavy furniture or active children. Most pros charge $50 to $75 per square foot to fix large drywall holes measuring 5 inches or greater in diameter. On average, expect to spend $50 to $200 repairing large holes in your wall.
The cost to repair cracks in drywall depends on the size and the cause. Expect to spend as little as $60 on a hairline crack or upward of $400 on large cracks and corner repairs. From there, costs will rise if there’s an underlying issue.
Sometimes, a crack occurs because a new home has settled. Other times, it’s because your home has a structural problem. If there’s an underlying cause, you’ll need to fix it so the cracks don’t return. Make sure to consult a drywall repair company before the issue worsens.
Most homeowners spend between $20 and $150 to repair dents in drywall—but it could cost more if the dents are severe. Your contractor will need to remove and replace the drywall. Small dents are relatively simple to repair, so many homeowners choose to do the job themselves for less than $30. In this case, you’ll need a trowel ($15) and joint compound ($8).
Drywall tears occur when layers of mud or tape are ripped off. Sometimes, a scrape against drywall can also tear it. Drywall is fairly brittle, so a tear doesn’t extend far as it might if you tear wallpaper. Tears require cutting out the torn section, applying drywall compound on top, sanding, and repainting. Expect total costs to be average between $20 and $120.
Joints and seams are where two drywall boards meet. The most common damage seen here is cracks along the seam. If the crack is small, you can fill it with joint compound, sand, and paint it, with materials costing around $20 in total.
However, if the crack is large, you may want to investigate further to ensure there are no foundation concerns or excess humidity issues. Total costs range between $40 and $200, but it will cost much more if you need to fix the foundation.
Drywall beads are L-shaped joints used to add strength to drywall corners. They’re sealed with joint compound and painted over, so you may not notice them until they show damage. Repairing them requires removing the drywall bead (carefully to avoid rips) and replacing it. Beads are inexpensive, but replacing them is time-consuming. Expect the material to cost around $40, with a total project cost of $50 to $160.
It costs about $220 to $1,300 to repair a drywall ceiling. Since most pros charge between $60 and $90 per hour, a small patch costs much less than repairing extensive damage. Keep in mind that ceilings are high, so it can be dangerous to fix them yourself. It might also require special tools.
On average, water damage repair costs $600 to $1,550. When drywall is damaged by water, your contractor will need to cut it out, assess it for mold, potentially replace damaged insulation, and install a new drywall panel.
If your contractor uncovers mold, costs can dramatically increase. Mold remediation costs $10 to $20 per square foot, but the total cost depends on the type of mold and the location.
Nail pops happen when nails dislodge and puncture your drywall, causing holes or bumps on the surface. You can remove the nail and repair the hole yourself, or you can hire a drywall pro. DIYing this repair costs around $10 to $60.
Drywall is brittle, making it susceptible to damage. Even brushing against it too hard with a vacuum or tripping and falling into it can lead to a needed repair. Swinging door knobs, moving furniture, and slamming doors are all common causes of drywall damage.
Think of drywall as a sheet of thin ice. If the pressure is spread out, it’s less likely to crack or break. When objects exert a strong force—like a swinging door knob—on a single small area, it will dent or even break through the drywall.
Foundation issues are less common but almost always result in long cracks. If you notice peeling drywall where there is no damage, make sure the room's humidity level is within normal parameters (25% to 50%).
Plenty of handy homeowners choose to repair minor cracks, dents, and holes in their drywall. For minor damage, you’ll spend around $10 to $55, depending on whether you also need to purchase paint for a touch-up. Most DIY repair kits include spackle, wall patches, a putty knife, and sandpaper.
If you have a larger hole, you’ll need to purchase an actual sheet of drywall. The total cost shouldn’t exceed $100, and you’ll likely have plenty of leftover materials if you need to make repairs in the future.
On average, a drywall contractor will charge between $60 to $90 per hour. Drywall repair can be difficult, especially if you don’t have experience with larger repairs that require cutting out broken drywall to add a new piece—a repair often encountered when fixing holes in drywall.
Extensive drywall repair can get costly, but luckily, there are some things you can do to lower costs. If you have even minor home improvement skills, it’s time to roll up your sleeves.
You can use a DIY drywall repair kit if you have a tiny dent or hole in your wall. This kit costs as little as $10 and is relatively straightforward. Make sure you have the paint to match your wall to hide the patched area after the repair.
It’s harder to get a smooth finish if you have larger cracks and holes. Instead, bring in a pro for the drywall repair and take on smaller tasks yourself. If you paint the wall and remove the construction debris on your own, you could save a few hundred dollars.
Contractors often have a minimum rate for a job. For this reason, it’s not always economical to hire a pro for a small repair like a single crack or tiny hole. To get the most out of your budget, wait to fix your drywall until you can group multiple small jobs together.
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The decision to repair or replace drywall will depend on the extent of the damage and what caused it. For example, if you have small holes caused by runaway door knobs or furniture, there’s no need to replace the drywall—just patch it. On the other hand, if you have damage from water or rodents, it’s better to remove the drywall to inspect, repair, and replace it as needed.
Some painters will repair minor drywall damage. For repair work of any kind, it’s a good idea to hire the professional required for the job. Many painters will have the materials on hand and can add it to the total cost. While you may save some money, there is a chance the work will be subpar compared to a professional who specializes in drywall.
It depends on the construction of your wall. Most handypeople can fix small holes in drywall. If your wall is plaster or brick, more significant damage may require a drywall contractor or a mason. Hiring a handyperson costs less than a more specialized type of contractor.
