How Much Does It Cost to Install Trim?
Normal range: $634 - $2,246
Most homeowners spend an average of $1,379 to install trim, but the price can range between $634 and $2,246, affected by the size of your room and the type of trim material.
The cost to install trim ranges from $634 to $2,246, though the average homeowner spends around $1,379. The final price tag depends on the type of trim and the size of the room. Either way, trim is an excellent way to set the tone in your space and polish the look of your room, though its purpose is not solely decorative. This common design element will also cover gaps and imperfections between your flooring and walls.
- Average
- $1,379
- Low end
- $200
- high end
- $7,000
Trim Installation Cost Factors
There are a few different factors that impact the overall cost to install trim. Generally, the more ornate, the higher the cost. Everything from size to material also plays a role. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Trim Type
There are many different types of trim. The more simplistic, the less you will pay. Crown molding and wainscotting tend to be the most ornate and come with the highest upfront costs. You could spend more than $45 per linear foot for an intricate custom design in an exotic wood. On the other end of the spectrum, some simple quarter round molding could cost as little as $0.50 per linear foot.
Linear Foot
For most homeowners, trim installation costs $0.50 to $25 per linear foot. In some cases, it could cost up to $45 per linear foot if you are installing custom wainscotting or ornate crown molding.
Keep in mind that linear feet do not necessarily determine the full size and scope of the project. If you have a room with a lot of corners, it will take more time to install trim because your contractor will need to use a tape measure to take numerous measurements and make extra cuts. This will increase costs.
Trim Style
The more ornate the style—especially if you choose custom over prefabricated—the more you will pay. You will also pay more for pre-painted or pre-stained trim than you will for unfinished trim.
Since trim can suit any design style, make sure whichever you choose matches the theme of your house. For example, an ornate Victorian-style crown molding made from traditional plaster would suit a Queen Anne-style home, but you will pay top dollar. If you have a modern house, simple MDF baseboards will probably do the trick, and they tend to be one of the most affordable options.
Keep in mind that certain kinds of trim may use more than one type of trim and combine materials. For example, crown molding often layers different pieces of trim. In this case, you will pay for each piece and the labor to install, which is how costs add up.
Trim Material
There are different trim materials for every budget. Some of the most durable, like hardwood, come with the highest cost. Softwoods like pine are slightly less durable, but better value. You will also pay more for materials like plaster, which are typically used for custom jobs and not as widely available.
PVC, MDF, and polystyrene are among the most affordable materials, but they will not last as long as higher-end materials. Depending on the style of your trim, you may be able to mix and match materials.
| Material | Cost per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Wood | $1–$10 |
| Exotic Wood | $10–$45 |
| MDF | $1–$3.50 |
| PVC | $0.50–$5 |
| Polyurethane | $2–$6 |
| Polystyrene/Foam | $1–$2 |
| Plaster | $6–$15 |
Finish
Painting or staining your trim comes at an additional cost, but it depends on the size of your trim. Typically, baseboard painting costs more than painting quarter round molding because it is wider and has more surface area. Expect to spend $1 to $4 per linear foot on the finish.
Removal of Old Trim
If you are replacing trim, you will need to remove the old material first. Your contractor may charge $50 to $150 in additional labor. Some contractors work this into the price per linear foot. If that is the case, expect to spend $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot on removal.
Site Prep and Repairs
Before your contractor installs trim, they will need to prepare the area and make any necessary repairs. You may want to repair damaged molding in the area or patch drywall holes and cracks. Some common expenses include:
Moving furniture: $65–$105 per hour
Drywall hole repair: $20–$200
Drywall crack repair: $20–$400
Water damage repair: $600–$1,550
Nail pop repair: $10–$60
Drywall tear repair: $20–$120
Labor
If you plan to hire a professional to install your trim, expect labor to average $65 to $105 per hour. Areas with a higher cost of living will have a higher per-hour charge. Most homeowners spend somewhere between $400 and $675 on labor total.
Trim Cost by Type
Type is one of the biggest factors that determines the cost to install trim. Simpler and smaller types of trim like quarter round trim and shoe molding are more budget-friendly than larger or more detailed types of trim like wainscotting and crown molding.
| Type of Trim | Typical Cost per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Quarter Round | $0.50–$4 |
| Shoe Molding | $0.50–$1.50 |
| Base Molding | $1–$10 |
| Casing | $0.50–$1.50 |
| Crown Molding | $4–$50 |
| Chair Rail | $1–$3 |
| Picture Rail | $1–$3 |
| Wall Frame | $8–$25 |
| Wainscotting | $7–$40 |
Quarter Round
For most homeowners, quarter round trim is between $0.50 to $4 per linear foot. Most commonly, quarter round trim is sold in lengths of eight linear feet. This type of molding is a thin strip with a rounded edge. It is quite literally a quarter of a dowel, and it is most often used to cover the edge of flooring or blend a baseboard into the floor. Since it is flexible, it can conceal uneven flooring and create a seamless look.
Shoe Molding
For most homeowners, shoe molding costs $0.50 to $1.50 per linear foot. This type of trim is used similarly to quarter round molding. It is slightly taller and narrower than quarter round, but it will not stick out as much onto the floor.
Base Molding (Baseboards)
Base molding is commonly known as baseboards. For most homeowners, baseboards cost between $0.50 and $1.50 per linear foot. You could end up spending as much as $10 per linear foot on a high-end hardwood like mahogany. This type of molding lines the bottom of your walls and conceals the joint where the wall meets the flooring. It covers gaps and imperfections, but also streamlines the look of a room.
Casing
Casing typically costs $0.50 to $1.50 per linear foot, but hardwood types can cost as much as $10 per linear foot. This type of trim functions similarly to base molding, except it frames doors and windows.
Crown Molding
The cost to install crown molding typically falls between $4 and $23 per linear foot, but it could cost as much as $50 per linear foot for a custom design. Expect to spend up to $10 per linear foot on labor alone, and another $3 to $12 per linear foot for materials (or up to $30 if you choose exotic hardwood).
Chair Rail
Most homeowners spend $1 to $3 per linear foot on chair rail trim. This type of trim is installed partway up a wall. It was originally used to prevent the backs of chairs from hitting a wall, but now many homeowners like the aesthetic. It is particularly popular to split up a wall, with one side using wallpaper and the other using paint.
Picture Rail
Picture rail typically costs $1 to $3 per linear foot. Homeowners install this type of trim near the top of a wall, but not quite as high up as you would install crown molding. The purpose is to help hold picture frames, but some homeowners just like the aesthetic.
Wall Frame
Wall frame molding typically costs $8 to $25 per linear foot. You may have heard this type of molding called box trim. This is a decorative element that creates the illusion of frames, or rectangles, within a wall. It adds a bit of elegance and a classic feeling. The cost depends on the complexity of the frame.
Wainscotting
Wainscotting costs $7 to $40 per linear foot, depending on the material and size. This classic wall molding ranges anywhere from 32 to 40 inches in height and was originally used as insulation. Today, it is used as a decorative element that amps up a room’s elegance.
Cost to Install Trim Yourself
If you install trim yourself, you will only have to pay for the cost of materials. This is a fairly straightforward job, especially if you are installing prefabricated baseboards and your home does not require significant repairs. You will typically just have to measure the space, cut the trim to size, nail and/or glue the trim in place, then caulk the gaps.
DIY Trim Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
You can save an average of $400 to $675 on labor if you install trim yourself. Regardless, you may still want to hire a carpenter near you, especially if you want custom molding or plan to install molding around a ceiling or in a less accessible area. A pro will make sure the job is done quickly and correctly, preventing damage to your space and saving you cash on repairs from a botched DIY job.
How to Save on Trim Installation Costs
If this project is a little bit out of your budget, there are some ways you can cut down on the cost to install baseboard, crown molding, or any other type of trim. These tips can shave hundreds (or even thousands) off your project:
Go DIY: If you are a handy homeowner comfortable with finish carpentry, you may want to install your own trim. This is generally pretty straightforward if you choose a simple type of trim like quarter round molding. Even if you do not want to install trim totally on your own, you can do some of the prepwork, like clearing the area and removing your old trim.
Keep it simple: Rather than splurge for an elaborate custom molding, choose a simple prefabricated option. The less ornate, the less you are likely to spend.
Choose affordable materials: Nix the exotic hardwoods and custom plaster molds. Instead, go for affordable options like MDF or PVC. You can even mix materials depending on the type of molding to cut down on costs but still have a higher-end look.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a small difference between trim and molding, even if many people use the terms interchangeably. Trim is a general category encompassing all of the material that surrounds doorways, windows, flooring, walls, and ceilings. Molding generally refers to more decorative trim and millwork, whereas casing is a term for trim that you would find around doors and windows.
It is a good idea to paint trim before you install it. This makes the installation process easier. There is less risk that you will accidentally get paint on your floor or wall. You will not have to set up the area with painter’s tape and tarps. Once installed, though, you will likely need to touch up the paint.
It takes a professional carpenter around six hours to install trim in a room. Most carpenters can install around 20 linear feet per hour. It will take longer to install more complicated projects, like crown molding that has multiple layers or a room that needs both baseboards and box trim. The more edges and angles, the longer it will take.
Yes, you can install trim on a crooked wall. There are a few tactics contractors use to conceal imperfections. They may use shims (thin pieces of wood) to fill the gaps, which adds more stability. They may also sink the trim into the drywall. This process involves creating a depression in the drywall, so part of the trim fits slightly deeper into the wall. This solution tends to be more noticeable if there is more than a quarter-inch difference.