On average, new wallpaper costs around $566 in labor to install, but it can range from $314 to $819. This depends on how much you DIY, the type of material you choose, and the size of the room.
Putting up new wallpaper in a room or even just as an accent wall might be the easiest way to make a significant change to a room’s appearance and style. Factors such as the type of wallpaper you choose, where you live, and the room size will affect the total cost of hanging wallpaper. Depending on your level of handiness and home decor expertise, hanging wallpaper can be a fun weekend DIY project, as well.
The actual labor costs of hanging wallpaper can range from $1 to $7 per square foot, or $3 to $9 per yard, on top of the cost of the wallpaper itself. It costs approximately $25 to $80 per hour to have a professional put up wallpaper. This estimate can increase if the contractor or wallpaper installer needs to perform any repairs to your walls during the process. Custom-designed wallpaper starts around $5 per square foot and can go up to $100 or more if you want something extremely elaborate.
A wallpaper professional near you can give you more customized price info. Be sure to ask for samples of their work, particularly if the area you are planning on wallpapering is complicated or you are using highly detailed wallpaper. You will also want to know if they handle the prep work (including moving furniture away from the walls) and cleanup, and get the answers to other key questions before you hire someone to put up wallpaper in your home.
| Room Type | Average Square Footage | Average Total Labor Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 285 | $285–$1,995 |
| Living Room | 215 | $215–$1,505 |
| Bedroom | 210 | $210–$1,470 |
The cost of putting up new wallpaper depends on the type of wallpaper you pick, the size of the area you are covering, and whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a pro.
Labor costs to install wallpaper average between $25 and $35 per roll plus the cost of the wallpaper itself. If your wallpaper pro charges by the hour, expect to pay $25 to $80 an hour in labor costs.
Your walls need to be in good condition before installing wallpaper in order for it to lay flat and last longer. If your walls need repair before wallpaper is installed, drywall repair can cost between $50 and $75 per square foot, or $60 to $90 an hour if the contractor charges hourly.
Before you hang new wallpaper, you may need to factor in the cost to remove the old wallpaper. You can hire a pro to do this for the cost of $500 to $700 per room, or $0.55 to $1.50 per square foot, or you can do the job yourself for around $50- to $100-worth of supplies and plenty of elbow grease.
“If the wallpaper you are removing wasn’t properly prepared with a step called sizing, it might be difficult to remove smoothly,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, North Carolina. “There are various techniques for removal, such as steaming and light scraping, but they are labor-intensive and will add cost to the project.”
You will also need to get the walls ready by cleaning the surface, sanding down any rough areas, and perhaps applying or reapplying a skim coating, or replastering damaged areas. If you remove old wallpaper, you will need to make sure any old adhesive is gone as well, since that can leave behind unsightly lumps and bumps. It’s a good idea to prime before wallpaper installation so that the paper adheres properly.
The larger the room, the more material you will need, but any obstacles can also drive up the price, so be sure to mention those when getting quotes.
A standard roll of wallpaper covers around 30 square feet, but keep in mind that you may need to cut pieces to fit around various obstacles. If you choose a complicated print, you may need more wallpaper if you are pattern-matching or otherwise cutting pieces to match up at the edges.
Also, keep in mind that you will likely want to align the pattern on the edges of the sheets when hanging patterned wallpaper. This can be relatively simple or very complex, depending on the pattern you select, and it can significantly increase the time and labor required to hang the paper if you pick intricate designs.
"Wallpaper also works best in lower-traffic rooms that don’t get very much moisture. Rooms like kitchens and bathrooms are not ideal for wallpaper since those are considered high-moisture areas and can cause the paper to peel."
— Gregory Pittman, Director of Commercial Painting Services at Five Star Painting
A single roll of wallpaper costs between $25 to $35. This can increase if you choose a designer label or even customized wallpaper, and it will decrease if you find a great deal. For instance, coated fabric wallpaper tends to be pricier than more typical vinyl-coated wallpaper.
“We always recommend that our clients consult with a designer, as wallpaper styles and materials do change often,” Tschudi says. “If you can’t afford to hire an interior designer, many wallpaper suppliers have qualified designers on staff who can steer you in the right direction.”
There are also other options including but not limited to foil or mylar wallpaper, flocked wallpaper, grasscloth wallpaper, or detailed wallpaper borders. Prices for specialty wallpaper vary greatly by designer, but some of the average costs for these include:
| Type of Wallpaper | Cost per Sq. Ft. | Cost Range for 200 Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|---|
| Foil or mylar | $2.14–$2.71 | $428–$542 |
| Grasscloth | $2.47–$3.97 | $494–$794 |
| Flocked | $2.33–$5.83 | $466–$1,166 |
| Wallpaper borders | $2.26 | $452 |
| Peel-and-stick | $0.67–$1.50 | $134–$300 |
| Water-resistant | $1.50–$2.50 | $300–$500 |
| Embossed | $2.33–$3.67 | $466–$734 |
High-end wallpaper lines will carry a higher price tag than budget brands. High-end brands include Pierre Frey, Calico, Gracie, De Gournay, and Zuber and may cost anywhere between $250 and $1,200 a roll or more. A wide array of budget-friendly brands are available online and in popular big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and more. These brands cost an average of $20 to $50 a roll.
Like many home decor projects, wallpapering is a task you can easily handle yourself if you are willing to put in the time, energy, and patience to get it right. Depending on the size of the space, there is a good chance that this is a home project you can complete in a weekend. The main cost will be the wallpaper itself, which can run from as little as $10 to several hundred dollars per roll. You may have to buy tools for installation, including paste, a water tray, sponges, and a tape measure.
The cost to have a contractor hang wallpaper in your home tends to be less than $1,000—and if the job is complex or you do not have the free time to perform the labor yourself, hiring a professional might be a worthwhile investment.
In your decision to hire a pro or go the DIY route, be sure to consider your own skills and capabilities. You may be worried about aligning the paper properly or you may not feel physically comfortable getting up on a ladder or crouching down to the baseboards. If that is the case, call a pro to ensure the job is perfect without getting your hands dirty. There are plenty of local wallpaper installation companies that can take care of it all from start to finish.
Many pros who install wallpaper also offer other related services. Some common wallpaper installation add-ons include:
Wallpaper removal: Removing old wallpaper costs between $0.60 and $3 per square foot.
Accent wall painting: Painting an accent wall averages between $2 and $6 per square foot.
Skim coating walls: Skim coating walls to give wallpaper a smooth surface to adhere to costs between $1.10 and $1.30 per square foot.
Installing wallpaper can be expensive, but there are ways you can save. Installing your own wallpaper will save you on labor costs—you’ll just need to pay for the wallpaper and supplies to hang it. Keep in mind, though, that what you save in installation costs, you’ll spend in time and effort.
You can also save on wallpaper installation costs by selecting less expensive wallpaper. Cost per roll varies widely between brands, so a more budget-friendly option can cut down on your total price.
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.
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Putting up new wallpaper tends to take one to two days, depending on the size of the area, whether old paper needs to be removed, and if there is any damage to walls that needs to be smoothed over or fixed.
You can paint over existing wallpaper if you select wallpaper that is designed to be paintable. This type of paper is usually designed to add texture to walls.
Having dated, peeling, or otherwise damaged wallpaper can decrease the value of your property, so removing that before listing your house is nearly always a good idea; however, since wallpaper tends to be a personal style choice, potential buyers may or may not love your aesthetic as much as you do.
Love the look of wallpaper but want to consider property value as well? Stick with something that is easy to change. If you are thinking of selling soon, make sure your wallpaper hanging is on-point and looks professional with no crooked seams, evenly matched patterns, and minimal bubbling or other imperfections.
You should be aware of the current wallpaper and interior trends before hanging it, especially if you are planning on selling or listing your home soon. Do people in your market tend to prefer bold designs and accent walls, or does having a simpler print all over seem like a better idea? Lastly, you want something that appeals to your aesthetic preferences; hanging wallpaper is an investment of your time and money after all.
