How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $928 - $3,042
The average cost to remove a popcorn ceiling is $1,985. Most homeowners spend between $928 and $3,042, depending on the complexity of the project.
Popcorn ceilings were all the rage decades ago, but if you want to make some aesthetic updates for a brighter look or plan to put your home on the market, it may be time to say goodbye to the prickly ceiling texture.
You can expect to pay around $1,985 for popcorn ceiling removal costs, or around $6 per square foot. Most homeowners spend between $928 and $3,042 to have popcorn ceilings removed, but your total cost could reach $5,700 or more if you have a larger home with higher ceilings.
Below, we explore the different cost factors that will impact the total price you pay to remove this outdated feature.
- Average
- $1,985
- Low end
- $300
- high end
- $5,700
What Is a Popcorn Ceiling?
A popcorn ceiling, also referred to as a textured, stucco, or acoustic ceiling, is a common surface treatment found in older, budget-friendly homes. This type of ceiling features a rough, bumpy texture reminiscent of popcorn or cottage cheese, achieved by spraying a mixture of water, paint, and polystyrene foam or other materials onto a ceiling.
Over time, the appeal of popcorn ceilings diminished due to evolving design preferences and growing concerns about asbestos. Many popcorn ceilings applied before the 1990s were discovered to contain this hazardous material.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Factors
Several factors influence the cost of removing a popcorn ceiling, including your ceiling’s size, local labor fees, and whether or not it contains asbestos.
Asbestos Removal
First, determine whether your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. If testing your popcorn ceiling for asbestos is positive, you must hire a professional to handle disposal. Asbestos removal costs depend on the size of your room, the amount of asbestos present, and the location (high ceilings make it more labor-intensive). On average, asbestos remediation costs between $5 and $20 per square foot. Hire a local asbestos removal professional to tackle this project—additional labor costs will run between $75 to $200 per hour on top of the remediation charge.
Size
The overall size of your project plays a huge role in how much you’ll pay for popcorn ceiling removal. Local popcorn ceiling removal professionals charge $1 to $6 per square foot or $15 to $40 per hour. Removing a popcorn ceiling from a 500-square-foot area may cost between $500 and $2,500.
| Size of Ceiling (Square Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 500 | $500–$2,500 |
| 750 | $750–$3,750 |
| 1,000 | $1,000–$5,000 |
| 1,250 | $1,250–$6,250 |
| 1,500 | $1,500–$7,500 |
| 1,750 | $1,750–$8,750 |
| 2,000 | $2,000–$10,000 |
Complexity
Professionals may charge more if your project presents challenges. For example, high ceilings require larger ladders and more prep work, and painted ceilings aren’t easy to scrape, requiring more time and effort.
Materials
If you’re doing the job yourself, you’ll need protective gear, scrapers, spray bottles, a ladder, and sandpaper. If you’re hiring a professional drywall installer, they’ll bring everything necessary to complete the job.
If you have your contractor resurface your ceiling, you’ll need to budget for the additional costs. These might include paint, texturing, ceiling tiles, and labor.
Labor
Depending on the condition of your popcorn ceiling, the removal process can be labor-intensive. Labor includes the following tasks:
Prepping your space (removing furniture, covering walls and floors with plastic drop cloths, and removing ceiling fans and light fixtures)
Scraping your ceiling
Possible asbestos removal
Disposing of the debris
Cleaning up your space
Disposal
The final step in removing a popcorn ceiling is disposing of the debris. If your debris doesn’t contain hazardous substances and can be placed inside contractor bags, you can put it out with your regular trash. For large projects requiring a carting service, look into local dumpster rental costs. The average price is $380 per week, but it can depend on your location.
However, if your popcorn ceiling did contain asbestos, you’ll want to inform the dumpster rental company and ensure they follow the correct local requirements. The specific permitting and licensing requirements vary, but they must adhere to the minimum regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
| Asbestos Disposal Method | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Dumpster rental | $300–$475 per week |
| Junk removal service | $60–$600 |
Additional Costs to Consider
After you de-popcorn the ceiling, you’ll have a variety of resurfacing options to choose from to finish the ceiling. These options come with additional costs, depending on how you resurface the ceiling and whether it needs repairs.
Resurfacing
Once you remove your popcorn ceiling, you’ll want to choose a new look that best suits your home’s aesthetic. If you hire a ceiling painting pro near you, you can expect to pay between $1 and $2 per square foot for this portion of the project.
| Type of Ceiling Resurfacing | Average Cost (Per Square Foot) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Prime and paint | $1–$3 | Lightly sands your ceiling with a sanding pole and 100-grit sandpaper |
| Knockdown | $1–$2 | Splatter a joint compound with a spray gun—and use a trowling knife to create an imperfect texture throughout small sections of your ceiling |
| Splatter | $0.80–$1.50 | After the joint compound is sprayed, the excess is scraped off |
| Crow’s foot | $1.50–$2 | Fill a painter’s brush or roller with a joint compound and slap it across your ceiling |
| Orange peel | $0.80–$1.50 | Load the joint compound into a pray hose, letting small drops of mud splatter, and then letting it dry on the ceiling |
| Smooth drywall | $1.50–$2 | Provides a clean, smooth look by consistently smoothing over drywall tape with a thick mud-like mixture |
| Skip trowel (Imperial) | $1.50–$2 | Hand-apply a thin layer of joint compound and smooth it into random arches with a trowel. |
Ceiling Repairs
While popcorn ceilings aren’t always a homeowner's preference, they have the upside of hiding ceiling imperfections. After removing a popcorn ceiling, areas that need repair become more apparent. A ceiling repair professional near you will charge between $45 and $90 per square foot for simple repairs. For major repairs, like removing large areas due to mold and mildew or replacing ceiling joists, get quotes from multiple ceiling contractors in your area.
| Ceiling Repairs | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Ceiling holes | $180–$370 |
| Ceiling cracks | $400–$1,350 |
| Water damage | $45–$55 per square foot |
| Sagging ceiling | $75 per hour |
| Ceiling joists | $150–$750 |
Benefits of Removing Your Popcorn Ceiling
Getting rid of a popcorn ceiling can boost health, aesthetics, and home value.
Health Risks
Removing your popcorn ceiling can eliminate potential health hazards associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos was often used before the health risks were widely recognized, and if your home was built before 1980, your popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos.
Air Quality
Popcorn ceilings tend to trap dust and allergens. Removing them boosts indoor air quality, potentially benefiting those with respiratory issues or allergies. Plus, smooth ceilings are easier to clean—another win for breathing easier.
Home Value
Upgrading your ceilings by eliminating the popcorn texture can increase the resale value of your property. Potential buyers often prefer homes with smooth, updated ceilings, which are currently seen as desirable.
Lighting
Textured ceilings can absorb and disperse light unevenly, making a room feel darker and less inviting. On the other hand, smooth ceilings reflect light more uniformly, creating a brighter and more open atmosphere.
Damage
Because of the texture, popcorn ceilings are more susceptible to chipping and peeling. High-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens can also become a haven for mold and mildew—not to mention staining easily from grease and smoke.
DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
Removing a popcorn ceiling seems simple but can be messy, strenuous, and potentially dangerous. You’re perched on a ladder while doing the work above your head. Debris is constantly falling on you—and everywhere else. To make things worse, that debris could contain asbestos, a significant health hazard. We recommend hiring a drywall contractor for this project.
While you can DIY popcorn ceiling removal, we do not recommend it. “Popcorn ceiling removal is messy, tedious, and takes specialized tools,” said Andrew Kilborn, an Angi Expert Review Board member with 20 years of experience in home repair and remodeling. “You can tackle it yourself, but many homeowners hire a professional with the right materials and experience.”
Tips to Save on Popcorn Ceiling Removal Costs
Whether you’re tackling popcorn ceiling removal yourself or calling in a pro, there are ways you can save on this project.
Test your ceiling for asbestos with an at-home testing kit (available for $10–$35). If tests are inconclusive (or you suspect the test is wrong), hire a professional asbestos test.
DIY all prep work—remove all furniture, ceiling lights, and fixtures, and line the room with plastic tarps.
Do the post-removal work—clean the space, dispose of all debris, and tackle the ceiling painting.
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
If your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, you must hire a professional asbestos removal company to handle the disposal. If your popcorn ceiling does not have asbestos, you can call a popcorn ceiling removal specialist to handle the job. Otherwise, you can hire a drywall or painting professional to handle the job—depending on what you need done.
Removing a popcorn ceiling can increase home value by enhancing aesthetics and modernizing the space, making it more appealing to buyers. However, the value increase varies based on factors like the local real estate market, the overall condition of the home, and buyer preferences.
It is often less expensive to cover a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it. Installing drywall costs $1.50 to $3 per square foot, whereas popcorn ceiling removal averages $7 per square foot. Another option may be installing beadboard panels over top, giving your ceiling a fresh and modern look.