Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

By Steven Hansen / April 8, 2024

Our popcorn ceiling removal cost estimator was built with the help and expertise of our Costimates Painting experts to help you determine the total cost of scraping, repairing and repainting your ceilings that are covered with acoustic popcorn. You can quickly and easily estimate what it will cost for your specific and unique project, regardless of how many rooms or the size of the area.

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Calculator

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Calculator

Calculate the cost of having popcorn ceilings scraped, refinished and repainted in your home, by completing this easy to use, 3-step calculator. Once done, your estimated removal costs will be shown at the bottom of the interactive form. Note: All fields are required.

Step 1: Setting Local Cost Variables

Your 5-digit Zip Code and State are used to help the calculator obtain and set local cost variables that are unique to your area. We'll try to populate this automatically based on your location and browser settings.

5-Digit Zip Code

State

Step 2: Add Rooms & Areas to Be Scraped

In order for the cost calculator to work best and provide the most accurate popcorn removal cost calculation, tell us some details about the rooms being scraped and ceilings refinished. Group areas together by ceiling height to save time, or if you know the total square feet of the ceiling to be scraped, just enter it all at once.

Step 2 - Area Repeater

Ceiling Square Feet

Length X Width of ceiling in feet (Rounded up)

Ceiling Height

Height of walls at ceiling

Crown Molding?

Indicate if crown molding is installed at the ceiling perimeter.

Carpet or Other Flooring?

Type of flooring in this area.

Add Another Area Remove Area

Check this box when you are done adding areas.

Step 3 - Ceiling and Home Details

Step 3: Details About Your Home, It's Age and Your Desired Finish

Now that we have information about the area being scraped and refinished, we're almost there! Tell us a few more details about your home and the desired finish of the ceilings.

What Year Was Your Home Built?

Overall Condition of Popcorn Ceiling?

Have Ceilings Been Repainted?

Desired Finish Quality?

Home Occupancy Status?

Last Step - Calculated Cost Estimate

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Calculated Cost Estimate

Based on the factors entered above, we've determined you can expect to pay within the following price range to have your popcorn ceilings scraped, refinished and repainted by a local painting or drywall professional.

Low Cost

Low Cost Estimate

Low Per Square Foot

/ Per Sqft.

High Cost

High Cost Estimate

High Per Square Foot

/ Per Sqft.

Next Step: Get Free Quotes from Local Painting and Drywall Pros

While we have made this popcorn ceiling removal cost calculator as accurate as we can to fill a wide range of needs, the only way to get detailed and accurate quotes is by speaking to a local professional. If you would like to get free quotes from local, pre-approved companies in your area, click the button below.

Included in this Removal Cost Estimate

Preparing the areas where the popcorn ceiling will be removed. This includes the use of plastic sheeting, drop cloths, moving furniture, taping all access ways to areas to prevent the spread of dust, etc.
Protecting all ceiling fixtures like lights, wood beams, ceiling fans and any other fixtures within the areas to be scraped.
Assuring no asbestos is contained in the acoustic material.
Preparation and scraping of all popcorn from ceilings.
Sanding, recoating with a layer of drywall compound as needed to assure a smooth and blemish free finish.
Repainting the scraped ceilings to white, or the color of your choice.
All labor and materials costs to complete the project.
All cleanup and disposal of waste at the end of the project.

Not Included in this Cost Estimate

Asbestos abatement, should your popcorn ceiling contain asbestos material.
Correction of “waves” that are common in sagging ceiling joists in older homes.
Installation of recessed can lighting fixtures, unless they were already present.

References and Data Sources

Along with our own customer data, we make use of several trusted resources to gather the data used in our cost calculators. It assures you the most accurate cost estimates based on scientific data from trusted resources around the USA.

Cost of living data: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Labor costs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NAICS 238220 – Painters, wall finishes, construction and maintenance workers.
Flat-rate services cost strategy: RSMeans Contractors Pricing Guide.
Painters equipment, parts and supplies:
Overall costs are compiled by a averaging the cumulative costs submitted by painting professionals who have used this as a estimating tool for their own purposes and made their estimates public.
Note: We’ve remove all personal identifying data and used aggregate values only.

Related Calculators

Paint a Ceiling

$0.60 - $2.80/sq.ft.