Popcorn ceiling removal cost: per square foot, per room, by state
A whole house, 1,200 sq ft: about $725 to $1,050, typically $875. That's the acoustic (popcorn) texture removed from an unpainted ceiling, plus the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. A room or two comes in at the contractor's minimum for the job. Have an older ceiling tested for asbestos first: you can't tell by looking, the EPA says.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| A room or two, up to 500 sq ft | $450 to $775 |
| A whole house, 1,200 sq ft | $725 to $1,050 |
| A large house, 2,000 sq ft | $1,200 to $1,750 |
About $0.50 to $1.00 a sq ft of ceiling, everything in.
Totals include the contractor's overhead and profit (20%) and the state's average sales tax. Prices as of November 2026.
What’s in these numbers
Each total is a typical job, priced the way a contractor’s estimate is priced:
- The popcorn texture removed from an unpainted ceiling.
- Overhead and profit: 20%, the standard markup on a contractor’s estimate.
- Sales tax on the materials, at the state’s average rate.
The sizes are the ceiling’s square feet, the same as the floor under a flat ceiling. A room or two, up to about 500 square feet, comes to the same total, because the job is priced at the drywall trade’s minimum until it’s bigger than that.
Not in them: an asbestos test or abatement, scraping a painted ceiling, skim-coating or retexturing, painting the ceiling, and protecting floors and furniture.
Test for asbestos first
Some popcorn ceilings contain asbestos. The EPA says you generally can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, unless it’s labeled; that a trained and accredited asbestos professional should take any samples, since sampling done wrong can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone; and that if in doubt, treat it as asbestos and leave it alone. Material in good condition that won’t be disturbed doesn’t need testing, but scraping a ceiling disturbs it.
What moves the price
- Paint. A painted popcorn ceiling doesn’t soften with water and comes off harder.
- Asbestos. A ceiling that tests positive is removed by an abatement contractor, at a higher cost.
- The finish after. A scraped ceiling may need patching, a skim coat or a new texture, then paint.
- Height. Vaulted and stairwell ceilings need scaffolding.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Common questions
How much does it cost to remove a popcorn ceiling in one room?
About $450 to $775 for a room or two, at the minimum for the job, before testing, retexturing and paint.
How much for a whole house?
About $725 to $1,050 for 1,200 square feet of ceiling, typically $875.
What does popcorn ceiling removal cost per square foot?
$0.50 to $1.00 a sq ft of ceiling on a whole house of unpainted ceilings; small jobs cost more per square foot because of the minimum.
Does a popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
It can. You can’t tell by looking, the EPA says; an accredited asbestos professional takes the sample.