INTERIOR
Drywall Repair Cost: Per Square Foot in 2026
Estimate drywall repair cost per square foot — with the free drywall calculator.
Holes, cracks and water damage in drywall — the most common repair in any home. Small fixes are cheap; water damage is not. Here's the real 2026 cost.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Drywall repair runs $150–$700 per job in 2026 (typical $250–$500). Small holes run $50–$200. Water damage repairs run $500–$2,000+. Per sq ft, repairs run $1.50–$5. The minimum visit charge runs $150–$250.
What it costs
Patching nail holes and small cracks runs $50–$200. Medium holes (baseball to basketball size) run $200–$500. Water-damaged sections run $500–$2,000+ — the drywall, insulation and sometimes framing all get replaced. Labor dominates: minimum charges run $150–$250.
- Small holes: $50–$200
- Medium holes: $200–$500
- Water damage: $500–$2,000+
- Per sq ft: $1.50–$5
Patch vs replace
Small holes get patched — cut a patch, mud, tape, sand, paint. Big water damage gets a full section replaced — cut out the wet drywall, fix the leak first, install new board. Never patch over active leaks or mold — that's a temporary fix that hides the problem.
Try the drywall calculator
Enter the area and labor rates to estimate the repair.