INTERIOR
Wallpaper Removal Cost: What Pros Charge
Estimate wallpaper removal cost per square foot — with the free calculator.
Removing old wallpaper is the step nobody budgets for — until the painter quotes it. It's labor-heavy, type-dependent work. Here's what it costs and why the price range is so wide.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Wallpaper removal runs $0.60–$3 per sq ft depending on wallpaper type and wall condition. A typical room costs $200–$1,000. Non-woven paper is cheapest; glued vinyl with damaged walls is the expensive end.
What it costs
Most contractors quote per square foot or per room. Non-woven (strippable) paper peels fast at the low end; vinyl that was glued and painted over takes steam, scoring and scraping — the high end.
- Per sq ft: $0.60–$3
- Typical room: $200–$1,000
- Non-woven paper: lowest end
- Glued vinyl, damaged walls: highest end
The wall underneath decides
After the paper comes off, walls often need cleaning, patching and sometimes a skim coat before painting. That prep is separate work — and the real reason 'just remove wallpaper' quotes surprise people.
Try the removal calculator
Enter the wall area, removal price per sq ft and prep to see the total.