How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost? [2024 Data]

Normal range: $923 - $3,006

The average cost to remove a popcorn ceiling is $1,961. Most homeowners spend between $923 and $3,006 depending on the complexity of the project.

How we get this data
Round mounted ceiling light fixture on a popcorn ceiling
Photo: PixelChrisy / iStock / Getty Images
Deirdre Sullivan
Written by Deirdre Sullivan
Contributing Writer
Andy Kilborn
Reviewed by Andy Kilborn
Owner, Andy's Handyman Service
Updated March 15, 2024
Round mounted ceiling light fixture on a popcorn ceiling
Photo: PixelChrisy / iStock / Getty Images

Popcorn ceilings were all the rage decades ago, but if you’re looking to make some aesthetic updates for a brighter look or are planning on putting your home on the market, it may be time to say goodbye to the prickly ceiling texture. If you have a straightforward, uncomplicated project, you can expect to pay as little as $300 on popcorn ceiling removal costs. If you have a larger house or higher ceilings, you might pay as much as $3,006. Most homeowners spend an average of $1,961—or $7 per square foot—on the price to remove popcorn ceiling.

See the price range for popcorn ceiling removal in
your area
How we get this data
Normal range for U.S.
$923 - $3,006
  • Average
  • $1,961
  • Low end
  • $300
  • high end
  • $5,505
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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.

Home builders, renovators, and even DIYers favored popcorn ceilings because they effectively concealed surface imperfections and were cost-effective to install. Additionally, they offered noise-reduction and fire-retardant properties, making them a practical choice.

The popcorn ceiling trend gained popularity in the 1950s and continued until the early 1990s. 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 popcorn ceiling removal, including your ceiling’s size, local labor fees, and more.

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 often charge $1 to $2 per square foot or $15 to $40 per hour. A 500-square-foot project may cost between $300 and $750. Removal of popcorn ceilings throughout an entire one-story house typically costs $900 to $2,840.

Project SizeCost Range
500 sq. ft.$300 – $750
One-story house$900 – $2840
Two-story house$1,500 – $4,000

Complexity

Professionals may charge more if your project presents challenges. For example, high ceilings require larger ladders and more prep work. Painted ceilings aren’t easy to scrape, so they also require more time and effort.

Materials

You don’t need many materials to remove popcorn ceilings. 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’re going to have your contractor also resurface your ceiling, you’ll need to budget for those additional costs. They might include paint, texturing, and ceiling tiles, as well as labor costs.

Labor

Depending on the condition of your popcorn ceiling, the removal process can be labor-intensive. Labor will typically include:

  • 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.

You can expect to pay between $15 to $40 per hour in labor costs, and the project can take 20 hours or more, depending on the size of your room. 

Disposal

The final step of 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. Otherwise, a professional will charge $150 to $170 to dispose of up to 500 square feet of debris. For large projects requiring a carting service, look into local dumpster rental costs. The average price is $380 per week, but this can vary depending on your location. 

However, if your popcorn ceiling did contain asbestos, 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). These regulations are in place to ensure the safe and proper handling of asbestos to minimize health risks and environmental hazards. 

The cost of asbestos disposal can vary significantly based on several factors, such as your location, the quantity of asbestos-containing material (ACM), and local regulations. The average range for disposal is between $10 and $50 per cubic unit. However, it's essential to note that these figures do not include permit fees, which can further impact the overall cost.

Asbestos Disposal MethodCost RangeAverage Cost
Dumpster rental$300 – $475 per week$380 per week
Junk removal service$60 – $600$240

Asbestos Removal

If testing your popcorn ceiling for asbestos turns out positive, you’ll need to hire a professional to handle disposal. Asbestos removal costs vary depending 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.

Angi Tip
Leave asbestos removal to the professionals. Long periods of exposure to a high volume of disturbed asbestos can have harmful effects on your health, including serious diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.

Resurfacing

7 resurfacing options after popcorn ceiling removal compared, including knockdown, orange peel, and skip trowel
Photo: BanksPhotos / E+ / Getty Images, Ankorlight / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, TravisPhotoWorks / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, LeMusique / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, shunli zhao / Moment / Getty Images, Evgenii Emelianov / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Once you remove your popcorn ceiling, you’ll want to choose a new look that best suits your home’s aesthetic. Are you more sand and smooth, or do you lean towards a textured ceiling? If you hire a ceiling painting pro near you, you can expect to pay between $1 to $2 per square foot for this portion of the project.

Prime and Paint

This method includes lightly sanding your ceiling with a sanding pole and 100-grit sandpaper. Once your ceiling has a smooth finish, apply one coat of primer. Next, apply one or two coats of ceiling paint. 

You can expect to pay $1 to $3 per square foot to hire a ceiling painter. If you DIY this project, you’ll pay between $100 to $200 for materials.

Smooth Ceiling 

You might want to skip the texture altogether and simply choose a drywall finish. You’ll need drywall tape, a quick-setting joint compound, and a drywall knife.

A drywall finish provides a clean, smooth look by consistently smoothing over the drywall tape with a thick mud-like mixture (the joint compound). You can expect to pay $1.50 per square foot in labor costs to have a pro smooth your ceiling with a drywall finish. 

Knockdown

Knockdown is a custom technique to hide flaws in your ceiling’s drywall. To achieve the knockdown effect, you’ll need to splatter a joint compound with a spray gun—and then use a trowling knife to create an imperfect texture throughout small sections of your ceiling. Pros charge $1 to $2 per square foot in labor to create a knockdown texture. 

Splatter

Splatter texture is much like knockdown, except it doesn’t use a troweling knife as the final step. Instead, you’ll spray the joint compound lightly and scrape off the excess. This finer technique allows visual interest and is a great way to hide imperfections. You’ll pay an average of $0.80 to $1.50 per square foot in labor for a splatter ceiling.

Skip Trowel (Imperial)

Skip trowel, also known as imperial texture, works by hand-applying a thin layer of joint compound and smoothing it into random arches with a trowel. Skip trowel hides imperfections and allows for variety—your ceiling pro can use several hand tools to create differing arches and textures throughout your ceiling. You can expect to pay between $1.50 to $2 per square foot for this technique. 

Crow’s Foot

Crow’s Foot is another unique hand-applied texture. To achieve this look, you’ll need to fill a painter’s brush or roller with a joint compound and slap it across your ceiling. This imperfect technique resembles ridges, valleys, or actual crow’s feet across your ceiling. You’ll pay between $1.50 to $2 per square foot to accomplish this texture.

Orange Peel

Orange peel, much like its namesake, resembles the peel of an orange, complete with dimples. You can apply this texture by loading the joint compound into a high-pressure spray hose, letting small drops of mud splatter, and then letting it dry on the ceiling. Orange peel is durable, easy to clean, and hides imperfections—you can expect to pay between $0.80 to $1.50 per square foot for this method.

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 

Technically speaking, removing a popcorn ceiling is a simple task. Practically speaking, it can be messy, strenuous, and potentially dangerous. You’re perched on a ladder while doing most of the work above your head. On top of that, debris is constantly falling on you—and everywhere else for that matter. 

Assuming a 500-square-foot project, you can expect the cost of DIY popcorn ceiling removal to be between $215 to $245. This range includes the cost of necessary tools, such as scrapers, a ladder, and protective gear, as well as debris disposal. If you want to paint the ceiling, hang decorative tiles, or apply texture, you’ll need to add in the cost of extra material.

If you’re up for the DIY challenge, be sure to prepare accordingly and be careful. Hiring a pro is a good idea if you don’t have the time or patience for this task. “Popcorn ceiling removal is messy, tedious, and takes specialized tools,” said Andrew Kilborn, an Angi Expert Review Board member who has 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.”

We recommend hiring a local drywall contractor for this project. Removing a popcorn ceiling can be challenging, especially if you have asbestos. Not only that, but a pro is knowledgeable about ceiling texture and design and can guide your project in the right direction. You can expect to pay an average of $1,957, with $923 on the lower end and  $3,001 on the high end. Of course, your cost ultimately depends on the size of your space and the project's complexity.

Cost FactorCost Range
Professional removal$900 – $2,900
Materials to DIY$100 – $500
Waste removal for DIY$200 – $400

Tips to Save on Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost

Whether you’re tackling popcorn ceiling removal yourself or calling in a pro, there are ways you can save on this project.

  • First, you can save time and money by testing your ceiling for asbestos with an at-home testing kit (available for $10–$35). Make sure you wear safety gear—gloves, goggles, and a face mask. If tests are inconclusive (or you suspect the test is wrong), hire a professional asbestos test.

  • Next, you can save money by doing all prep work—remove all furniture, ceiling lights, and fixtures, and line the room with plastic tarps.

  • Finally, after you remove your popcorn ceiling, you can save money by cleaning the space, disposing of all debris, and tackling the ceiling painting.

Elisa Greenberg contributed to this piece. 

Frequently Asked Questions

If your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, you’ll need to hire a professional asbestos removal company to handle the disposal. If your popcorn ceiling does not have asbestos, you can hire a drywall or painting professional to handle the job—depending on what you need done.

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Learn more about our contributors
Deirdre Sullivan
Written by Deirdre Sullivan
Contributing Writer
Deirdre is a seasoned DIYer and home improvement writer. She believes in the transformative powers of deep cleaning and painting to revitalize any space. Her articles have appeared in HomeLight, The Spruce, Realtor, and more.
Deirdre is a seasoned DIYer and home improvement writer. She believes in the transformative powers of deep cleaning and painting to revitalize any space. Her articles have appeared in HomeLight, The Spruce, Realtor, and more.
Andy Kilborn
Reviewed by Andy Kilborn
Owner, Andy's Handyman Service
Andy Kilborn has 20 years of experience in home repair and remodeling. He has experience in fixture installation, wall and siding repair, deck installation and repair, woodworking, and plumbing.
Andy Kilborn has 20 years of experience in home repair and remodeling. He has experience in fixture installation, wall and siding repair, deck installation and repair, woodworking, and plumbing.
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