How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost?
Enter your ceiling area and choose how far the job should go to compare total and per-square-foot costs.
Safety stop: If asbestos may be present, do not scrape or sand the ceiling. Testing and regulated removal are not included.
Last updated: September 8, 2026
Enter Ceiling Details
Need the area first? Use the Square Footage Calculator .
Remove the texture, protect the work area, clean up, and handle normal debris.
Removal Cost Summary
Remove the texture, protect the work area, clean up, and handle normal debris.
- Work-area protection
- Wet scraping
- Cleanup and normal debris handling
National planning ranges, not a local contractor bid. Painted texture, damage, fixtures, furniture, and access can change the quote.
How This Estimate Works
Measure the finished ceiling area, then choose the scope that matches the result you want. The calculator multiplies that area by the selected national planning range.
Each scope is a complete bundled range, so do not add the tiers together. Local labor, access, protection needs, painted texture, and ceiling damage can change a contractor's quote.
Worked Examples
12 x 12 bedroom
144 sq ft · Scrape only
$216 - $504 total · $1.50 - $3.50 / sq ft
This covers texture removal and normal cleanup, not skim coating or painting.
Open living area
300 sq ft · Scrape + surface prep
$675 - $1,650 total · $2.25 - $5.50 / sq ft
The prep allowance is for patching, skim coat, and sanding toward a paint-ready surface.
Whole-home ceiling finish
1,000 sq ft · Finished ceiling
$2,500 - $7,000 total · $2.50 - $7.00 / sq ft
This range includes removal, surface preparation, primer, and finish paint as one bundled scope.
What Can Change the Quote?
Painted or firmly bonded texture
Paint can trap the texture and make scraping slower. Treat it as a quote-up factor rather than assuming the scrape-only range will hold.
Ceiling damage or water stains
Soft drywall, cracks, stains, or loose areas can require repair before the surface can be skimmed and painted.
Fixtures, furniture, and access
Protection, moving furniture, high ceilings, tight rooms, and multiple ceiling sections add setup and cleanup time.