cost to remove wallpaper
Sophia Vance
Updated on August 08, 2026
Professional wallpaper removal costs typically range from $1 to $4 per square foot. In most cases, this includes the price of labor, materials and equipment. However, project costs will vary depending on the size and the complexity of your job.
Is it cheaper to remove wallpaper or replace drywall?
Removing the wallpaper will be cheaper but will be time consuming and probably drive you mad. Replacing the drywall will cost a lot more but is much quicker and easier. Try to see how easy it will be to remove in a test patch. Make sure to score the wallpaper and use a product like dif.
How much should I charge to strip wallpaper?
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Wallpaper per Square Foot? You can expect to pay about $3 per square foot for wallpaper removal. For easy jobs, some contractors could charge as little as $0.60 per square foot. All in all, you can expect to pay about $535 for a 12-foot-by-12-foot room on average.
Can I pay someone to strip wallpaper?
Useful wallpaper removal checklist
The average wallpaper removal costs reflect how time-consuming and arduous the process is. Wallpaper can be removed via steaming, chemical stripping and scraping. Hiring a professional to remove wallpaper is a smart choice, saving you time and energy.
Do painters take down wallpaper?
For those who don’t want to deal with the hassle – or those who don’t have time – you can hire a professional service to remove old wallpaper. Most painting companies also offer wallpaper removal, and pros tend to do the job quickly and neatly.
How long does it take to remove wallpaper?
There are many factors at play when it comes to wall paper removal including the age of the wallpaper, its type, and the condition of the wall surface underneath. On average, it takes about a day to strip the walls of a small bedroom, but here are a few factors that could stretch that timeline: Age.
Can you Sheetrock over wallpaper?
If you really want to install new wallpaper or paint without removing the old wallpaper, skim coat the wall first, using drywall joint compound, or install an extra layer of drywall.
Is it difficult to remove wallpaper?
It’s an arduous job, but anyone can do it. There’s no shortcut for removing wallpaper. It’s a messy and time-consuming job, but with the right tools, anyone can do it. There are a variety of techniques, and some will work better than others for your particular wall and wallpaper.
Is vinegar good for removing wallpaper?
Mixed with water, vinegar’s acetic acid helps to break up wallpaper adhesive. Combined with scoring the paper and a variety of gentle scrapers, this method can safely and reliably remove wallpaper from almost any wall surface.
What is the best wallpaper remover?
Our Top Picks
Best Overall. WP Chomp 52016 Wallpaper Scraping Tool. Photo: amazon.com. Best Bang for the Buck. Bates Choice Scraper. Best Scoring Tool. Zinsser Paper Tiger Free-Floating Wallpaper Remover. Best Solvent. WP Chomp World’s Best Wallpaper Stripper. Best Steamer. Wagner Spraytech 0282018 1-Gallon Wallpaper Steamer.
Should I paint over wallpaper or remove it?
According to most home improvement experts, as well as the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, wallpaper should be removed before painting whenever possible, as you’ll experience better results and fewer problems down the road [source: NGPP].
What is the easiest way to remove wallpaper?
Use a scoring tool to create holes in the wallpaper. Use a spray bottle to soak the paper. Spray water into the slits so it can work its way behind the covering. Wait about 10 minutes and then scrape off the paper with a putty knife.
What happens if you paint over wall paper?
Painting over the wallpaper means the drywall or plaster walls under the paper will remain intact. Generally, trying to remove old wallpaper or several layers of wallpaper might cause damage to your walls.
How do you strip wallpaper?
Use your putty knife to lift the corner of the paper. Use your hands to peel the paper from the wall, pulling as close to the wall as you can to avoid tearing the paper. If the paper does rip, loosen another corner and start again. Repeat the process around the entire room.
How long does it take to wallpaper a room?
of-course, duration will depend on the size of your wall. Say if there’s only 1 roll to be installed, then it would barely take a 1.5-2 hours. 1 roll which is 55-57 sq feet. If you have a column or other design element to that wall, then it take 3-4 hrs max.