How Much Does It Cost to Remove Texture From Walls? [2025 Data]
The average U.S. homeowner spends around $1,600 on the cost to remove texture from walls. Depending on whether it’s painted texture, prices often range from $1,200 to $2,100.
The price of removing wall texture depends on whether it’s painted.
Texture covered with heavy paint complicates the process.
Pros can charge either by the square foot or with a flat project quote.
You can skim coat the wall and skip removal altogether.
If your home came with textured walls that seem outdated, it’s time to switch things up. The cost to remove texture from walls ranges from $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot or around $1,600 on average when you hire a pro. What you pay depends on whether your texture has been painted over and the size of the area. A small project can cost as little as $400 while removing texture from several large, painted rooms could run up to $7,000.
Cost Factors When Removing Texture From Walls
Many homeowners opt to ditch textured walls in favor of a cleaner and more modern aesthetic. However, you should understand all the costs involved before taking any action. While you can DIY this work, we’d recommend hiring a pro for the best results.
Types
The differences between textures may be subtle, but depending on the material and method used, they may require different removal strategies. In the table below, we show average removal costs per square foot if the texture hasn’t been painted over.
If the texture has been painted over, you won’t be able to soak it—instead, you’d need to sand it down. This doubles your time and material costs. However, the type of texture (lace, popcorn, etc.) won’t have a large impact on the removal costs.
| Type of Texture | Average Removal Cost for One Room | Average Removal Cost for Entire Home |
|---|---|---|
| Painted Over | $300–$1,500 | $800–$4,000 |
| Unpainted | $150–$600 | $400–$2,000 |
Size
Removing texture from walls costs between $1.50 and $3.50 per square foot, on average. Keep in mind that if you hire a pro, you’ll pay a premium for smaller jobs, and may be able to negotiate savings for larger projects. Remember, larger projects will be a multi-day process for even experienced professionals.
| Wall Size in Square Feet | Average Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| 60 | $90–$210 |
| 80 | $120–$280 |
| 110 | $165–$385 |
| 150 | $225–$525 |
| 200 | $300–$1,000 |
| 300 | $450–$1,050 |
| 600 | $900–$2,100 |
| 750 | $1,125–$2,625 |
| 1,000 | $1,500–$3,500 |
Materials
The materials required depend on whether your texture has been painted. If not, you would use the spray-and-soak method to get the texture wet, then scrape it off. This is much easier and less expensive than removing paint, which involves sanding the paint off the drywall. You may still need to use the spray-and-soak method after sanding, adding to the material and labor costs.
| Material Required | Cost |
|---|---|
| Safety goggles | $9–$25 |
| Respirator mask | $15–$40 |
| Gloves | $3–$15 |
| Painter's tape | $5–$20 |
| Plastic sheeting | $8–$40 |
| Drywall scraper | $10–$25 |
| Pump sprayer or spray bottle | $10–$70 |
| Orbital or belt sander | $30–$90 |
| Water bucket | $2–$10 |
| Large, soft sponge | $2–10 |
Labor
You’ll want to talk to a local interior painting pro to determine your local labor costs, but homeowners can expect to pay between $40 and $90 per hour for texture removal. Material costs will be low if you choose to hire a pro, so expect labor to be the majority of the cost.
Prep
Removing texture is a messy job. If you can, follow as many of the items below as possible before starting the work:
Remove furniture
Cover the floor and remaining furniture with plastic sheeting
Tape outlets, switches, and windows
Remove everything from the walls
Ventilate the space by opening windows and doors
An overlooked but extremely important part of this job is making sure your paint doesn’t contain asbestos. Testing for asbestos is something you should always leave to a pro. If you have any doubts, consider the age of your home. Those built before the 80s have a high chance of containing asbestos.
Post-Removal Cleanup
Removing texture will create a mess. If you need to sand, wait overnight until cleaning in order to let all the airborne particles settle on the plastic sheeting. Carefully roll it up and properly dispose of it. You should wipe down the walls with a damp cloth to remove dust.
If you have an air filter, make sure the filter is working properly. Once everything has been removed, vacuum the room thoroughly and leave it open for ventilation for as long as possible.
DIY Texture Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
Homeowners can save at least 75% of the project cost by doing the work themselves. This is a serious amount and is worth considering. If you have to sand away paint, you should defer to a pro since they will be better equipped to handle the potentially dangerous dust created in the process.
That being said, removing wall texture yourself is a doable DIY project if your textured walls are not painted, you don’t mind some elbow grease, and you have a few days off. Most of the work is simple—scraping, spraying, and vacuuming.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Removing Texture From Walls
You can dramatically lower the project cost if you DIY the work and pass on a pro. However, for many people, this isn’t realistic due to time constraints and the expertise required. You’ll be able to save the most money by doing the work correctly and carefully to avoid redoing anything. Here are some tips:
Reuse plastic sheeting and drop cloths
Borrow tools like sanders and sprayers
Buy supplies in bulk, using coupons or discount codes when available
Use generic brands
Consider renting equipment like HEPA filters instead of buying them
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two popular wall textures: orange peel and knockdown. These are simple and cost-effective ways to add texture to a smooth wall, which is why so many contractors and homeowners opt for these two choices (especially when adding texture to drywall). Knockdown, sometimes called knockout, looks like a stucco finish with flattened high spots. Orange peel texture looks like the skin of an orange with a lightly bumpy surface.
Some textures are easier than others to DIY, but the short answer is yes, you can absolutely texture walls yourself. You’ll need certain materials, like a trowel or paint sprayer, but the most important things you’ll need are patience and time. DIYing wall texture can save money and be a fun, messy project, but homeowners need to know that adding texture to a wall isn’t a quick project.
While certain types of textured walls can seem dated (looking at you, popcorn), textured walls are a common sight in both older and more modern homes. The main reason textured walls may be here to stay is that they are an excellent way to hide minor imperfections on a wall and give it a finished appearance. Some homeowners think a coat of paint on drywall is a bit industrial-looking. However, that look works perfectly in modern home design.
Skim coating is when you apply a thin layer of drywall compound to textured walls, creating a smooth surface. This can be done for relatively little money—skim coating costs an average of $600—and can be a simpler way to smooth a wall versus removing texture. Since you apply the skim coat directly on the texture, it is a faster process than removing the underlying texture altogether.
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