Contractor service costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Wall installation in Chicago costs $22 to $29 per linear foot on average.
Dimensions, location within your home, and any unique features, such as windows and doors, will determine the cost of building your wall.
Permits, insulation, electrical wiring, and plumbing costs will also increase your total cost of wall construction.
Wall building costs vary widely based on the size, finish, and trim details.
Wall installation costs in Chicago range from $1,032 to $2,765, with an average price of $1,847. Whether you're dividing a room, installing a privacy partition, or creating a whole new space, adding a wall can be a valuable home improvement project.
Planning, designing, building, and finishing a wall involves numerous steps and considerations, each of which affects your total construction cost.
While size is the most prominent pricing factor in wall construction, the type and details of the wall you wish to construct can also significantly affect its cost. For example, the cost of installing drywall versus wall paneling pricing can vary by $9 to $32 per square foot.
The bigger the wall, the more expensive it is to build. The standard wall height is 8 feet, though you may need something taller or shorter. Once you figure out the wall length you need, just multiply it by the height to get the square footage.
You can expect a finished wall, including framing, drywall, and electrical, to cost around $22 to $29 per linear foot in Chicago. Half-walls cost $11 to $19 per linear foot and are useful for dividing areas in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and more.
| Wall Length (Linear Feet, by 8-Feet-Tall) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 10 | $220–$290 |
| 15 | $330–$435 |
| 20 | $440–$580 |
| 25 | $550–$725 |
| 35 | $770–$1015 |
| 40 | $880–$1160 |
The cost to install a wall depends greatly on its material. Walls come in a wide range of materials, including brick, plaster, stone, and concrete.
| Material | Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Drywall | $1.55–$2.65 |
| Plaster | $3.15–$8.70 |
| Glass | $25–$65 |
| Concrete | $10–$55 |
| Wood | $10–$35 |
| Stone or stone veneer | $15–$70 |
| Brick or brick veneer | $5.30–$40 |
Whether you want to install a partition wall for privacy or a load-bearing exterior wall, the wall's function determines the final cost.
Most wall construction projects in the area involve hiring a Chicago-based contractor at $50 to $150 per hour. Your contractor will take on all related tasks, including obtaining the required permit, planning, construction, finishing, and clean-up.
Hiring a contractor can also expand your design options, as they may offer selections beyond standard wall materials, such as glass, veneers, and other drywall alternatives.
Often in the Chicago area, you'll need a structural engineer to sign off on the construction plans in order to obtain the permit for your wall-construction project. Structural engineer services cost $70 to $250 per hour, or roughly $2 to $10 per square foot, on average, and your contractor will be responsible for this aspect of the project.
Building a new wall to create a new room or living space can increase your home's value by 5% to 20%. However, the new construction must meet building code and be useful and attractive to realize its full value. Often, a more significant impact relates to its perceived value, functionality, and aesthetics. These attributes can make the home more attractive to potential buyers.
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’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
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