The cost to paint the interior of a house in San Francisco, CA depends on size, layout, type of surface, and more. Learn what factors can influence your total in this guide.
How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in San Francisco? [2026 Data]
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Cost Insights
Popcorn ceiling removal costs $1.70 to $7.25 per square foot in San Francisco.
The project's size is the primary cost factor when removing popcorn ceilings.
Additional cost factors, such as disposal, cleanup, and hazardous material handling, if necessary, can increase the project's price.
Removing popcorn ceilings can deliver up to 80% ROI.
Popcorn ceiling removal costs in San Francisco range from $1,650 to $3,708, with an average price of $2,638. Popcorn ceilings are a textured finish that's easy to install and good at hiding imperfections. The finish goes by several names, such as textured, stucco, acoustic, or even cottage cheese ceilings.
While they were inexpensive and common, they're no longer in fashion, and many homeowners are removing them in favor of flat or textured ceilings versus popcorn.
For that reason, covering the existing popcorn finish or removing it is necessary.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Factors
Size is the most prominent cost factor when removing popcorn ceiling texture. Generally, the larger your ceiling, the more the job will cost. However, additional factors, such as preparation, disposal, and asbestos-handling costs, can also apply.
To estimate the cost of popcorn ceiling removal, multiply each room's length by its width to find the ceiling's square footage.
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 charge $1.70 to $7.25 per square foot or $26 to $49 per hour. Removing a popcorn ceiling from a 500-square-foot area may cost between $850 and $3,625, depending on the complexity of your specific project.
| Size of Ceiling (Square Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 500 | $850–$3,625 |
| 750 | $1,275–$5,440 |
| 1,000 | $1,700–$7,250 |
| 1,250 | $2,125–$9,065 |
| 1,500 | $2,550–$10,875 |
| 1,750 | $2,975–$12,690 |
| 2,000 | $3,400–$14,500 |
Materials
If you’re doing the job yourself, you’ll need protective gear, scrapers, spray bottles, a ladder, and sandpaper. If you’re hiring a ceiling removal professional, they’ll bring everything necessary to complete the job.
If you have your contractor resurface your ceiling, you’ll need to budget for the additional costs. These can include paint, texturing, ceiling tiles, and labor.
Disposal
| Popcorn Ceiling Disposal Method | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Dumpster rental | $458–$784 per week |
| Junk removal service | $167–$461 |
The final step in 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. For large projects requiring a carting service, look into local dumpster rental costs. The average price is $609 per week in San Francisco.
However, if your popcorn ceiling did contain asbestos, you’ll want to inform the dumpster rental company and ensure they comply with the local requirements. The specific permitting and licensing requirements vary, but they must adhere to the minimum regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Popcorn Ceiling Pro Costs
Because of the need for extensive preparation and the proper use of the correct equipment for effective popcorn ceiling removal, most homeowners hire a San Francisco-based popcorn ceiling specialist to handle the job, which costs $26 to $49 per hour.
In addition to texture removal, your ceiling pro can handle refinishing to achieve the aesthetic you desire for your investment.
Asbestos Pro Costs
Popcorn ceiling texture often contains asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous material that requires professional handling if it's present in the ceiling texture you're removing. Your ceiling pro will handle the necessary testing to determine if asbestos is present. If applicable, the cost of asbestos removal in San Francisco averages between $4.90 and $16.35 per square foot.
Does Removing a Popcorn Ceiling Increase Home Value?
Popcorn ceilings in homes are no longer desirable, and many homeowners are removing them for both aesthetic and resale value reasons. Beyond increasing a home's appeal to potential buyers, removing popcorn ceilings can deliver a high ROI, with some seeing returns of up to 80% on their investment.
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 survey 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.
Plaster repairs reviews from real Angi homeowners in San Francisco, CA
3.3★ avg. • 100 total reviews
- Nancy S.
repair done very well - will use FDL in the future for any plumbing issues.prompt and courteous
FDL PLUMBING INC - A S.
The drywall and paint repair were completed with excellent workmanship. Israel was professional, patient, and extremely detail‑oriented. He prepared the area thoroughly, understood the full scope of the work, and arrived with all materials ready. A truly great job from start to finish.
Blazquez Drywall - Rohan H.
Israel was super professional, gave me a very easy quote and got right to work. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing drywall repair. The end result looks great as well. I will be using him again next time I need help.
Blazquez Drywall - Daniel S.
As a property owner (over 30 years)/ property management personnel for the family (past 15 years), having a good team of skilled workers is very important. With Guerras Lathing and Plastering Company, the job was professional done, from scheduling the day/time to the work of the workers....
Guerras Lathing & Plastering - Tanya S.
The technicians at Traube Construction Company are highly skilled and knowledgeable about HVAC repair. I was impressed by their attention to detail and how they ensured everything was set up perfectly. I would definitely recommend them to anyone needing HVAC services.
- Nathan S.
Ray did an amazing job with our drywall repair. He was able to come out the next day, and spent most of the day perfecting the drywall repair. He was very friendly, cleaned up the area before he left, and charged a very fair price for San Francisco. Would absolutely recommend him to other...
Perfect drywall finish - Randal A.
Very pleased with the home repairs done by their contractor. Quality work and fair pricing.
24/7Locksmith - Alex B.
Erik and is team were wonderful! As a new homeowner of an old house, I had a lot of home repairs and didnâ t know where to start. Erik was extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy about what work needed to be done to fix the issues, and he went above and beyond to address all of my concerns,...
ERIK XHYRA - Jared P.
Extremely friendly and knowledgeable contractors. James and Daniel repaired my broken couch in under four hours from start to finish, including time spent to get parts from a hardware store after an initial inspection. They arrived exactly on time and I received a call letting me know they...
Apex Build Solutions LLC - John B.
The work was done professionally and promptly. I would recommend Del Conte for any such work. He found ways to repair older items and to solve problems in ingenious and innovative ways.
Del Conte Finishing
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