Plaster repair costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Indianapolis costs $1 to $2 per square foot, on average.
Your overall costs depend mostly on ceiling area, materials, and disposal.
If asbestos is detected, licensed abatement will add $9 to $20 per square foot to project costs.
Hiring pros means getting things done right, safely, and on schedule.
Popcorn ceiling removal cost in Indianapolis ranges between $273 and $1,546, with most homeowners paying an average of $884. Popcorn ceilings may have been trendy decades ago, but they’re now one of the fastest ways to make a home feel dated. Whether you’re renovating, prepping for resale, or just ready for a cleaner, more modern look, understanding the real cost to remove popcorn ceilings can help you plan smarter and avoid budget surprises.
From labor and materials to disposal and finishing, here’s what Indianapolis homeowners should expect to pay.
In Indianapolis, IN, the cost to remove a popcorn ceiling depends largely on the total ceiling area, the materials involved, and disposal requirements. Larger rooms take more time and labor, while older ceiling textures and underlying materials can increase prep, safety, and cleanup costs. Disposal fees for debris and potential testing or handling of hazardous materials can also affect the final price.
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 to $2 per square foot or $13 to $34 per hour. Removing a popcorn ceiling from a 500-square-foot area may cost between $500 and $1,000, depending on the complexity of your specific project.
| Size of Ceiling (Square Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 500 | $500–$1,000 |
| 750 | $750–$1,500 |
| 1,000 | $1,000–$2,000 |
| 1,250 | $1,250–$2,500 |
| 1,500 | $1,500–$3,000 |
| 1,750 | $1,750–$3,500 |
| 2,000 | $2,000–$4,000 |
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.
| Popcorn Ceiling Disposal Method | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Dumpster rental | $260–$600 per week |
| Junk removal service | $260–$400 |
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 around $300 per week in Indianapolis.
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).
Hiring a professional for popcorn ceiling removal in Indianapolis helps ensure safe, efficient results while minimizing mess, exposure risks, and costly mistakes. For local popcorn ceiling removal pros charging hourly rates, expect to pay $13 to $34 per hour, with higher rates for projects that require extra prep, dust containment, or detailed finishing. While labor is the biggest slice of the pie, factors like permits, insurance, and licensing can also affect what you pay.
If your Indianapolis home was constructed before 1977, there may be asbestos in the popcorn ceiling. Not all popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, but if your home has them, it’s always a good idea to have them tested. If asbestos is detected, local abatement contractors handle containment, removal, and disposal for $9 to $20 per square foot.
Removing popcorn ceilings can increase home value and buyer appeal in Indianapolis, particularly in mid-range and higher-end homes where modern finishes are expected. Indianapolis homeowners can generally expect a return on investment (ROI) of 80% of project costs. However, your ROI can be higher or lower depending on the competitiveness of the housing market in your neighborhood.
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.
High quality repairs completed professionally and quickly. A great experience and very cost effective.
Wall DesignsThe guys did a great job. Repaired the ceiling in the basement stairwell and had to tie in drywall with plaster and it looks very good.
SMITH RENO SOLUTIONSI highly recommend Kevin Bowersock! I had both plaster repaired and drywall patched. It was an excellent experience from beginning to end! I appreciate that I was given a detailed estimate which plainly stated what work was to be done and the cost of materials, rather than just a price on...
Bowersock Texturing & DrywallWe had Bone Dry replace six 15x15ft ceilings that were 150 years old, and were starting to crumble and fall. We had previously tried plaster washers to secure the loose plaster back to the lathe, but when we looked at places where the ceiling subsequently fell, it was clear that the lathe...
Bone Dry RoofingWe just had our drywall painted and repaired throughout our home. We are very pleased with the work that was done by The Painting Edge. I will definitely be using them for future projects.
The Painting EdgeThe repair work was done in timely fashion and I was pleased.
Braxton did a fantastic job on our repair, highly recommend!
The Patch Boys of Northeast IndianapolisBraxton repaired a major hole in our 100 year old textured plaster ceiling. He replaced the damaged area with drywall and textured the patch to match the rest of the ceiling. Even without painting the difference is almost undetectable.
The Patch Boys of Northeast IndianapolisWe gave Michael quite a challenge with some of our plaster ceiling repair requests in our 1924 home. He was honest in his assessments of what could be done â and then exceeded his own predictions. He and his wife also painted following the repairs. Friendly, interesting to talk to, and a...
G.I.K. Painting & Remodeling LLCDid a great job repairing my drywall
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