How to Paint Popcorn Ceiling Like a Pro in 7 Steps

Popcorn ceilings aren't as popular as they once were, and were found in homes from the 1940s to the 1990s. This means your ceiling could be at risk of containing asbestos, especially if your home was built before 1980, when the material's use was discontinued due to safety concerns.

If this describes your home, don't disturb the popcorn texture yourself. Call an asbestos testing contractor near you to determine if the popcorn texture contains the potentially dangerous material. If so, you’ll need the contractor to remove the texture safely. The cost to remove popcorn ceiling ranges between $900 and $3,000. If asbestos isn't present, you can go ahead and prepare the painting process.

Splatters happen more easily while painting a ceiling. Move all the furniture out of the room and cover the floor with drop cloths. Use painter’s tape on the walls where they meet the ceiling or trim. Apply painter’s tape around ceiling fixtures as well, or cover them in plastic. As you work, wear safety glasses to guard your eyes against splatter as you look upward.

Popcorn texture can collect dust over time, but you have to be careful to apply the right amount of pressure to avoid dislodging the popcorn texture. Use a duster or vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust. If your ceiling has any cracks or holes, repair these with spackling paste. If the ceiling has water stains, fix any leaks causing the staining to avoid damaging the new paint job. 

For a cohesive paint job along the ends of the ceiling, use a paintbrush where the ceiling meets the walls. Using a brush on these edges, called a "cut-in,” allows you to be more precise with the paint versus using a roller and avoids getting paint on the walls. When it’s time to use the paint roller, the paint applied during the cut-in allows you to keep the roller a couple of inches away from the walls, reducing the chances of errors.

Now it's time to paint the ceiling. We recommend using a roller with a nap of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch. You can choose to use a primer before your paint color if you wish. When applying the paint, you can either use an extension pole and stand on the floor or climb a ladder and use a short handle on the roller.

Precisely controlling the roller on the extension pole can be tough and result in extra splatter. It’s easier to use a ladder and a short-handled roller. However, you can paint faster when you stand on the ground with the extension pole rather than climbing up and down the ladder.

Keep the roller moving in the same direction, back and forth, as you move across the ceiling. Slightly overlap the previously rolled paint to avoid uneven application or missed spots. Go slow to reduce paint splatter and limit the amount of popcorn texture that pulls loose.

Allow the paint to dry completely and decide if a second coat is needed. Popcorn ceilings are known to absorb paint, which means a second coat could be necessary to complete the job. If so, repeat the steps to apply more paint. Just make sure the paint has dried before painting again.

After your paint job is complete, wash your paint roller, paintbrush, and paint tray using warm water. Let the tools dry completely before placing them in storage. With the leftover paint, keep a tight seal on the can to use for any future touch-ups. When the paint is completely dry, remove any painter’s tape, plastic coverings, and drop cloth, and place your furniture back into the room.