How Much Does It Cost to Texture Drywall?

Cost to Texture Ceiling

The average cost of texturing a ceiling is $840 for 500 square feet, with most homeowners spending between $500 and $1,250. The more complex the texture, the higher the cost. In addition, your location, as well as the amount of labor, supplies and equipment impact the overall cost.

Cost to Spray Popcorn Ceiling

Spraying a popcorn ceiling costs approximately $800 for 500 square feet or $1.60 per square foot. This estimate includes preparation and painting. Most homeowners spend between $700 and $880 for a typical popcorn ceiling.

Knockdown Ceiling Cost

The average cost of a knockdown ceiling is $1.75 per square foot or $875 for a 500-square-foot ceiling. Most people spend between $1 and $2.50 per square foot or between $500 and $1,250 for an average ceiling.

Cost to Retexture Ceiling

Retexturing a 500-square-foot ceiling costs around $1,670. This estimate includes the costs to remove an old popcorn texture, prepare the surface for a new texture, and apply it.

Cost to Texture Walls

The table below shows the costs of texturing three typical wall dimensions at $1.20 per square foot:

Cost to Texture Walls and Ceiling

The following table shows the costs of texturing a typical bedroom and living room:

Cost to Tape and Texture Drywall

The total cost of installing drywall includes the cost of the drywall panels and materials, as well as the labor cost to hang, tape, finish, and texture drywall. Most homeowners spend $3.25 per square foot to install, tape, and texture.

Cost to Smooth Textured Walls

If you’d like to convert a textured wall back to a smooth one, you will likely spend $1 to $3 per square foot. If your painter has to remove any of the textured drywall, rather than simply applying one or several skim coats on top to mask the texture, expect to pay closer to $3 per square foot. 

If the textured wall hasn’t been painted, a professional can simply dampen the drywall and then smooth it out before painting. 

Texture Paint Cost

Texture paint cost varies depending on the type of texture you choose and how it is applied. While spray paint is generally more expensive than roll-on paint, applying it is faster so you have fewer billable hours, lowering the project’s total cost. Any methods that require hand application will drive up your bottom line because it requires more time and labor from an experienced professional. The grade of materials you choose and how thickly you apply the paint also influences the cost of texture paint.

Spray vs. Hand Application Costs

Different types of texture paint require different application methods. Sprayed methods, such as popcorn, knockdown, or orange peel, are less expensive to apply than hand-applied methods, including skip trowel and slap brush, as these methods are more time-consuming and require a higher level of expertise.

Spray-On Textures 

Sprayed-on drywall textures are created with a machine with a specific nozzle—depending on the type of texture you desire—used to spray drywall mud onto the wall. You can expect to pay $0.80 to $1.50 per square foot for spray-on applications. 

Spray-on textures include the following:

• Orange peel

• Knockdown

• Popcorn

• Splatter drag

Hand-Applied Textures

There are endless styles of hand-applied textures, as professionals can craft a range of variations using the tools available to them—such as a pan, knife, hawk, brush, or trowel—and drywall. Expect to pay between $1.50 to $2 per square foot for methods that require hand application.

Hand-applied textures include:

• Skip trowel

• Santa Fe

• Stomp or slap brush

• Hawk and trowel

• Double skip

• Swirl

• Crows-foot

• Rosebud

• Stomp knockdown

• Comb

• Smooth

DIY Drywall Texturing vs. Hiring a Pro

The main advantage of DIY drywall texturing is that it costs less than hiring a pro. However, it takes a considerable amount of time, expertise, and clean-up.

On the other hand, hiring a drywall contractor is faster and ensures the job is done right the first time. Save yourself some time and hassle and look for a reputable drywall contractor in your area. Don’t forget to check their references and make sure they have insurance.

"Texturing drywall is a great option to add texture to a space. While it is a possible DIY project, it is difficult to keep the texture even across large areas without experience," Andrew Kilborn, Expert Review Member and Owner of Andy's Handyman, said. "That's why I usually recommend hiring a professional for bigger projects."

FAQs

Do you need to texture drywall?

If you finish the drywall properly, you don’t need to texture it. However, texturing drywall can hide flaws and make it look more attractive.

What is the most popular drywall texture?

Orange peel is the most popular drywall texture. It provides a texture that’s much like the inside of an orange peel.

Are textured ceilings outdated?

Textured ceilings aren’t as popular as they used to be, but knockdown is still a popular solution for hiding ceiling repairs.

Can I use wall texture on a ceiling?

While ceiling texture is a better choice, you can also use texture paint on both walls and ceilings.

How much drywall mud do I need for texture?

Each pound of drywall mud covers about 18 square feet. Be sure to budget for around 15% more for spills and waste.

How much does it cost to remove popcorn texture from a ceiling?

Expect to spend $1 to $2 per square foot to remove popcorn drywall texture from the ceiling. The price might be higher if you have very high ceilings or want your contractors to re-paint or re-texture the ceiling.