Wallpaper removal before painting: cost, methods and what may be underneath
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
Angi reports a national average of $793, with most homeowners paying $423 to $1,192, or roughly $0.60 to $3 per square foot, based on 1,900 projects. HomeGuide gives $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot for dry stripping and steaming, or $320 to $1,200 for 400 square feet of wall, and $3 to $8 per square foot for soaking and scraping. Neither publishes a Pennsylvania figure.
Angi's interior painting guide adds a simpler rule of thumb: around $3 per square foot, or about $535 for a standard 12 by 12 foot room. Note that the square footage in all these figures is wall area, not floor area. HomeGuide also says minimum service fees of $75 to $200 apply, so a single small wall can cost more per foot than a whole room.
What changes the price?
Mainly the type of paper and the method needed to get it off.
| Factor | Source | Price it gives per square foot |
|---|---|---|
| Porous paper | Angi | $1 to $2 |
| Nonporous (vinyl) paper | Angi | $1.50 to $2.50 |
| Peel-and-stick | Angi | $0.75 to $1.50 |
| Dry stripping or steaming | HomeGuide | $0.80 to $3.00 |
| Soaking and scraping | HomeGuide | $3 to $8 |
Angi puts labor at $40 to $80 an hour and says several layers of paper, stubborn adhesive, high ceilings and intricate trim all take longer and cost more.
HomeGuide also prices by room, for stripping or steaming, measured by wall area rather than floor area: a bathroom with 200 to 300 square feet of wall at $160 to $900, a kitchen with 250 to 350 at $200 to $1,050, a bedroom with 300 to 400 at $240 to $1,200, and a living room with 500 to 700 at $400 to $2,100. Measure your walls, not just the floor, before comparing a quote with these.
Why do repairs so often follow removal?
Because what is under old paper is rarely ready to paint. Angi says wall repairs after removal add $150 to $1,000 to the bill. On plaster walls, its plaster guide puts small repairs at around $50 for a 3-inch hole, $90 for a 5-inch crack and $180 for a 48-inch crack, with larger water-damaged sections at $1,200 or more; some contractors set a minimum charge of $50 to $100. Ask any quote for removal to say whether patching and priming are included, and what happens if the wall is worse than expected.
Could there be mold behind the paper?
It is possible. The Environmental Protection Agency lists the back side of wallpaper among the places hidden mold may be, along with the back of drywall and paneling and the inside of walls around leaking or condensing pipes. If removal uncovers mold, the EPA's advice is to clean it up and dry the surface before painting, and to fix the moisture problem; paint over mold is likely to peel. It says an area of less than about 10 square feet can in most cases be handled by the homeowner, and that larger areas or a lot of water damage call for more care.
What about lead paint under the paper?
The EPA pages read for these guides do not mention wallpaper, so they do not say whether removing it, by itself, is covered by the lead rule. What they do say is that the rule covers paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes beyond six square feet per room. In an older house, the wall under the paper may have been painted before it was papered, and scraping, steaming or sanding it can disturb that paint. Ask the painter how the job will treat the surface beneath, and whether it will be handled as lead-safe work.
One local detail runs the other way. Delaware County's health department lists heavy wallpaper among the materials that can temporarily cover loose or chipping paint until a lead-certified professional can deal with it. In some older homes, the paper on the wall may be the thing keeping damaged paint in place.
And asbestos?
The EPA lists textured paint and patching compounds on walls and ceilings among the places asbestos may be found in older homes, and says exposure happens mainly when such materials are disturbed during repair and remodeling. Wallpaper is not on its list, but the compound used to patch the wall behind it may be. If an old wall has textured or patched areas that will be scraped or sanded, have them tested first.
Do you need a permit, and what about the paste?
No permit, in most cases. Philadelphia lists painting, papering and similar wall finishes among the work that often needs no building permit unless the property is on the historic register.
Leftover products are a small disposal question. The Delaware County Solid Waste Authority lists wallpaper cement among the paint products its household hazardous waste events accept, so do not pour it down the drain.
Drywall and plaster repair covers the patching that usually comes next, the cost guide covers painting prices, and painters who also remove wallpaper are among those on the painters directory page.
Sources
- How Much Does Wallpaper Removal Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- How Much Does It Cost to Remove Wallpaper? (2026), HomeGuide
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House? [2026 Data], Angi
- How Much Does Plaster Repair Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Lead Free 1-2-3, Delaware County
- Learn About Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Household Hazardous Waste, Delaware County Solid Waste Authority
- Get a Building Permit, City of Philadelphia