Wall & Ceiling Cost Calculators

How Much Does Wallpaper Cost?

We can trace the use of wallpaper back for centuries. In fact, the Chinese glued rice paper to their walls as far back as 200 BC. The use of wallpaper declined for several decades in the twentieth century, but since 2,000, it has been making a comeback.

Many designers and homeowners use wallpaper in any room of the home as a backsplash, a feature wall to add a little excitement or contrast, or to complement three other plain painted walls. The benefit of most wallpaper over paint is that it lasts 15-20 years, is much easier to clean than paint, and it adds a little something to otherwise boring painted walls.

The cost to wallpaper a single wall in the home ranges from $500 to $1,200, with most projects costing between $4 and $10 per square foot. The cost of wallpaper to cover your walls will depend primarily on four variables: the amount of wallpaper needed, the drop-pattern, the type of wallpaper selected, and the cost of labor.

Amount of Wallpaper Needed

To estimate the actual cost of wallpapering a room or wall, you must first determine the square footage of the area to get covered, then figure the number of rolls you will need based on that coverage and the amount of usable wallpaper per roll.

The amount of the wall that will be covered will obviously impact the cost, but the way wallpaper is sold will also impact the cost. Although wallpaper gets priced by the single roll, which is 21″ x 6.5′, it is widely sold by the double-roll. Therefore, in most instances, you could not buy five rolls but would need to round up to six.

Cost to Paint a Room

There are several approaches to painting a room, an entire house, or an apartment. The least expensive option is to do it yourself. Other options include adding some wainscoting or wallpaper, buying the materials and supplies & hiring a painter as a straight labor project, or hiring a contractor to do everything.

When hiring a painting contractor, some states require a license, and others do not. Check with your city’s building inspector. They are also an excellent place to find references for particular painters, and another is the Better Business Bureau.

The average cost to hire a painter to paint a room is $955 to $3,000, depending on the size of the room, the height of the ceilings, and the complexity of the job. However, some painters will work by the hour or charge per square foot. You can figure $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot.

Keep in mind that these costs are not for the total square footage of floor space, but for the total square footage of the walls, ceiling, or trim that needs to be painted.

Paint & Preparation Costs

Before you decide on a DIY project, keep in mind that it could take longer. However, if you have the time, or it’s a room you don’t use every day, give it a try. The worst that can happen is you have to hire someone to finish or make repairs.

You can use our paint calculator to determine how much paint you will need by first determining the square footage and then figure 350-400 square feet per gallon. A primer will cover more area than flat paint, and then semi-gloss and full-gloss usually are thicker, so they won’t cover as much area. Likewise, you might want to add in a little extra, ten percent, or one quart for a small 8′ x 8′ room.

Before you buy the paint, you will need to decide on your sheen: flat, eggshell or satin, semi-gloss, or full-gloss. Full-gloss is usually a little more expensive but easier to clean and has a brighter shine than semi-gloss. Typically, professional painters use semi or full-gloss on the trim or in areas that need to be easily cleaned, like the bathroom or kitchen.

Flat paint will cost $25 to $60 per gallon, semi-gloss runs $35 to $100 per gallon, and full-gloss or enamel can run $35 to up to $120 per gallon. For the most part, it is a personal preference which paint you use.

In addition to paint, you’ll also want to consider using primer first. Primer will help your paint adhere better to the wall surface and aids in coverage over the previous color.

Primer is often necessary for very dark or very light colors, unless you are refreshing the current color of the walls with something similar.

There are some modern paints available with primer included. If you do choose to do a separate primer coat, a gallon of primer can cost from $20 to $50.

In addition, paints are available with low or no VOCs, which makes them a healthier option. It’s also possible to have your home painted with faux textures as well – these cost between $2 and $20 per square foot to apply, depending on the complexity of the job and how many paint colors are used.

Other supplies you will need include brushes, drop cloths, roller pans, paint trays, tape, ladders, caulking, and weatherstripping (optional). The quality of supplies will determine the speed of application in most cases.

Better quality brushes and rollers hold more paint without dripping, so you won’t have to go back to the pan as often. You should figure to spend another $150 – $200 for supplies.