Drywall repair cost by problem
| Repair | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Nail pops, small holes and dings | $60–$300 | Often priced as one visit for several spots |
| Patch about 2 sq ft (cut out, replace, tape and finish) | $100–$500 | Cut out, replace, tape, mud and sand |
| Cracks (seam, stress or settling) | $100–$600 | Stress cracks tend to come back if the cause is not fixed |
| Water-damaged section, one room | $400–$1,500 | Includes cutting out the wet section and replacing it |
| Ceiling repair (sagging, holes or cracks) | $250–$1,200 | More labor than a wall of the same size |
The guides disagree more on small repairs than on any other drywall work, so the ranges are wide. Handymen price by the hour and can fix a nail pop for little. Drywall contractors often have a minimum job charge that makes a small hole cost more. The typical value sits between them, and the quantity box multiplies the price per repair, though several repairs in one visit are usually cheaper than separate calls.
Why small repairs cost so much per square foot
A patch of a couple of square feet takes the same steps as a whole wall: cut out the damage, fit a new piece, tape, apply joint compound in several coats with drying time between, and sand. The guides price patches at $60-$80 per square foot for that reason. Large areas are priced at a fraction of that, $1.50-$3.50 per square foot for taping and finishing, so a big repair is cheaper per square foot than a small one. Our drywall cost page covers hanging and finishing whole walls and ceilings.
Extras
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Match the wall texture | $100–$600 |
| Prime and paint the repaired wall | $125–$450 |
The repair price does not include paint. A patch left unpainted shows through, and the paint usually has to cover the whole wall to blend.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is there a minimum charge, and does it cover several small repairs in one visit?
- Does the price include matching the texture and priming for paint?
- If the damage is from water, has the leak been fixed and the area dried?
- Will they check for mold behind the wall before closing it up?
- How many coats of joint compound, and how long between visits?
Methodology and sources
We price each repair per job from three published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's drywall installer wages. Texture and paint are priced separately. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeGuide: drywall repair cost — repair prices, minimum job fee, labor share
- Fixr: drywall repair cost — repairs by type, sized patches, hourly rates
- Construct Estimates: drywall repair cost — cracks, water damage, ceilings, per-square-foot rates
- HomeAdvisor: repair drywall — retexturing
- Remodel Calculators: drywall installation cost — labor share
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2081, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers) — state labor index; DC and West Virginia use neighboring states
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Fixr |
|
| Construct Estimates |
|
| HomeGuide |
|
| Remodel Calculators | labor is 65-75% of the installed price of drywall work |
| HomeAdvisor | retexturing $1-$1.95 per sq ft, $100-$900 total (updated Jun 2026) |
Common questions about drywall repair costs
How much does drywall repair cost?
A typical job (patch about 2 sq ft) comes to about $200 nationally, within a range of $100 to $500. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does drywall repair cost?
Per repair, with labor and materials, nail pops and small holes run about $60–$300, a patch of about 2 sq ft about $100–$500, a crack about $100–$600, a water-damaged section about $400–$1,500 and a ceiling repair about $250–$1,200. Painting is extra.
What is the drywall repair cost per square foot?
The guides we read price patch-sized repairs at roughly $50-$80 per square foot, because the minimum visit and the finishing steps dominate small jobs. Re-taping and finishing a whole wall or large area is much cheaper per square foot, about $1.50-$3.50, as the drywall cost page shows.
How much does ceiling drywall repair cost?
A ceiling repair costs about $250–$1,200, more than the same repair on a wall because the work is overhead. A cracked or sagging ceiling from a leak is priced at the water-damage rate, about $400–$1,500.
How much does drywall repair cost after water damage?
A water-damaged section, cut out and replaced, costs about $400–$1,500 for one room. One guide prices a flood cut at $400-$800. If mold is found, the price rises: Fixr lists drywall mold repair at $160-$350 and HomeGuide lists mold removal at $500-$15,000.
How much does a handyman charge to repair drywall?
By the hour, guides put handypeople at about $50-$90 and drywall contractors at $60-$150. Small jobs often carry a minimum charge, and HomeGuide puts the minimum job fee at $350-$650.
How much does it cost to match drywall texture and paint?
Matching the texture adds about $100–$600 and priming and painting the repaired wall about $125–$450, both per job.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 5 published cost pages from 5 publishers, last checked Oct 8, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 5 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.
- Fixr: small holes $60-$200, nail pops $75-$140 (updated Jan 2025)
- Construct Estimates: small hole $100-$160 professional (Mar 2026)
- HomeGuide: small holes under 4 inches $300-$500, with a minimum job fee of $350-$650 (Oct 2025)
- Remodel Calculators: labor is 65-75% of the installed price of drywall work
- HomeAdvisor: retexturing $1-$1.95 per sq ft, $100-$900 total (updated Jun 2026)