Wallpaper installation cost per square foot
| Type of wallpaper | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Standard paper | $1.50–$6 | Plain or printed paper |
| Vinyl | $3–$9 | Wipeable and common in kitchens and baths |
| Peel-and-stick | $2–$10 | Easier to hang and remove |
| Grasscloth, fabric or textured | $5–$16 | Sources disagree widely; a hand-hung natural material |
Each price adds the sourced cost of the paper to the sourced labor rate, per square foot of wall, with the labor part adjusted for your state. The guides quote paper and labor in different ways and do not agree on whether their per-foot tables include labor, so treat these as planning ranges. Measure the wall area you want covered, not the floor area.
What changes the price
The paper itself is the biggest swing: plain paper is the cheapest and hand-hung natural materials such as grasscloth cost the most. Patterns that must be matched across seams waste paper and take longer, and tall ceilings, stairwells and old walls that need repair add labor. Some installers charge a minimum for small jobs.
Extra costs to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Remove old wallpaper | $0.80–$3 per sq ft | If there is existing paper on the wall |
| Wall prep and priming | $50–$300 per wall | Repairing and priming the surface |
| Underliner or lining paper | $1–$3 per sq ft | For rough or damaged walls |
Ask whether prep and moving furniture are in the price, since some installers include them and others bill them separately. Wall repairs after removing old paper are not priced here because the sources give very different figures.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price for hanging only, or paper and labor together?
- How many rolls are needed, allowing for pattern waste?
- Does the quote include removing old paper and prepping the walls?
- Who moves the furniture?
- What is the minimum charge for a small room?
Methodology and sources
We add the sourced cost of each paper type to the sourced hanging labor, adjust the labor share for your state's finishing-trade wages, and price removal, wall prep and lining paper separately. Read how we estimate costs.
- Angi: wallpaper installation cost — paper types, labor, removal, prep
- HomeAdvisor: install wallpaper — average cost, labor rates, grasscloth
- HomeGuide: wallpaper installation cost — overall installed range, removal, underliner
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2081, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers) — state labor index, a finishing-trade proxy
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 |
|---|---|
| Angi |
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| HomeGuide |
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| HomeAdvisor |
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Common questions about wallpaper installation costs
How much does wallpaper installation cost?
A typical job (200 sq ft of vinyl) comes to about $1,100 nationally, within a range of $600 to $1,800. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 3 published cost pages from 3 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 3 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.