Constructionpopcorn-ceiling, construction
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in 2026: Per Sq Ft, By Room & Asbestos
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in 2026 Popcorn ceiling removal cost in 2026 runs $1-$6 per square foot for a plain scrape, so a typical 500 sq ft living-room ceiling costs $500-$3,000, with the national average job landing at $2,001. Bundling retexture and paint raises the rate to $2-$6/sq ft, and if the ceiling tests positive for asbestos, a licensed abatement crew pushes it to $5-$20/sq ft. Use the Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Calculator(/construction/popcorn-ceiling-removal-cost-calculator) to price your own ceiling by area, asbestos status, height, and region. Consider a representative case: a 1980s ranch where the homeowner budgeted $1,400 to scrape 600 sq ft of bedroom and hallway ceiling. The pre-1990 asbestos test came back positive, and the job pivoted from a $2/sq ft scrape to a licensed abatement crew at $9 per square foot — $5,400 — plus $310 for hazmat disposal, a total of $5,710. The lesson is expensive but...