The national average cost of drywall repair and installation ranges between $260-$450, depending on the size of the repair, cost of drywall materials, zip code, and labor costs. Prices for crack and smaller hole repairs are typically less than $200.Drywall, a gypsum plaster panel for finishing walls and ceilings, is used to cover nail holes and dents, repair mold or water damage, patch larger holes and fix stress cracks. Drywall repair can be done on interior walls and ceilings. Drywall professionals can fix cosmetic issues in one room or throughout an entire house and can also apply finish texture. Many can also rehang fixtures and decor, help with painting, and install wallpaper when negotiated. Drywall repair can take place in vacant spaces or in homes that are still occupied. Several factors affect the cost of drywall repair services.
Project size, materials, and labor are the main drivers of cost for drywall repair. Here is a deeper dive into what affects the cost of drywall repair.
The materials needed to complete a drywall repair affect the cost of services. According to Man Crew, the average price of one 4 x 8 foot sheet of drywall is $15$20, so the square foot measurement of your repair size will impact drywall costs. Drywall ceilings require double thickness on the drywall, which means twice as many sheets for ceiling repairs. Adequate plastic is also necessary to protect furniture when spraying texture, and on average, that costs about $40. Other common materials needed include seam tape, mud, backing, shims and other tools. Here are examples of total costs for materials on a small job:
Drywall repair pros consider how long a job will take when making an estimate. The more intricate the work and extensive the project, the higher the cost. Much of the time involved in drywall repair is spent prepping the site. If residents live in the home, everything (furniture, etc.) needs to be covered before walls and ceiling can be sprayed with a hopper gun to texturize. Your zip code and local labor costs will also impact the total cost of your overall project.
A drywall-specific company may charge higher rates than a handyman or individual contractor because the company has more business overhead to maintain.
Some drywall repair pros have a minimum fee for services, while others may charge solely by the hour. Minimum service fees are often more prevalent in cities or other areas where arriving at a location involves crossing bridges, paying tolls and finding metered street parkingall of which take time and financial resources. For example, Man Crew charges a minimum service fee of $150. In the San Francisco Bay Area, where the company is located, traffic, city navigation and parking are challenging.
The larger the area to be repaired, the higher the overall cost. A larger area means more materials and more labor.
Drywall repair and texture ranges in price depending on how large your repair needs, labor costs, and drywall material costs. Nationally, the average cost ranges between $260-$450, but prices for small repairs hover between $125-$225. The size and type of drywall repair to be done directly affect the costbased on the amount of labor and materials needed to do the work. Ceiling work is more expensive than wall work. Here are some examples of cost from Thumbtack Top Pros in Texas and California:
| Cost | Repair | Factors | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| $125 | Five-foot wall crack | Labor costs: $75, materials: $50 | Painting and Drywall in Dallas, Texas |
| $150 | Three-foot ceiling crack | Ceilings require more drywall and more labor than wall repair | Man Crew, in Fremont, California |
| $200 | Sand and texture five wall patches | 45 minutes labor and $40 materials | Man Crew |
| $225 | Repair 4x8 foot section of wall | Labor costs: $150, materials: $75 | Painting and Drywall |
| $1,500 | Average cost to replace drywall in entire bedroom | Pricing can vary due to windows | Man Crew |
When hiring a drywall contractor, do online research first to ensure they have a solid track record, that they are properly insured, and that they are experienced with your type of drywall repair needs.After youve identified qualified pros, be sure you understand pricing. Some pros may quote labor costs only, while others offer estimates that include labor costs and material costs. The pros at Man Crew include the cost of materials in their quotes to make the total project cost as clear as possible for the customer. Always be clear on what is included in the price when communicating with a pro.Submit photos to get the most accurate quotes. Man Crew has over- or under bid on jobs because the homeowners didnt quite know how to explain the drywall damage. They encourage homeowners to provide as many details, because the more information they have the more accurate their cost estimate will be.
If youre hiring a pro, there are some ways to save on drywall repair. If you want a seamless, smooth outcome its wise to invest in professional help, because DIY drywall repair (unless youre experienced) can turn out looking lumpy. One way to save is to pre-purchase the right shade of paint you want the drywaller to paint over repaired patches. If you dont have paint on-hand, it requires the pro to research, then go and buy, the proper paint. Save money on labor costs by having the right paint ready to go.