The national average cost for professional wallpaper installation is $377. The total cost will depend on the type of wallpaper you want to hang, size of your wall, and whether or not you also need to old wallpaper.
While you might associate wallpaper with your grandmother's bedroom or bathroom, these patterned-filled wall coverings are making a comeback. If you do it right, it can create a polished, modern look in any room. For renters, removable wallpaper can even be a great decor option if you're not allowed to paint your walls. For homeowners and renters alike, you can use it to create an accent wall that adds pattern and texture to your space.
While you could DIY installation, it can be tricky and time-consuming to hang it rightespecially if you don't have an extra set of hands to help. Fortunately, professional paper hangers can help.
Before you a professional to hang wallpaper in your home or office, learn about average wallpaper installation prices, and discover the types of services professionals offer so you can get a better estimate of your project.
What impacts the cost to install wallpaper?
The cost to hire a professional to install wallpaper in your home depends the type of paper you use, size of walls you want covered, and whether you also need help old wallpaper.
Types of wallpaper
The type of wallpaper you choose to install will either be a removable, peel-and-stick wallpaper, or a more traditional paste-on. Some paste-on papers come pre-pasted. Removable wallpaper is the best option for renters, since you can take it off without damaging the walls when you move out.
Traditional wallpaper also comes in different types and textures. Vinyl wallpaper tends to be better in bathrooms and kitchens, while printed wallpaper is better in living rooms, bedrooms, and other rooms that won't have excessive moisture.
Basic vinyl wallpaper, which is non-woven, often pre-pasted, paper-backed, washable, and paintable, is the simplest to install. One Thumbtack pro and installer in Washington D.C. charges $3.22 per square foot to install vinyl wallpaper. To hang more expensive luxury or designer wallpaper with a pattern or texture, it could cost nearly $8 per square foot.
So, installation for an 8x6 foot (48 square foot) wall would cost $155-$385 in total.
Room and wall size
Most wallpaper installers will set prices based on the square foot size of your wall. They'll measure the size of your room while factoring in ceiling height and number of windows, doors, and closets.
Before you ask a professional about prices, get your wall measurements and ceiling height for a more accurate quote.
How many wallpaper rolls do I need and how much will it cost?
Standard wallpaper typically costs $25-$50 for a single roll and is usually enough to cover 30 square feet. So, for an 8x10-foot wall (80 square feet), you'd need 2.7 rolls of wallpaper to cover it, but will buy 3 rolls (it's always better to have too much than too little). This will cost $75-$150 for the paper. When hiring a professional, ask about the number of rolls needed for the job.
Labor costs
The hourly cost for an individual wallpaperer or company will vary depending on how many people they use to install everything, and how experienced they are.
For example, a Thumbtack pro based in New York, NY, and has a team of experts who can get the job done. They recently completed an accent wall that took three hours to complete and cost $375.
If you're going with a seasoned wallpaper hanger, chances are, the price for the job will be more expensive because you're paying for their years of experience.
Is this a residential job or a commercial job?
Does your office or commercial building need new wallpaper with a specialty design or logo? That kind of project will be more expensive than wallpapering a bathroom or hanging paper on a feature wall in your living room in your home.
Will you buy the wallpaper or will you use theirs?
Ask the paper hanger if they will supply the wallpaper for you to choose from and build that into the cost, or, if you can buy the wallpaper yourself for them to use. Wallpaper costs depend on they type.
Vinyl is the most common material, but there is also surface printed, peel and stick or removable wallpaper, screen printed, vinyl coated, custom colored options, foil, fabric, and flock. Special luxe wallpaper options include faux leather wallpaper, grasscloth, or silk wallpaper.
The price for a single roll of speciality paper will be higher and, especially if it's tricky to hang, the labor costs can be more as well.
Do your walls need other work done?
A wallpaperer will charge more if your walls need prep work. This is necessary if they're in poor condition and need repairs, or if they need to remove old wallpaper. It costs an of $350-$560 to remove old paper.
How can you save on wallpaper installation costs?
It doesn't have to be expensive to hire someone to hang wallpaper in your home. Here are some tips to consider to save money on installation.
This is often the number-one tip when it comes to saving money on wallpaper installation: buy the paper yourself. Double rolls of wallpaper average $30-$50, although premium brands and styles can cost much more. While most home improvement stores will sell it, you can also find modern designs on websites like and West, which sells high-quality traditional and removable wallpaper in a variety of patterns.
To figure out how much wallpaper you need, calculate the square footage of the room and divide by the square footage of each roll. A 12'x18' room with 10' ceilings may require about 11 double rolls. Discontinued or out-of-season wallpaper can be discounted as low as $5 a roll.
You might also want to offer to buy the materials your expert needs to save money, like masking tape and paper, surface repair and preparation materials, primers, and cleanup supplies.
old paper typically can set you back $0.50-$1.00 per square foot, or a total of $350-$560, if you have a professional do it. To cut down on costs, buy a tub of wallpaper removal paste for $50 and do the work yourself.
If you love the idea of hanging wallpaper but can't justify the price of putting it up on every wall in your room, consider adding it to just one accent wall. Wallpaper is more expensive than paint, so you can lower your budget by only covering one wall and using paint on the rest. For inspiration, check out wallpaper ideas on Pinterest.
What to look for in a wallpaper installer
Before you a wallpaper installer or hanger, don't just ask about their costsask about their past projects, specializations, and referrals. When interviewing potential wallpaper installers or contractors, be sure to ask:
Now that you know have an idea of how much your wallpaper costs will be, all you have to do is find your perfect hire. Find a