Cost to Wallpaper Removal in Chicago, IL

$472–$3,540 in Chicago

18% above the national average · 1.18x cost multiplier

In Chicago, a wallpaper removal runs $472 to $3,540 on average — about 18% above what homeowners pay nationwide. The Midwest market's labor costs account for most of the gap, with material pricing and local permitting fees adding to the spread. Use the cost table below to compare budget, mid-range, and premium options side by side.

Cost Breakdown in Chicago

Line Item	Low	Mid	High
Cost per sq ft	$1	$2	$5
Materials	$59	$177	$472
Labor	$413	$1,180	$2,950
Permits	$0	$0	$0
Total	$472+18% vs. national avg	$1,357+18% vs. national avg	$3,422+18% vs. national avg

Budget

Single room of modern strippable wallpaper, minimal wall damage

Mid-Range

Single room of older paste wallpaper, includes wall patching and prep for paint

Premium

Multiple rooms of glued-on, multi-layer, or fabric-backed paper, extensive wall repairs

Material Options

Material prices below are national averages; availability in Chicago may shift costs slightly.

Material	Cost/Unit	Pros	Cons	Best For
Scoring + Steamer Method	$1.50-$3/sq ft labor	Effective on stubborn old paste paper, penetrates thoroughly	Steam can damage drywall if over-applied, slower	Older homes with heavy paste applicationEffective on stubborn old paste paper, penetrates thoroughly
Chemical Stripping Solution	$0.10-$0.30/sq ft materials	Works well on modern strippable paper, less risk of wall damage	Less effective on very old paste, chemical smell	Modern wallpaper, well-primed wallsWorks well on modern strippable paper, less risk of wall damage
Dry Stripping (Modern Paper)	$0.75-$1.50/sq ft labor	Fastest method, no moisture risk, clean if paper is strippable	Only works on strippable vinyl, doesn't help with old paper	Post-2000 wallpaper installationsFastest method, no moisture risk, clean if paper is strippable
Drywall Skim Coat (After Removal)	$1-$2/sq ft materials + labor	Gets walls perfectly smooth for paint or new paper	Adds cost and 1-2 days of drying time	Any project where paint or new wallpaper goes up after removalGets walls perfectly smooth for paint or new paper
Drywall Panel Replacement	$2-$5/sq ft installed	Fastest path to smooth walls when drywall face is destroyed	Most expensive option, requires painting all walls for consistency	Old homes where paper was hung directly on bare drywallFastest path to smooth walls when drywall face is destroyed

Other Projects in Chicago

Full Kitchen Remodel

Full Bathroom Remodel

Basement Finishing

Back to national average for Wallpaper Removal

Chicago Estimate

Typical Range

$472–$3,540

vs. National Average

18% above national

Cost Multiplier

1.18x

Cost Per sq ft

$1–$5

Estimates apply Chicago's 1.18x regional cost multiplier to national averages. Actual bids vary by contractor, project scope, and timing.

See national average costs →