Cost to Wallpaper Removal in Raleigh, NC

$360–$2,700 in Raleigh

10% below the national average · 0.90x cost multiplier

Homeowners in Raleigh typically spend $360–$2,700 on a wallpaper removal, about 10% below the national average. Labor rates and contractor availability in the Southeast region drive much of the price difference. Permit requirements and material delivery costs also play a role. See the full tier-by-tier breakdown below before requesting bids.

Cost Breakdown in Raleigh

Line Item	Low	Mid	High
Cost per sq ft	$1	$2	$4
Materials	$45	$135	$360
Labor	$315	$900	$2,250
Permits	$0	$0	$0
Total	$360-10% vs. national avg	$1,035-10% vs. national avg	$2,610-10% 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh

Full Kitchen Remodel

Full Bathroom Remodel

Composite Deck Building

Back to national average for Wallpaper Removal

Raleigh Estimate

Typical Range

$360–$2,700

vs. National Average

10% below national

Cost Multiplier

0.90x

Cost Per sq ft

$1–$4

Estimates apply Raleigh's 0.90x regional cost multiplier to national averages. Actual bids vary by contractor, project scope, and timing.

See national average costs →