Scrape & prep ($1.50–$2.75/sq ft)
- Plastic on floors and walls, doorways sealed
- Texture wetted and scraped
- Light sanding of the bare surface
- Debris bagged and hauled away
- Ready for your own painter or finisher
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in Cheyenne
Typical 2026 price ranges for every package, what changes the price, worked examples and a calculator you can use on your own rooms.
Get a Free QuoteTypical price ranges
Most local contractors don't publish prices. We do.
| Package | What it includes | Typical range per sq ft | Example: 1,200 sq ft of ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrape & prep | Removal, sanding, ready for your painter | $1.50–$2.75 | $1,800–$3,300 |
| Smooth & primed | Scrape + skim coat + prime (smooth, paint-ready) | $3.00–$4.75 | $3,600–$5,700 |
| Turnkey | Scrape + skim + prime + paint | $3.75–$5.75 | $4,500–$6,900 |
| New texture | Scrape + new knockdown or orange-peel texture | $3.00–$4.75 | $3,600–$5,700 |
All prices are typical ranges per square foot of ceiling, labeled as estimates. Your written quote is based on a walkthrough of your actual rooms. Modifiers: previously painted popcorn +25%, ceilings over 9 ft +15%, vaulted or cathedral ceilings +30%. Asbestos lab sample testing starts at about $250, and a full inspector visit typically runs $250–$850. Many projects have a minimum charge for single small rooms.
National cost guides put professional popcorn removal anywhere from about $1 to $6 per square foot, depending on what's included. That spread is why we list exactly what each package covers below. A "cheap" quote that leaves you with a gouged, unprimed ceiling isn't a bargain once you pay someone else to finish it.
What's included in each package
Smooth & primed ($3.00–$4.75/sq ft)
- Everything in scrape & prep
- Skim coat in thin passes
- Sanding to a smooth, flat surface
- Primer coat
- Paint-ready when we leave
Turnkey ($3.75–$5.75/sq ft)
- Everything in smooth & primed
- Ceiling paint, usually two coats of flat white
- Final touch-ups
- Room ready to use when we're done
New texture ($3.00–$4.75/sq ft)
- Scrape and prep
- Minor drywall repairs
- New knockdown or orange-peel texture sprayed
- Hides small flaws better than a flat finish
- Primed and ready for paint
What affects the price
Ceiling area
Price scales with square footage of ceiling. For flat ceilings, that's close to the room's floor area: a 12×12 bedroom is 144 sq ft.
Finish level
Scraping alone is the least expensive. A true smooth finish needs skim coating and sanding, which is most of the labor.
Painted texture
Paint keeps water from softening the popcorn, so it scrapes slower. Typical adjustment: +25%.
Height and shape
Ceilings over 9 ft need taller scaffolding and more setup (+15%). Vaulted and cathedral ceilings add angles and reach (+30%).
Condition underneath
Water stains from past roof leaks, loose tape seams and cracked drywall all show up once the texture comes off. We note visible issues in your quote and tell you before doing anything extra.
Asbestos testing
Recommended for pre-1986 ceilings, from about $250. If the result is positive, abatement by a trained contractor is a separate cost.
Example projects
The math, using our typical ranges.
12×12 bedroom
144 sq ft, smooth & primed at $3.00–$4.75: about $430–$685. A single small room may fall under a minimum charge.
1,200 sq ft ranch, turnkey
1,200 sq ft at $3.75–$5.75 with paint: about $4,500–$6,900. That's a typical Cheyenne ranch from the 1970s.
Same ranch, scrape & prep
1,200 sq ft at $1.50–$2.75: about $1,800–$3,300, leaving it ready for your own painter.
Painted living room
400 sq ft, smooth & primed, +25% for painted texture: about $1,500–$2,375.
Vaulted great room
300 sq ft turnkey, +30% for vaulted: about $1,460–$2,245.
Add testing
Built before 1986? Add lab sample testing from about $250 before any of the above.
Popcorn ceiling cost calculator
Estimate your project
$900–$1,430
Typical range only, not a quote. Asbestos testing, minimum charges and repairs are separate.
How to use the calculator
Measure the length and width of each room and multiply to get its ceiling square footage. Add the rooms together, choose a package and check any boxes that apply. Modifiers are applied together, so a painted, vaulted ceiling gets both adjustments.
Not sure about your square footage? Your home's listed living area is a fair starting point for a whole-house job, minus any rooms that already have smooth ceilings.
When you're ready, request a free written quote. We'll measure and confirm the price before anything is scheduled.
Get an exact price for your rooms
Send us your rooms and rough square footage. We usually reply the same day and set up a walkthrough. You'll get a written quote that names the package, the price and the schedule, with no obligation.
- Free written estimates
- Testing arranged on older ceilings
- We'll confirm whether your project needs a permit
More detail on each step is in our process guide, and common questions are answered in the FAQ.
Get your free quote
Cost questions
What is the average cost per square foot to remove a popcorn ceiling?
For our packages, typical ranges are $1.50–$2.75 per square foot for scrape and prep, $3.00–$4.75 for scrape, skim coat and prime, $3.75–$5.75 for turnkey work with paint, and $3.00–$4.75 for a new knockdown or orange-peel texture. Price is based on ceiling square footage, which is usually close to the room's floor area.
How much does it cost to remove popcorn from a whole house?
It depends on total ceiling area and the finish you want. As an example, a 1,200 square foot ranch taken to a turnkey finish with paint typically runs about $4,500–$6,900. The same home scraped and prepped for your own painter typically runs about $1,800–$3,300. Painted texture or tall ceilings push those numbers up.
Why does painted popcorn cost more?
Paint seals the texture so water can't soak in and soften it. That means more time per square foot, more passes and sometimes more drywall repair underneath. We add a typical 25% adjustment for previously painted popcorn. If you're not sure whether yours was painted, mention it and we'll check during the walkthrough.
Is asbestos testing included in the price?
Testing is separate from the per-square-foot price. Lab sample testing starts at about $250, and a full inspector visit typically runs $250–$850. We recommend it for any ceiling installed before 1986 and arrange it before scraping. If results come back positive, removal is handled by a trained abatement contractor and priced separately.
Is there a minimum charge?
Many projects have a minimum charge, especially a single small room like a bathroom or hallway. Setup, containment, cleanup and travel take time whether the ceiling is 60 or 600 square feet. If you have one small room, ask about grouping it with other rooms to get more out of the visit.
Will my final quote match the calculator?
The calculator gives a typical range, not a quote. Your written quote is based on a walkthrough, where we measure rooms, check height and condition, and look for things like water damage or loose drywall. Most quotes land within the calculator range, but real conditions decide the final number, and you see it in writing before work starts.
Ready for smooth ceilings?
Free written quotes across Cheyenne, Laramie County and nearby towns.