Wallpaper Removal Cost Calculator

Removing wallpaper can be tricky and time-consuming, but it is often a necessary task when redecorating or renovating a property. Whether you’re updating the wallpaper or want a completely different look for your room, stripping existing wallpaper is frequently the first step.

There are many factors which will impact the final cost of wallpaper removal, such as wallpaper type, room size, the condition of the walls and local labour rates. Clearly, planning a budget for this work is not always a simple task, so how can you make it easy to figure out?

Our cost calculator will help you price up how much this job will cost, for individual rooms or an entire house, without resorting to guesswork.

Wallpaper Removal Cost Calculator

Cost Summary Section

The average cost to remove wallpaper in the UK is:

• £21 per square metre
• £450 per room
• £2,250 for the entire house (3-bed semi-detached house)

The average cost to remove wallpaper from a single wall is around £115, while a room would cost about £450. For a whole house, you may expect to pay an average of £2,250.

Calculator Tool Introduction

With our handy calculator tool, you can accurately assess just how much removing wallpaper in your home will cost. Simply enter the appropriate details such as wall size, number of rooms, the wallpaper type and whether you’re hiring someone or doing the work yourself.

Wallpaper Removal Cost Factors

There will be several factors which will affect the final cost of removing wallpaper, including:

Wallpaper Type

There are many types of wallpaper, including vinyl, embossed, flock, grass cloth, woodchip and washable wallpapers. Because of the different materials used in their manufacture, each of these kinds of wallpaper may need a slightly different approach when being removed. For example, the top covering of vinyl wallpaper can often be removed from the backing paper quite easily, but woodchip is notoriously difficult to get off the wall and is not always suitable as a DIY project.

Wall Condition

The condition of the wall is an important consideration when removing wallpaper. A sound wall is easiest to work with. However, if the surface of the wall is fragile or damp, there is a danger of plaster coming off with the wallpaper. In those situations, a professional may be required.

Room Size

The size of the room is an obvious factor in how much wallpaper removal will cost. Clearly, larger rooms with more surface area will be more expensive than smaller spaces or single walls.

Access and Complexity

Gaining access to the wallpapered area will contribute to how much you pay for its removal. For example, in a stairwell or high-ceilinged room, a platform will be needed, adding to the overall cost, whether you do the work yourself or hire a professional decorator. The complexity of the job will similarly add to the price, such as working with awkward corners or oddly shaped rooms.

Labour Costs

The regional variation of labour costs will impact how much your wallpaper removal will cost if you hire a professional decorator. Prices in London, the southeast of the UK and larger cities will be higher than in less densely populated areas.

Additional Costs

Other costs that may affect how much you pay for wallpaper removal include:

• Repairs to damaged or fragile walls, such as flaking plaster or uneven wall surfaces
• Disposing of the removed wallpaper, which can be bulky and messy to deal with
• Preparing the walls properly for new treatments, such as emulsion paint. Old wallpaper paste must be completely removed and the walls cleaned to give a smooth finish.

DIY vs Professional Removal

If you’re weighing up whether to hire a professional or remove your wallpaper yourself, consider the following.

Pros of DIY Wallpaper Removal

• ✔ Cost saving
• ✔ Unless you have a pressing deadline, such as Christmas or visitors, you can take your time

Cons of DIY Wallpaper Removal

• ✖ Higher risk of damage to walls
• ✖ It’s often a tiring, messy and time-consuming job
• ✖ You have to dispose of the stripped wallpaper yourself

Pros of Hiring a Professional

• ✔ Faster and cleaner process using professional equipment and techniques
• ✔ Reduced risk of damaged walls
• ✔ Clean up is taken care of
• ✔ Wall surfaces are ready for new treatments

Cons of Hiring a Professional

• ✖ The expense of hiring someone else to do the work

Timeframe

The time it takes to remove wallpaper will depend on the size of the area, type of wallpaper, condition of the walls and the tools you have at your disposal.

One wall covered in vinyl wallpaper should take no more than an hour or two. However, cleaning off the residual paste and washing down the wall will add to the timeframe. Removing wallpaper from a whole room will take around 2 days, while a 3-bedroom house may take several days.

Money-Saving Tips

If you want to save some money when removing wallpaper, check out our tips:

• Do the work yourself and enlist some help from family or friends
• If hiring a professional, get at least 3-4 quotes for comparison
• Clear the work area before the decorator arrives to cut down on labour costs
• For DIY wallpaper removal, invest in good-quality tools to help get the job done faster and without damaging the walls. For example, a specific wallpaper scoring tool is less likely to damage the subsurface than the edge of a scraper, saving you money on repairs
• Remember to put down a plastic-backed dust sheet to protect your flooring when applying water to the walls or using a steam stripper

Next Steps

With the help of our calculator, you can assess the cost of removing the wallpaper in your home. This gives you a starting point from which to decide whether to do the work yourself or hire a professional.

FAQs