Popcorn ceiling removal, priced by room
Tell us which rooms, hallways and closets need work. We estimate by space, not by square footage, then show removal, finish and painting as separate choices.
Popcorn ceiling removal: $160 per room, guaranteed any size.
Rooms include living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, foyers, lofts, upstairs landings, dens, Florida rooms, family rooms, and similar rooms. A garage counts by car capacity: one-car garage = one room, two-car garage = two rooms. Hallways and closets are priced separately at the same rate as each other.
per room · guaranteed any size
One room at a time
Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, foyers, lofts, upstairs landings, dens, Florida rooms, family rooms, and similar areas count as rooms. An open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen still count as separate rooms. Garages count by car capacity: one car is one room, two cars are two rooms, and so on. Hallways and closets are counted separately from rooms and share the same per-unit price.
Tell us the spaces
List each room, hallway and closet. Photos help us confirm the room count and condition.
Tell us what is in them
Let us know which rooms are furnished and whether any ceilings are higher than 11 feet. Our team checks whether the texture has been painted.
Choose the finish
After removal, choose smooth or knockdown. Sanding, priming and painting are priced separately.
What happens from quote to finish
Review and written scope
We review your room list, photos, ceiling material, height, furnishings and whether the texture has been painted. We confirm the work and charges before scheduling.
Protect and remove
We cover walls with plastic and floors with paper plus plastic, then move or cover furnishings as needed. We detach accessible light bases and vents to work beneath them, remove the popcorn, and wrap up the top plastic layer that captured the debris. Painted texture may require extra labor.
Finish and clean up
For smooth finish, we lightly sand and apply plaster coats to conceal joints, tape, fasteners and imperfections. For knockdown, we spray joint compound with a hopper, let it set briefly, then flatten it with a soft rubber knife and allow it to dry before painting. If selected, we sand, prime, spot-correct and paint the smooth ceiling to full coverage. We reinstall the removable ceiling items, remove protection, do a basic vacuum and bag debris.
How your estimate is built
| Item | Price | How it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard popcorn texture removal | $160 per room, guaranteed any size | Removal only. Hallway and closet removal is quoted separately. |
| Furnished room protection and moving | +$100 per furnished room | Covers added labor to move and protect furnishings. |
| Painted popcorn texture | +$150 per room; +$65 per hallway or closet | Added removal labor when popcorn texture has been painted. |
| High or hard-to-reach ceiling | +$395 per project per 11-foot height band above 11 feet | One charge covers ceiling heights above 11 feet through 22 feet across the project. Add another $395 for each additional 11-foot height band. We confirm the height and access in the written estimate. |
| Smooth finish after removal | +$300 drywall room; +$395 concrete room; +$85 hallway or closet | Choose a smooth ceiling finish. |
| Knockdown texture after removal | +$225 drywall room; +$275 concrete room; +$85 hallway or closet | Alternative to smooth finish. |
| Sand, prime and paint ceiling | +$210 per room; +$65 per hallway or closet | Optional finishing after the ceiling has been prepared. |
These are itemized service prices, not an automatic total. Removal, painted-texture labor, furnishings, high access, finishing and painting are separate line items when applicable. The final scope and price are confirmed in writing after we review your spaces. Repairs to underlying damage, hazardous-material assessment and specialized handling are outside this standard schedule.
Choose how debris is handled
We bag the debris and perform a basic work-area cleanup. For houses and townhomes, you may choose curbside bulk pickup where allowed or paid off-site haul-away by Cleo. Condo construction debris must be taken off-site and cannot go into building trash. The estimate will show the applicable choice and any haul-away charge.
Popcorn removal FAQs
Do you charge by square footage?
No. Cleo prepares the estimate by room, with hallways and closets counted separately. We still review the actual site conditions and provide a written scope.
Is $160 the complete price for a finished, painted ceiling?
No. The $160 per-room price, guaranteed any size, covers popcorn removal in one room. Smooth or knockdown finishing, ceiling painting, furnished-room labor, painted texture and high access are separate charges when applicable.
What if my popcorn ceiling has been painted?
Painted texture can be harder to remove. The added removal charge is $150 per room or $65 per hallway or closet.
Can you work around furniture?
Yes, if the work area can be prepared safely. We charge $100 for each furnished room to cover the extra labor to move and protect furnishings.
What should I send for a quote?
Send your room, hallway and closet count; city and ZIP code; photos; approximate ceiling height; whether the texture is painted; which spaces are furnished; and your preferred smooth or knockdown finish and painting choice.
Ready to update your ceilings?
Tell us about your spaces and share photos. We’ll review the details and explain the next step before giving you a written estimate.