How Much Does Wallpapering Cost?
Are you considering having fresh wallpaper added in your home?
Whether you'd like to have wallpaper added to painted walls or existing wallpaper stripped and new wallpaper applied, our cost guide will provide you with a sense of how much you'd need to spend for this common redecoration job.
This article will also look at relevant topics like any added costs that may apply, how long it takes to hang wallpaper, the benefits of wallpapering, and how much it costs to remove wallpaper.
Wallpapering Prices
| ROOM SIZE | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
| 10 m2 | £170-£200 |
| 20 m2 | £250-£280 |
| 30 m2 | £355-£405 |
| 50 m2 | £450-£500 |
Table of Contents
- How Much Does Wallpapering Cost?
- Wallpapering Prices
- What are the Supply Costs of Wallpapering a Room?
- What are the Additional Costs of Wallpapering?
- Tradesmen Costs for Hanging Wallpaper
- How Long Does It Take to Hang Wallpaper?
- Choosing Wallpaper
- Lining Paper Cost
- Polystyrene Sheeting Cost
- Woodchip Wallpaper Cost
- Benefits of Wallpapering
- How Much Does It Cost to Remove Wallpaper?
- FAQs
- Sources
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What are the Supply Costs of Wallpapering a Room?
The materials cost of wallpapering excludes the labour cost.
In this section, we'll consider how much the supplies alone would cost for such work. This is particularly relevant if you were to go about the job by yourself.
If you undertake the work as a DIY project, it's best to have an assistant to make life easier.
The supply costs of wallpaper, whether first involving the removal of old wallpaper or not, will be about £70 to £80 for a 10m2 room, £80 to £120 for a 20m2 room, £110 to £150 for a 30m2 room, or £140 to £180 for a 50m2 room.
Of course, these costs are based on purchasing the wallpaper and adhesive necessary. However, if you lack the tools required, there'll be further supply costs to consider.
Wallpaper paste generally costs somewhere in the range of £5 to £15. It might cost you between £5 and £25 to buy a paste brush, or if you'd prefer, you could spend £8 to £15 on a paste roller.
A snap-off blade such as a Stanley blade would cost about £2 to £10. A smoother brush generally costs between £3 and £10.
You'll likely need to pay around £3 to £20 for a measuring tape, £10 to £20 for a straight edge, £10 to £20 for a stepping stool, £8 to £15 for a level, and £8 to £22 for a drop cloth. If you are using pre-pasted wallpaper, you'd need to spend £15 to £25 on a water tray, if you don't have one already.
Other supplies include a sponge, bucket, and pencil which you may already have. For peel and stick wallpaper, you'd face a price of around £5 to £13 to purchase a smoother and utility knife kit.
Wallpapering Supply Costs
| TOOL/EQUIPMENT | SUPPLY COSTS |
|---|---|
| Wallpaper Paste | £5 to £15 |
| Paste Brush | £5 to £25 |
| Paste Roller | £8 to £15 |
| Snap-off Blade | £2 to £10 |
| Smoother Brush | £3 to £10 |
| Measuring Tape | £3 to £20 |
| Straight Edge | £10 to £20 |
| Stepping Stool | £10 to £20 |
| Level | £8 to £15 |
| Drop Cloth | £8 to £22 |
| Water Tray | £15 to £25 |
| Smoother and Knife Utility Kit | £5 to £13 |
What are the Additional Costs of Wallpapering?
There are some added costs that you may incur when wallpapering a room. Let's take a closer look at some common examples.
Minimum Fee
Decorators may charge a minimum fee, regardless of how much work is involved in a given job. This will ensure that a quick job is worth their time or as a standard added fee.
As with any additional expense, you could inquire with a decorator before the work gets underway if you have any questions.
Type of Wallpaper
There are various wallpaper options to choose from, and each comes with their own average costs.
For example, lining paper generally costs £2 to £4 per roll, but the price is about £5 to £10 per roll for polystyrene sheeting.
Size of Wallpaper
If you require wallpaper to cover a 10 square metre room, this will obviously involve far lower supply costs than if you were planning to decorate a 30m2 room.
In fact, the size of the wallpaper is an instrumental cost factor.
Room Type
The type of room is relevant to the wallpaper installation cost because some are easier to decorate than others.
For instance, it's possible to clear a living room before wallpapering to a greater extent than you could achieve with a kitchen.
Number of Tradespeople
When having your home decorated, it's very likely that it will be a one-person job. However, in some cases, two or more decorators may wallpaper a room/house.
The latter scenario may apply if the room being decorated is particularly large or if several rooms are having fresh wallpaper applied. Having two or three labourers on the task will cut the duration of the work but increase the hourly/daily rate.
Whether this would increase your bill overall is hard to say as it would depend on how well the labourers work together.
Duration
Of course, the longer the work lasts, the higher the labour cost of hanging wallpaper will be. Most decorators will charge by the hour, although a daily rate may apply, particularly if the work is taking place over several days.
Tradesmen Costs for Hanging Wallpaper
We'll now take a closer look at the labour costs in particular. This excludes the supply costs and any waste removal costs that may apply. Decorators charge an average of about £23 to £26 per hour nationally.
However, prices can vary significantly depending on where you live. For example, in Birmingham or Belfast, decorators might charge about £18 to £21 per hour, while in London, the rate is about £28 to £32 an hour.
To hang wallpaper only, the labour costs are about £80 to £120 for a 10m2 room, £130 to £170 for a 20m2 room, £200 to £250 for a 30m2 room, or £270 to £330 for a 50m2 room.
To strip and hang wallpaper, expect the labour costs to be around £130 to £170 for a 10m2 room, £270 to £330 for a 20m2 room, £360 to £440 for a 30m2 room, or £400 to £500 for a 50m2 room.
How Long Does It Take to Hang Wallpaper?
The duration of wallpaper hanging will depend on a range of factors. For this section, we'll lay out the timeframe of different wallpapering jobs based on the room's size and whether the work involves hanging wallpaper only or if old wallpaper needs to be removed first.
We'll also discuss additional factors for determining the length of such work.
The average time it takes to hang wallpaper is 3-6 hours for a 10m2 room, 7-10 hours for a 20m2 room, or 1-2 days for a 30m2 room or 2-3 days for a 50m2 room.
To strip and hang wallpaper, expect the timeframes to rise to approximately 7-10 hours for a 10m2 room, 2 days for a 20m2 room, 2-3 days in the case of a 30m2 room, or about 3 days if you have a 50m2 room.
The duration of hanging wallpaper or stripping and hanging wallpaper will also depend on ease of access, the number of decorators working on the job, the type of wallpaper being used, and whether any additional work is required (e.g., painting a ceiling).
Duration of Wallpapering
| JOB DESCRIPTION | DURATION |
|---|---|
| Hang Wallpaper | 3 hours to 3 days |
| Strip and Hang Wallpaper | 7 hours - 3 days |
Choosing Wallpaper
There are many options when it comes to wallpaper. Let's discuss several common examples.
Lining Paper Cost
Also known as liner paper, this option consists of paper or fibreglass. It's a great choice if you're looking to conceal wall defects and can act as a base for more delicate types of wallpaper.
In fact, lining paper is often used before a new layer of wallpaper is added. It can also be painted over and is easy to apply and remove. You'll generally pay £2 to £4 per roll for lining paper.
Pros:
- Smooth option.
- Conceals wall imperfections.
- Suitable for adding more delicate wallpaper as a second layer.
- Further wallpaper or paint can be applied once it's fitted.
Cons:
- Not as decorative.
- You'll want to add a second layer of wallpaper or paint.
Polystyrene Sheeting Cost
This type of wall lining, also known as Styrofoam wallpaper, is rigid and provides sufficient dimensional stability. Polystyrene sheeting offers a high insulation level, which can keep heat in and diffuse sound that may travel between walls.
This type of wallpaper can also control and minimise echoing in the room in which it is applied. There are many available Styrofoam wallpaper designs that are easy to install.
However, a key downside to this type of wallpaper is that if you want to truly soundproof a room, you'll likely need to employ several soundproofing solutions. Polystyrene sheeting is not especially durable, nor is it suitable for all rooms.
It is generally available for £5 to £10 per roll and so will not be as cheap as lining paper.
Pros:
- High degree of insulation.
- Rigid.
- Minimises echoing.
Cons:
- Not very durable.
- Dearer than lining paper.
- Not truly soundproof.
Woodchip Wallpaper Cost
This type of wallpaper is affordable and consists of paper with small wood chips. The purpose of including the woodchips is so that this wallpaper will provide a textured effect finish and so that it will hide flaws and cracks in the wall. Woodchip wallpaper is durable and can be painted over.
With that said, it's a bit outdated by many people's standards. Further, if you do eventually decide to remove woodchip wallpaper, the process can be very difficult. Woodchip wallpaper can be bought for £4 to £7 per roll.
Pros:
- Textured effect.
- Conceals flaws and cracks.
- Durable.
- Paintable.
Cons:
- Can be seen as a bit outdated.
- A pain to remove.
Benefits of Wallpapering
There are many advantages to wallpapering a room. Let's take a look at some of its clear benefits.
Decorative Qualities
The main advantage of wallpapering is the decorative aesthetic it can provide to a room. Wallpaper can add a unique and detailed design that cannot be achieved in the same way with paint.
The decorative value of wallpapering is generally possible at a relatively low cost, whether you install it DIY or hire a professional decorator.
Long-lasting
A decent quality wallpaper product should be durable enough to last for 15-20 years or more, if well maintained.
If you were to fit wallpaper today and take care of it properly, there's a decent chance that its colour and appearance will look as good as new, a generation from now.
Easy to Maintain
Most wallpaper types can be wiped with a soft brush or clean cloth, and though they cannot be washed using water, their maintenance regimen is straightforward.
Washable wallpaper can be washed with water and detergents, however. Make sure that you are aware of exactly how your type of wallpaper should be cleaned.
Given that the cost to hang wallpaper is usually not excessive, these advantages make it worth strong consideration.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Wallpaper?
You may decide to get rid of wallpaper because it's worn down and needs to be replaced, you'd prefer to have a different type of wallpaper installed, or you'd rather change to a painted wall surface. Please note that some wallpaper options can actually be painted over.
Depending on the size and number of the walls covered by wallpaper and the type of wallpaper present, it will likely cost somewhere in the range of £150 to £540 if you were to hire a professional to remove wallpaper.
You could remove it for cheaper as a DIY job, but you should only do so if you have sufficient skills and know exactly what's involved. Some options are more difficult to remove than others, such as woodchip wallpaper.
FAQs
Q: How many rolls of wallpaper will I need?
A: On average, you'll need one roll of wallpaper for every 3.2m2 of wall covered. So, if you have up to 30m2 of wall to cover, you should buy at least ten rolls of wallpaper.
However, each product of wallpaper will cover different areas, so make sure to check the details of the product as to how much space it will cover. That way, you'll be able to make more precise calculations.
If you think the amount of wallpaper, you'll have will cut close to the amount needed, you should buy one extra roll just in case.
Q: How do you strip wallpaper correctly?
A: Though it will vary from product to product and depending on the type of wallpaper, firstly, you'd need to decide on a removal method.
The most common approaches are chemical stripping and electric steaming.
With the former option, you can buy a ready-to-use product or put together a homemade concoction.
Chemical products are available in a spray or bottle form, and each product will come with its own specific instructions.
A homemade option involves mixing hot water and liquid detergent.
If you choose to purchase an electric steamer, follow the instructions given by the manufacturer carefully. You will need a wooden board to sit the steamer and its plate atop of, protective gloves and jug to fill up the steam stripper.
Q: How long does wallpaper last?
A: If well maintained, it should last for 15-20 years or more.
Q: Can I replace or remove wallpaper by myself?
A: Yes, so long as you're confident enough that you have the skills and knowledge necessary. However, if you've any doubts, you should hire a professional.
Q: What is the best kitchen wallpaper?
A: Some of the most suitable options for a kitchen are vinyl, washable, and Novamura wallpaper.
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Sources
- https://soundproofcentral.com/pros-cons-soundproof-wallpaper/
- https://www.therange.co.uk/decorating/wallpaper-and-wallpapering-accessories/textured/tuffstuff-woodchip-wallpaper/
- https://wallcoveringsmart.com/blogs/news/all-advantages-of-wallpaper
- https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-remove-wallpaper/PROD_npcart_100451.art
Author: Dean M
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Digital Media, I'm a freelance writer and I've worked for clients such as the British Blockchain Association and I have experience in writing articles, YouTube video scripts, online guides and newsletters. I have written and produced many short films as well as a web series and feature film. I am also currently working on a novel.
FAQs
How much will it cost to wallpaper a room? ›
The actual labor costs of hanging wallpaper can range from $1 to $7 per square foot or $3 to $9 per yard. It's approximately $25 to $80 per hour to have a professional put up wallpaper. This estimate can increase if the contractor or wallpaper pro needs to perform any repairs to your walls during the process.
How much wallpaper do I need for one room? ›Divide the total square feet of wall space by 27 to determine the number of rolls required. The formula is: Square footage ÷ by 27 = Number of rolls. At this point, you could subtract 21 square feet for any doors and 15 square feet for each window.
How do I calculate how much wallpaper I need? ›Measure the width of each wall where you would like to apply the wallpaper and add them all together ("Combined Width"). Measure the height of the walls. Multiply the Combined Width by the height of the walls – this is the total square footage ("TSF") of wall space you need to cover with wallpaper.
What is the cost of putting wallpaper? ›Wallpaper in India can cost anywhere between ₹40 to ₹5,000 per sq. ft. depending on the quality, design and material.
How much does 1 roll of wallpaper do? ›A standard American roll of wallpaper gives you about 35 square feet, but waste and pattern matching usually takes this down to about 27 usable square feet per roll.
How long does it take to wallpaper 1 wall? ›of-course, duration will depend on the size of your wall. Say if there's only 1 roll to be installed, then it would barely take a 1.5-2 hours. 1 roll which is 55-57 sq feet. If you have a column or other design element to that wall, then it take 3-4 hrs max.
How much wallpaper do I need for a 10x10 wall? ›Divide the total width of your walls by the wallpaper's width. This is the number of floor-to-ceiling wallpaper strips you need to cover your walls.
How much does it cost to wallpaper a 10x10 wall? ›A 10x10 square foot room should require about 6 rolls. So on average, for a room about that size, you can expect to pay $90 to $100 plus the cost of supplies. If you're hiring a professional to hang the paper for you, expect higher costs to kick in.
How much wallpaper does 2 rolls cover? ›Depending on the wallpaper sheet width, a double roll covers 57 to 61 square feet, while a single roll is 29 to 31 square feet. Remember, wallpaper only comes in double rolls, even though they price out the cost in single roll quantities. You can count on double rolls to always be twice as long as single rolls.
How many pieces do you get out of a roll of wallpaper? ›There is normally 3 drops to a roll, any excess paper will do above doors and windows if needed.
How many square feet are in a 12x16 room? ›
How many square feet are in a 12x16 room? The square footage of a room 12 feet wide and 16 feet long is 192 square feet. Find the square footage by multiplying the width (12 ft) by the length (16 ft).
How many pieces do you get from a roll of wallpaper? ›Taking a quick measurement of your wall length and ceiling height will confirm how many drops you can expect from your roll of wallpaper. Typically, ceiling height is around 2760mm. If this is the case, you will get three drops from a standard 10m length & 53.5cm width of wallpaper.
Is wallpapering cheaper than painting? ›Wallpaper and paint can range in price from the low end to the high end of the cost spectrum. Wallpaper on average is more expensive to purchase the rolls, supplies and to have it installed. Paint on average is cheaper and requires very few supplies, and an amateur can apply it.
Is wallpapering expensive? ›Wallpaper is worth the cost because it is customizable and lasts longer than paint. However, it is expensive and costs even more to have it professionally installed. Prices can even go higher based on the size of the space you want to be papered and the amount of wall preparation involved.
How long does it take to hang 3 rolls of wallpaper? ›Generally, it would take me an hour to set up and pack away, plus an hour per roll to hang your chosen paper. So, if your wall takes 3 rolls of paper, I'd expect to be there for 4 hours. On top of all this, there is the time to and from the job which has to be taken into account.
Where do you start wallpapering in a room? ›Ideally begin at the corner and hang your first length of paper on a wall with no doors or windows. That way, you can hang a full length from the ceiling to the top of the skirting-board. Choose a wall to the right of the window if you're right-handed or to the left if you're left-handed.
How long is a full roll of wallpaper? ›In the U.S.A., a single roll of wallpaper is typically defined as a wallpaper roll with the dimensions 21 inches wide and 16.5 feet in length (21″ x 16.5′). A double roll usually has the dimensions of 21 inches wide and 33 feet in length (21″ x 33′).
Can you wallpaper a room in a day? ›If the walls are in a good condition and no prep. work is needed,a professional wallpaper sticker should finish a room in maximum two days. Yes one day job. If you have not straight corners putting wallpaper is not good idea.
What's the easiest wallpaper to hang? ›Taking all of that into consideration, you can see why paste the wall wallpaper is the easiest type of wallpaper to install for the beginner DIYer. Additionally, for an even easier installation I suggest faux grasscloth wallpaper for two reasons: You don't have to pattern match panels grasscloth panels.
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need for one wall? ›Take the height measurement of the room/area in metres and multiply it by the number of widths needed. Divide that number by the length of the wallpaper roll – usually 10m – and you'll have the number of rolls needed.
How many square feet is a 8x10 wall? ›
Example: If the room is 8 feet long and 10 feet wide, the square footage of the room is 80 square feet (8 x 10 = 80).
Is regular wallpaper cheaper than peel and stick? ›Interestingly, using regular wallpaper can often be much cheaper. Not only are rolls of regular (as in, not peel-and-stick) wallpaper sometimes cheaper overall, but they also come in longer rolls, meaning you need less of them.
Why is wallpaper sold in double rolls? ›To fix this, the industry switched to double rolls so that customers have a little extra in case of mistakes, tears, or miscalculations. The term double roll applies only to the length of the wallpaper, not the width.
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need for a small bathroom? ›Material Needed
I calculated the square footage of the bathroom which was 300 square feet of walls and each roll of the paper I found is 56 square feet so I needed at least 6 rolls.
To be on the safe side, add 5 cm to the top and bottom end so you can deal with potential differences in the height of the wall if necessary. If you want to know roughly how many strips of wallpaper you can cut off a roll, just divide the length of the roll by the height of the wall (+ half a pattern repeat).
Does wallpaper come off the roll the right way up? ›SHOULD THE DESIGN ON THE WALLPAPER ALWAYS COME OFF THE ROLL THE CORRECT WAY UP? The short answer is no.
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need for a 3m wall? ›From a room height of approx. 2.75 to 3 metres, three additional wallpaper rolls must be allowed for every additional five metres of room width. For a ceiling height of 3 m, the starting value is six rolls of wallpaper for a room width of 10 m and seven rolls for a ceiling height of 3.25 m.
How many square feet are in a 12x12 room? ›Next, multiply the length by the width to calculate a room's total square footage. So if a bedroom is 12 feet wide and 12 feet long, it is 144 square feet total (12 x 12 = 144 sqft).
How many sq ft is a 12x24 room? ›Square footage: 288 sq. ft.
How much floor is needed for a 12x12 room? ›For instance, if the room is 12 feet wide and 12 feet long, you will need enough flooring for 144 square feet (12×12=144). Step 2: Add 10% to the square footage to accommodate cuts and waste. (If you're choosing a tile pattern, add 20%). This is important because the cuts in the flooring need to be staggered.
When you buy wallpaper all rolls should come from the same? ›
Generally speaking, the batch number should always be the same for all rolls included in the same delivery, which means you can get going straight away.
How many walls does it take to wallpaper? ›You should cover all walls if you want a striking color or pattern in a tiny area. However, installing wallpaper on one wall doesn't always make the space appear smaller. If you select a color and pattern with a lower contrast to the painted wall color, the visual transition is smoother.
Does wallpaper make a room warmer? ›Insulating wallpaper and liners offer an easy way to do exactly that. By naturally insulating the warmth inside a room, they are superb at maintaining a comfortable temperature all year round and reducing heat from escaping from windows, ceilings, or unsightly cracks in the wall.
Is wallpaper 2022 fashionable? ›Wallpaper is a key trend for 2022, and the insatiable appetite from consumers doesn't look like abating any time soon. Whatever your taste, there are wallpaper ideas for everyone, from traditional florals and trompe l'oeil, to contemporary geometric and tropical patterns or animal motifs and architectural designs.
Does wallpaper decrease home value? ›Expect wallpaper to draw lower offers
Nine times out of ten, they're gonna subtract a good bit of money.” Like it or not, that wallpaper you've lived with for years will impact your offers, Newton says. “Whether we reduce the price or not, the buyer will decrease their offer.
Wallpaper prices typically go up with the increased durability and manufacturing cost of the paper type. Custom paper and murals may be more expensive than typical solid sheet vinyl or coated fabric paper. Grass woven wallpaper is much more expensive than vinyl because it's made from natural materials and hand-woven.
Is wallpapering harder than painting? ›It is typically faster to paint a room than to install wallpaper. Wallpaper installation is a longer process for most. Applying paste to the wallpaper usually makes the process more time consuming, however there are wallpaper options such as peel and stick wallpaper that are much easier and quicker to install.
Is wallpapering easier than painting? ›Wallpapering can be a bit more forgiving, as it can cover small nail holes and marks in the spackle in a way that paint won't. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts when it comes to preparing your walls, if you want good results, preparation is extremely important.
Is it cheaper to wallpaper or paint a room? ›Wallpaper on average is more expensive to purchase the rolls, supplies and to have it installed. Paint on average is cheaper and requires very few supplies, and an amateur can apply it. It should be noted that inexpensive wallpaper can be purchased and if you do it yourself can cut down on installation costs.
How much is it to wallpaper a room UK? ›What does wallpapering a room cost in the UK? The cost to wallpaper a room ranges between £20 – £40 per square metre in the UK.
Is it cheaper to re wallpaper or paint? ›
Generally speaking, painting is a less expensive process, while wallpapering is longer lasting and more durable. If you're on a tight budget, a beautiful look in any room can be achieved with a well chosen paint color and plenty of accent pieces in similar color schemes.
How much should it cost to paint a 12x12 room? ›To paint a 12×12 room, homeowners spend on average between $300 to $400 or $2.5 to $3.5 per square foot, excluding costs of baseboards, wall repair, ceilings, and trim. The highest quality and most experienced painters may charge up to $800 to $1,000.
How much do wallpapers charge UK? ›The average cost to wallpaper a room in the UK works out at around £150/day for labour, plus the cost of whatever wallpaper you buy. As an overview, labour costs are: Small room – £100-£150. Mid-sized room – £150-£230.
How many rolls of wallpaper can you hang in a day? ›A skilled decorator can hang around 6-10 rolls of wallpaper a day. Each roll covers approximately 2 metres of linear wall, so we think our living room should be completed in around 2 days. However, as any decorator will tell you, the preparation work is the key.
Do painters remove wallpaper? ›Painting contractors and other interior design specialists can help with removing wallpaper. Ask for an estimate. Give the contractor as much information as you can — room size, ceiling height, type of wallpaper, etc.