How Much Does Ceiling Drywall Cost? (2026)
Ceiling Drywall costs $800–$4,500 in the US in 2026, with most jobs landing near $1,800. Installing or replacing drywall on a ceiling, including removal of popcorn or damaged board, lifts and staging, taping and a smooth or textured finish.
Low, average and high
- Low end: $800 (simple job, basic materials)
- National average: $1,800
- High end: $4,500 (complex or premium)
What's included in ceiling drywall
Installing or replacing drywall on a ceiling, including removal of popcorn or damaged board, lifts and staging, taping and a smooth or textured finish. Typical time on site: 1 to 3 days.
What changes the price
- Ceiling square footage
- Height and access
- Popcorn removal and asbestos testing
- Insulation replacement
- Smooth versus textured finish
Drywall labor runs about $26 per hour nationally and is usually 40-60% of a ceiling drywall quote; the rest is materials, permits and disposal.
Ceiling Drywall cost by state (2026)
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $718 | $1,616 | $4,041 |
| Alaska | $1,043 | $2,347 | $5,868 |
| Arizona | $810 | $1,822 | $4,554 |
| Arkansas | $701 | $1,577 | $3,942 |
| California | $994 | $2,236 | $5,589 |
| Colorado | $870 | $1,958 | $4,896 |
| Connecticut | $925 | $2,081 | $5,202 |
| Delaware | $830 | $1,868 | $4,671 |
| District of Columbia | $1,014 | $2,282 | $5,706 |
| Florida | $778 | $1,750 | $4,374 |
| Georgia | $763 | $1,717 | $4,293 |
| Hawaii | $1,117 | $2,513 | $6,282 |
| Idaho | $776 | $1,746 | $4,365 |
| Illinois | $878 | $1,976 | $4,941 |
| Indiana | $755 | $1,699 | $4,248 |
| Iowa | $742 | $1,670 | $4,176 |
| Kansas | $747 | $1,681 | $4,203 |
| Kentucky | $730 | $1,642 | $4,104 |
| Louisiana | $762 | $1,714 | $4,284 |
| Maine | $829 | $1,865 | $4,662 |
| Maryland | $899 | $2,023 | $5,058 |
| Massachusetts | $954 | $2,146 | $5,364 |
| Michigan | $797 | $1,793 | $4,482 |
| Minnesota | $842 | $1,894 | $4,734 |
| Mississippi | $682 | $1,534 | $3,834 |
| Missouri | $760 | $1,710 | $4,275 |
| Montana | $789 | $1,775 | $4,437 |
| Nebraska | $742 | $1,670 | $4,176 |
| Nevada | $826 | $1,858 | $4,644 |
| New Hampshire | $845 | $1,901 | $4,752 |
| New Jersey | $922 | $2,074 | $5,184 |
| New Mexico | $742 | $1,670 | $4,176 |
| New York | $966 | $2,174 | $5,436 |
| North Carolina | $773 | $1,739 | $4,347 |
| North Dakota | $797 | $1,793 | $4,482 |
| Ohio | $774 | $1,742 | $4,356 |
| Oklahoma | $736 | $1,656 | $4,140 |
| Oregon | $858 | $1,930 | $4,824 |
| Pennsylvania | $824 | $1,854 | $4,635 |
| Rhode Island | $885 | $1,991 | $4,977 |
| South Carolina | $758 | $1,706 | $4,266 |
| South Dakota | $742 | $1,670 | $4,176 |
| Tennessee | $755 | $1,699 | $4,248 |
| Texas | $778 | $1,750 | $4,374 |
| Utah | $800 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| Vermont | $806 | $1,814 | $4,536 |
| Virginia | $827 | $1,861 | $4,653 |
| Washington | $899 | $2,023 | $5,058 |
| West Virginia | $722 | $1,624 | $4,059 |
| Wisconsin | $784 | $1,764 | $4,410 |
| Wyoming | $782 | $1,760 | $4,401 |
Ceiling Drywall cost in major cities
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Los Angeles, CA
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Chicago, IL
- Ceiling Drywall cost in New York City, NY
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Dallas, TX
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Washington DC, DC
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Philadelphia, PA
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Atlanta, GA
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Miami, FL
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Phoenix, AZ
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Boston, MA
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Detroit, MI
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Seattle, WA
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Minneapolis, MN
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Denver, CO
- Ceiling Drywall cost in St. Louis, MO
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Baltimore, MD
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Charlotte, NC
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Portland, OR
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Las Vegas, NV
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Cincinnati, OH
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Indianapolis, IN
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Nashville, TN
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Milwaukee, WI
- Ceiling Drywall cost in Oklahoma City, OK
Common questions
How much does ceiling drywall cost in 2026?
Ceiling Drywall costs $800–$4,500 nationally, with the average job at $1,800. Installing or replacing drywall on a ceiling, including removal of popcorn or damaged board, lifts and staging, taping and a smooth or textured finish.
What makes ceiling drywall more expensive?
The main cost drivers are ceiling square footage, height and access, popcorn removal and asbestos testing, insulation replacement. Labor runs about $26 per hour nationally and is usually 40-60% of the quote.
How long does ceiling drywall take?
A typical ceiling drywall job takes 1 to 3 days, plus any permit and inspection time your city requires.
How do I get an accurate ceiling drywall quote?
Get at least three written quotes from local contractors that list the scope, materials, permit handling and warranty. Prices vary by state and city, so use the state table and city pages here to sanity-check what you are quoted.
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