What Is the Average Cost of Wallpaper Removal per Square Foot in Eagan?

If you’re staring at outdated wallpaper in an Eagan home and wondering what it will cost to get rid of it, you’re not alone. Wallpaper removal is one of the most commonly underestimated parts of a home refresh, and the price can swing quite a bit depending on what’s actually stuck to your wall underneath.

Unlike a lot of painting services, wallpaper removal typically isn’t priced per square foot by contractors in the Twin Cities area — it’s priced per hour, because the labor time is so unpredictable. This article breaks down exactly what that means for your budget, what drives the price up or down, and realistic cost ranges for different project sizes.

Why Wallpaper Removal Is Priced by the Hour, Not the Square Foot

Painting contractors typically quote wallpaper removal as an hourly labor rate rather than a flat per-square-foot number. The going rate in the Eagan area falls between $75 and $120 per hour.

That range exists because two rooms with the exact same square footage of wallpaper can take wildly different amounts of time to strip. A per-square-foot price would either overcharge easy jobs or undercharge difficult ones — so hourly billing is the more honest way to price this kind of work.

What Actually Drives the Hourly Total

Several factors determine how many hours a job takes, which is what ultimately determines your final cost:

• The type of adhesive used when the wallpaper was originally installed
• Whether the wallpaper is a single layer or multiple layers stacked on top of each other
• Whether the wallpaper was applied directly to drywall or over a skim coat/primer
• The condition of the drywall underneath (soft, damaged, or water-stained drywall requires much more careful, slower work)
• How many rooms or walls are involved, and how accessible they are

Why Old Adhesive Type Can Make or Break Your Labor Hours

This is the single biggest variable in wallpaper removal pricing, and it’s worth understanding before you get a quote. Not all wallpaper paste is created equal, and the adhesive used decades ago behaves very differently than modern strippable paper.

Older homes — especially those with wallpaper installed before the 1990s — often used a wheat paste or heavy clay-based adhesive that bonds extremely aggressively to drywall paper facing. This type of adhesive can require extensive steaming, scoring, and scraping, and it often pulls up the paper surface of the drywall itself if rushed.

Newer wallpaper is frequently installed with strippable or peelable adhesive, designed to come off in large sheets with minimal effort. A wall covered in this type of product might take a fraction of the time compared to an old-adhesive wall of the same size.

Other Adhesive-Related Complications

• Double or triple layers: Some walls have had wallpaper applied over previous wallpaper multiple times over the years, multiplying the labor
• Painted-over wallpaper: If a previous owner painted directly over the wallpaper instead of removing it, the paint seals the seams and adds significant time to soften and lift the paper
• Non-porous “vinyl” wallpaper: The vinyl top layer often has to be peeled away first before the backing paper and adhesive can be steamed off separately

Because none of this is visible until a contractor actually starts working on the wall, most quotes are given as an hourly estimate with a likely range rather than a fixed flat price — similar to how drywall repair costs vary once a contractor sees the extent of damage hiding under the surface.

Estimated Cost by Project Size

Using the confirmed hourly rate of $75–$120 per hour, here’s how that translates into realistic cost ranges for common wallpaper removal scenarios. These are estimates based on typical labor-hour ranges for each project size — actual time will vary based on the adhesive and wall condition factors discussed above.

Keep in mind that the “multiple rooms” figure is an open-ended starting point — a project involving several bedrooms, a stairwell, or a long hallway with old, painted-over wallpaper could easily run well beyond 5 hours. Actual cost always depends on the specific job, so it’s worth requesting a free quote once a contractor can physically assess the walls.

What Happens After the Wallpaper Comes Off

Wallpaper removal is rarely the final step — it’s usually prep work for whatever comes next. Once the paper and adhesive residue are gone, most walls need some combination of the following before they’re ready for paint:

• Washing the wall to remove leftover paste residue
• Skim-coating or patching areas where the drywall paper face got torn during removal
• Priming with a stain-blocking primer to seal any remaining adhesive residue and ensure even paint absorption
• Two coats of finish paint, since any color or sheen change requires a minimum of two coats for proper coverage

If you’re planning to repaint after the wallpaper is gone, it’s worth budgeting for both steps together rather than treating them as separate projects. For reference on what the painting side of that project might cost, see typical wall painting pricing for single rooms versus multi-room jobs.

When Drywall Repair Becomes Necessary

It’s common — especially with old wheat-paste adhesive — for some amount of the drywall’s paper facing to tear away during removal. This is normal, but it does mean patching may be needed before priming.

Minor issues like small torn spots are inexpensive to fix, while more extensive tearing across large wall sections requires more significant patching and skim-coating work. If your wallpaper has been up for many decades, it’s smart to budget some cushion for this possibility rather than being surprised by it mid-project.

Wallpaper Removal vs. Other Interior Prep Projects

It helps to see how wallpaper removal compares to other prep-heavy interior jobs in terms of why pricing varies so much. Similar to popcorn ceiling removal, wallpaper removal is a job where the finished square footage tells you very little about the actual labor involved — the real cost driver is what’s hiding underneath the surface, not the size of the room alone.

This is also why experienced painting contractors are hesitant to give a firm flat-rate quote over the phone for wallpaper removal without seeing the walls first. A quick in-person or video assessment of the adhesive type and wall condition leads to a far more accurate number than a generic square-footage formula ever could.

Tips to Keep Wallpaper Removal Costs Down

• Get multiple estimates. Getting three or more quotes before hiring gives you a realistic sense of the going rate for your specific walls
• Test a small section yourself first. If wallpaper comes off easily in a large sheet with light effort, that’s a strong sign the job will be on the faster, cheaper end of the range
• Don’t paint over wallpaper as a shortcut. It seems like a time-saver now, but it significantly raises removal costs for whoever tackles the wall later — often you
• Consider timing. Booking projects during the fall or winter off-season can sometimes come with scheduling discounts, since it’s a slower season for many painting contractors

For a broader look at general ways to trim costs on interior projects, this guide to saving money on house painting covers additional practical strategies that apply beyond just wallpaper removal.

Get an Accurate Quote for Your Walls

Because wallpaper removal costs are so dependent on what’s actually underneath the paper, the only way to get a truly accurate number is through an in-person assessment. At BLUE Painting, quotes are built from precise in-home measurements using our proprietary Sky Platform, which creates a saved profile of your property — so the price you’re quoted is the price you pay for the scope of work written into your quote.

We also stand behind every project with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, meaning full payment isn’t expected until you’re satisfied with the finished work. If you’re ready to find out exactly what your wallpaper removal and repaint will cost, reach out for a free estimate and we’ll walk your walls with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to remove wallpaper myself before hiring a painter?

It can save money if done carefully, but DIY wallpaper removal often damages the drywall paper facing without the right tools and technique, which can create additional drywall repair costs. If you do attempt it yourself, test a small section first to gauge how difficult the adhesive is before committing to the whole room.

Why did my wallpaper removal quote come in higher than expected?

The most common reason is old, aggressive adhesive (like wheat paste) that requires extensive steaming and scraping, or multiple layers of wallpaper stacked over the years. Painted-over wallpaper is another frequent culprit, since the paint seals the seams and makes the paper much harder to lift.

Does wallpaper removal include repainting the wall afterward?

No — wallpaper removal and repainting are typically priced and scoped as separate steps. Once the wallpaper and adhesive residue are fully removed, the wall usually needs patching, priming, and two coats of finish paint as a separate phase of work.

How long does it take to remove wallpaper from an average room?

A standard four-wall room typically takes about 2 to 4 hours of labor, though this can extend significantly if the adhesive is old, the wallpaper has multiple layers, or the drywall underneath is fragile. Hallways or multiple connected rooms often take 5 or more hours combined.

Written by:

Tony Nordeen

CEO / Co-Founder

Tony Nordeen is a Minneapolis-based serial entrepreneur on a mission to disrupt the painting industry. As the founder of BLUE Painting, he has built the company from the ground up with a vision to set a new standard for residential painting. Known for his strong leadership, Tony attracts top talent who share his commitment to excellence and innovation. His focus on quality, service, and a modernized approach to the industry positions BLUE Painting as a leader in the Twin Cities and beyond.