How Much Does It Cost to Install Wallpaper? (Price Guide)

Wallpaper installation has two cost lines: the paper itself and the labor to hang it. Paper is sold by the roll, and installers usually price by the roll or by the hour. The wall surface, the pattern, and the paper type shift both lines. Smooth, primed walls and a simple vinyl paper keep the bill low. Textured walls, large pattern repeats, and delicate materials push it up.

The figures below come from CostHelper and This Old House, checked on Oct 13, 2026. CostHelper does not show an updated date on the page, so treat its numbers as a general guide and confirm them with local quotes.

CostHelper builds its estimate on a 16-by-20-foot room, which takes a large number of rolls. A smaller room needs fewer rolls, so scale the numbers down. Costs below include the paper unless the label says labor only.

The gap between doing it yourself and hiring a pro is mostly labor. The gap between basic and designer paper is mostly material, plus the extra care a pro takes with expensive rolls.

Many paperhangers quote a price per roll. That figure covers labor only and does not include the paper. Two sources list ranges for this.

Ask whether the installer counts single rolls or double rolls. Some manufacturers sell paper in double-roll bolts, and a quote based on the wrong unit can look much cheaper or more expensive than it is.

Paper prices run from budget rolls to designer patterns. Prices depend on material, print method, and brand.

Peel-and-stick paper, vinyl, and nonwoven options sit toward the lower end, while grasscloth, hand-printed, and designer papers cost more. A roll commonly covers between 30 and 60 square feet, depending on the product, so check the coverage printed on the label.

• Paper type. Vinyl and nonwoven are easier to hang than grasscloth, silk, or foil, so labor tends to rise with delicate materials.
• Pattern repeat. Large repeats waste more paper and take longer to match.
• Wall condition. Cracks, texture, and old paint may need repair and primer before paper goes up.
• Old wallpaper removal. Stripping existing paper is usually priced separately.
• Ceiling height and room shape. Stairwells, tall walls, and rooms with many corners and openings take longer.
• Room size. More wall area means more rolls and more hours.
• Local rates. Hourly pricing varies by city and by installer experience.

Nonwoven and peel-and-stick papers are friendly to beginners, and plenty of homeowners hang them without help. Pros earn their fee on high-end paper, tricky pattern matching, and rooms where corners are not plumb. A mistake on an expensive roll costs real money, which is why designer papers often go to a professional.

If you hire out, ask whether the installer is experienced with your paper type and whether they will prepare the walls. A well-prepped wall helps the paper bond and makes it easier to remove later.

The sources use different definitions. One counts the total for a large room with basic paper. Another reports installer rates by the roll. A third covers retail paper prices only.

Rolls vary in size, rooms differ in shape, and regional rates move the totals. When you compare quotes, ask each installer to state the number of rolls, the price per roll for labor, what prep is included, and whether paper delivery or return is included.

1. Measure the wall height and the width of each wall you plan to cover.
2. Choose the paper first, because the repeat and material change the quantity you need.
3. Ask the installer to visit and inspect the walls.
4. Get the quote in writing, with labor and materials listed separately.
5. Order a bit more paper than the measurement says, since pattern matching creates waste, and keep a roll for future repairs.

• Is the price per roll, per hour, or per project?
• Does it include wall prep, primer, and removal of old paper?
• Who orders the paper, and who covers a shortage or a misprint?
• Do you carry insurance, and can you provide references?
• How long will the job take?