Wallpaper removal cost: What affects your final bill

In the UK, wallpaper is experiencing a major design revival, with heritage florals, modern murals, and textured finishes leading the charge. In fact, wallpaper is considered one of the biggest decorating trends, often seen on Pinterest and interior blogs as a quick way to add depth and interest to any space. While it’s an easy upgrade, removing old wallpaper when styles shift or damage sets in can take a bit more effort.

Wallpaper removal in the UK usually costs between £150 and £650, depending on the room size, number of layers, and whether your wallpaper is strippable or sealed. You should also note that labour time increases for older homes or vinyl-coated styles, and extra fees may be charged for wall prep, cleaning or repainting. 

To budget more confidently, use this guide to get a clear view of costs before getting started.

Wallpaper removal price list

Detaching wallpaper generally includes removing the adhesive and other residue, sanding, and disposing of waste. Although this is the standard process among handymen, removing wallpaper can be done in several ways.

Wallpaper removal methods and their costs

Stripping

This is the most common choice for wallpaper removal because of its convenience. When stripping wallpaper, most of the cost is on labour since it doesn't require additional equipment. The cost of stripping wallpaper ranges from £150 to £650. 

Note that stripping is ideal only for porous wallpaper. If you want to know if your wallpaper is porous, spray water on a small area. If the material quickly absorbs the water, it is porous. Otherwise, the material is most likely non-porous and needs soaking, scoring, and stripping.

Steaming

This usually involves making small holes in the wallpaper and using an electric steamer to loosen the glue. Removing wallpaper through steaming costs £25 to £45, exclusive of labour fees. It can be more expensive, depending on the condition of the wall and wallpaper.

Soaking and scraping

Soaking and scraping are necessary if steaming or stripping isn't enough to remove your wallpaper. This is the most tedious method because it involves making tiny holes in the wallpaper with sandpaper or a roller, dousing it in a special solution, and removing everything stuck on the wall using a scraping tool. Removing wallpaper through soaking and scraping can cost £1,000 for big rooms.

Factors affecting wallpaper removal service costs

Several things determine the average cost of removing wallpaper in the UK. We've listed them to help you prepare for your wallpapering project.

Room size and layout

This affects the cost of wallpaper removal. The bigger the room, the longer the job will take, resulting in higher final costs. Moreover, wallpaper removal for rooms with irregular layouts costs more than wallpaper removal for rectangular or square-shaped spaces.

Wallpaper type and condition

Strippable wallpaper is often the easiest to work with because it doesn't need soaking, scoring, or steaming to remove. Non-porous wallpaper and acrylic or vinyl coats are the opposite because water can't easily flow through the material. Additional equipment or advanced technique is needed to remove them.

If your walls have several layers of paper or if paint conceals your current wallpaper, removal costs will be higher. Expect similar prices if your wall, plaster, or drywall needs other repairs.

Additional services

As you evaluate your newly designed home, additional work might come along the way. To help you estimate the total cost, here's a list of other things that might affect your budget.

1. Painting – A fresh coat of paint on plaster walls can quickly enhance the look of your room, making it look and feel trendy. Applying new wall paint costs around £14 to £20 per hour.
2. Cleaning – After a day of stripping and scraping, you can hire cleanup services to help you organise things. The hourly rate is around £10 to £20 per hour.
3. Wall and wallpaper repair – If your walls need some TLC before you add new layers of paint, a handyman can do all the necessary preparations. Expect to pay £50 to £150 per hour.

Post a task for wallpaper removal

Ultimately, if you want to skip the mess and stress of removing layers of wallpaper, a professional can help you! It doesn't have to be time-consuming. Whether you have porous or non-porous wallpaper, you can receive personalised quotes if you post a task on Airtasker.