Wallpaper Cost

• Good, basic wallpaper sells for an average of $25 -$50 a single roll, depending on material and style. Papering a typical 16-by-20-foot room requires 16 to 20 rolls, at a cost of $400 -$1,000.
• Designer wallpapers run anywhere from $60 -$250 or more per roll, or $960 -$5,000 for just the paper for a typical 16-by-20-foot room.
• Professional paperhangers charge $30 -$60 to hang a single roll, or $480 -$1,200 for just the labor in a 16x20-foot room, making the total cost $880 -$2,200 for hiring someone to hang basic wallpaper in a 16x20-foot room. Rates for hanging expensive "designer" papers (where mistakes are costly) are often priced at 75 percent or more of the wallpaper's cost, or a total of $1,680 -$8,800 or more for a 16x20-foot room, depending on the paper used.
• A large wallpaper mural starts around $200 -$800 but can run $1,000 -$2,000 or more, depending on size, design and subject matter. Professional installation of an eight-panel mural starts around $200 -$300 and goes up depending on complexity.

• Wallpaper can be surface-printed, screen-printed, vinyl, vinyl-coated, custom colored or made with metals, cement or glass. The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers provides a glossary of terms.
• Most manufacturers recommend removing any existing wallpaper and priming the walls with a wallcovering primer/sealer before hanging new wallpaper. The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers gives a detailed overview of what should be done to prepare a wall for wallpaper installation.
• ThisOldHouse.com provides and easy-to-follow do-it-yourself video. The site estimates it takes a do-it-yourselfer 6-8 hours to paper an average-sized room, and rates the project as "challenging."

• Extra-tall ceiling, stairwells and other challenges will bump the costs to the higher end of the price scale and perhaps beyond.

• Wallpaper and home improvement stores often sell discontinued patterns for as little as $2 -$5 a roll; but what's on the discount table might be all that's available. Be sure there's enough to do the job and keep a bit for future repairs.

• Better Homes and Gardens provides tips for selecting the perfect wallpaper.
• Manufacturers include Blue Mountain, F. Schumacher, Seabrook and Waverly.
• The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers explains how to hire a qualified paperhanger and provides referrals to local paperhangers.
• Get several estimates, making sure the same quality of materials and service is included in each quote. Request and check references, and be sure the contractor is properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state. See if there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

More Articles in Painting & Wallpaper