Drywall Repair Cost: $150–$2,000 (Average $612) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·5 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Drywall repair typically costs $150 to $2,000, averaging $612 nationally (Angi). A small nail hole runs $300-$500, a larger hole needing a new patch runs $500-$800 (HomeGuide), and per-square-foot labor and materials land around $60-$80 (Fixr). Ceiling work and water damage cost more.
- ✓The national average cost to repair drywall is $612, with most jobs falling between $150 and $2,000 (Angi).
- ✓Professional per-square-foot rates run $60 to $80 for combined labor and materials (Fixr).
- ✓A small nail hole or doorknob dent typically costs $300 to $500 to patch and blend (HomeGuide).
- ✓Water-damaged drywall repairs average $300 to $700 because of extra drying and prep time (HomeAdvisor).
How much does drywall repair cost?
National average
$612
total project
Typical range
$150–$2,000
Most projects
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| small hole (nail hole, doorknob dent) | $300 | $500 |
| large hole (needs new drywall patch) | $500 | $800 |
| crack repair | $60 | $330 |
| water-damaged drywall | $300 | $700 |
| ceiling repair | $350 | $1,500 |
| whole house / multiple rooms | $450 | $2,000 |
What affects the cost?
- Size of the damaged area, with per-square-foot labor and material rates of $60-$80 (Fixr)
- Type of damage: a simple nail hole costs far less than a hole needing a new drywall patch or a structural crack
- Location of the repair, since ceiling work is slower and often costs more than a comparable wall repair (HomeGuide)
- Water damage, which adds cost for drying time and sometimes mold prevention, averaging $300-$700 (HomeAdvisor)
- Texture matching and paint blending after the patch is finished
- Number of repairs bundled into one visit; a single room runs $75-$300 while whole-house repairs reach $450-$2,000 (Fixr)
- Local labor rates, which run $60-$100 per hour depending on region and repair complexity (Fixr, HomeAdvisor)
Why does drywall repair cost so much?
The price mainly comes down to the size and type of the damage. A typical repair costs $150 to $2,000, averaging $612 nationally (Angi). A small nail hole or doorknob dent runs $300 to $500 to patch and blend (HomeGuide), while a larger hole that needs a fresh piece of drywall, framing, and multiple coats of compound runs $500 to $800 or more (HomeGuide). Broken down per square foot, professional labor and materials cost $60 to $80 (Fixr), with mudding work alone typically running $85 to $175 per job (Fixr). Water damage pushes costs higher, averaging $300 to $700 because of extra drying time and prep (HomeAdvisor). Ceiling repairs run even higher, at $350 to $1,500 or more, since overhead work is slower and texture matching is harder to get even (HomeGuide). Whole-house jobs covering several rooms can reach $450 to $2,000 (Fixr).
What affects the cost?
A few factors explain most of the spread between a $150 patch and a $2,000 job:
- Size and type of damage. A nail hole costs a fraction of what a large hole needing a new drywall patch does — $300-$500 versus $500-$800 (HomeGuide).
- Location. Ceiling repairs typically cost more than wall repairs of similar size, running $350-$1,500+ versus $300-$800 (HomeGuide).
- Water damage. Repairs involving water damage average $300-$700 (HomeAdvisor) because of drying time and, in some cases, mold-prevention work.
- Texture and paint matching. Blending a patch into existing texture and paint adds labor time that basic hole-filling doesn’t require.
- Number of repairs. Bundling several holes or cracks into one visit is more efficient than paying separate minimums for each; a single room runs $75-$300 while a whole house runs $450-$2,000 (Fixr).
- Local labor rates. Hourly rates run $60 to $90 in most markets, climbing to $100 for complex repairs (Angi, Fixr, HomeAdvisor).
How to lower your drywall repair cost
- Bundle repairs into one visit. Most contractors charge at least a one-hour minimum, so fixing several small holes or cracks together avoids paying that minimum repeatedly.
- Try DIY for small holes. Fixr’s data shows the smallest professional patch jobs starting around $75, well under the $300-$500 typical cost of hiring a pro for the same nail hole or minor dent (HomeGuide) — doing it yourself costs less still if you already have basic tools.
- Address water damage early. Catching a leak before drywall sags or crumbles keeps the repair closer to a standard patch instead of the $300-$700 water-damage range (HomeAdvisor).
- Get a few quotes for larger jobs. Hourly rates range from $60 to $100 depending on the contractor and complexity (Fixr, HomeAdvisor), so comparing bids on a whole-room or whole-house job can meaningfully change the total.
- Ask what’s included. Confirm whether texture matching and paint touch-up are part of the quote, since these finishing steps are a common reason two bids for the same hole can differ by hundreds of dollars.
Prices vary by region, contractor, and how closely the repair needs to match existing texture and paint, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes before committing to a final number.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix a small hole in drywall?+
About $300 to $500 for a professional patch job on a nail hole, doorknob dent, or similar small hole (HomeGuide). Fixr reports an even lower range of $60 to $200 for basic small-hole patching, so the price you get depends heavily on how much texture matching and paint touch-up is included.
What's the average cost to repair drywall in 2026?+
$612 nationally, with typical jobs ranging from $150 to $2,000 depending on the size and type of damage (Angi). Other sources report lower or higher averages depending on how much of the job mix they include: Fixr's average is $350 for a single patch, while HomeAdvisor's average climbs to $906 because it weights more toward larger repairs.
How much does drywall repair cost per square foot?+
$60 to $80 per square foot for labor and materials combined (Fixr). Mudding alone typically runs $85 to $175 per job, and taping a section typically costs $75 to $145 (Fixr).
Does ceiling drywall repair cost more than wall repair?+
Usually, yes. Ceiling repairs run $350 to $1,500 or more (HomeGuide), compared with $300 to $800 for most wall holes (HomeGuide), because overhead work is slower and harder to texture-match evenly.
How much does water-damaged drywall repair cost?+
$300 to $700 on average (HomeAdvisor), since water damage often needs drying time and sometimes mold-prevention steps before the patch and paint go on. Fixr's water-damage figure runs a bit higher, at $400 to $800.
Is it cheaper to repair drywall myself?+
Yes, for small holes if you're willing to do the patching and texture work yourself. Fixr's data shows the smallest professional patch jobs starting around $75, well under the $300 to $500 typical cost for a professional to handle the same size hole (HomeGuide). Professional labor at $60 to $100 per hour (Fixr, HomeAdvisor) covers texture matching and paint blending that's difficult to replicate without experience, especially on larger or ceiling repairs.
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- Angi — The average cost to repair drywall is $612, and it can range between $150 and $2,000. Some contractors charge between $50 and $75 per square foot. Hourly rates run $60 to $90 an hour.
- Fixr — National average $350; range $200 to $550 (low end $75, high end $1,000). Cost per square foot $60 to $80 (2 sq ft: $120-$160; 10 sq ft: $600-$800). Hourly rate $70-$80, complex repairs up to $100/hour. By type: crack $60-$330; hole $60-$200; water damage $400-$800; ceiling hole $75-$115; taping $75-$145; mudding $85-$175; corner crack $220-$315; vaulted ceiling $400-$1,000. By scope: 1 room $75-$300; entire house $450-$2,000. Repair $200-$550 vs. replacement $400-$800.
- HomeGuide — Small holes (doorknobs, picture hangers, furniture bumps) cost $300 to $500 on average. Larger holes needing new drywall pieces, framing, and multiple compound coats cost $500 to $800 or more. Drywall ceiling repair costs $350 to $1,500+. Drywall crack repair costs $350 to $1,000+.
- HomeAdvisor — Professional drywall repair costs between $380 and $1,435, average wall repair cost $906. Small holes $50-$300; large holes $150-$400; stress cracks $100-$150; bowing $75-$400 per sq ft; water damage $300-$700. Hourly rates $60-$80 standard, $90-$100 complex. Drywall material/labor $300-$880 or $60-$90 per hour.
- Homewyse — In May 2026 the estimated national average cost to repair drywall starts at $297 to $472 per repair.
Source averages vary widely because each site blends a different mix of repair types into its 'average' figure. Angi's $612 average and $150-$2,000 range are used as the headline numbers here because they explicitly span everything from a single small hole to a full room of damage, matching this guide's 'total project' unit. Fixr reports a lower typical range ($200-$550, average $350) because its baseline example is a small-to-medium single patch, while HomeAdvisor's $906 average and $380-$1,435 range skew higher because it weights more heavily toward larger holes and water-damage jobs. Homewyse's calculator model, which excludes texture-matching and paint extras that other sources bundle in, starts even lower at $297-$472 per repair. The by_type breakdown above draws each low-high pair from a single source's own figures to avoid mixing incompatible pricing methods; see sources[] for exact per-source language. project_low_usd/project_high_usd ($200-$1,435) is a synthesized 'typical whole-project' span combining Fixr's range low with HomeAdvisor's range high, both range boundaries (not an average) so they stay consistent in kind. The narrative's combined '$300 to $800 for most wall holes' figure is likewise a synthesis of HomeGuide's own small-hole ($300-$500) and large-hole ($500-$800) sub-ranges, not a verbatim HomeGuide quote.