The Short Answer
In Albuquerque, standard popcorn ceiling removal costs about $1–$2 per square foot of ceiling for unpainted, asbestos-free texture — including containment, wet-scraping, and a skim coat. Painted texture runs roughly $2–$3 per square foot, and licensed asbestos abatement runs $3–$7. Most single rooms land between $300 and $700; most whole single-story homes land between $1,300 and $4,000 unless asbestos abatement is involved. Figures reflect mid-2026 Albuquerque-area pricing; last updated July 2026.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Prices in Albuquerque
| Job type | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unpainted texture, asbestos-free | $1–$2 / sq ft | The baseline wet-scrape and skim coat |
| Painted popcorn texture | $2–$3 / sq ft | Paint blocks the soak; more labor, sometimes drywall-over instead |
| Asbestos-positive texture (licensed abatement) | $3–$7 / sq ft | Sealed containment, licensed contractor, legal disposal |
| Lab asbestos test | Under $100 per sample | Required call for pre-1980 homes before any scrape |
| New finish (smooth, knockdown, orange peel) | Included to +$1 / sq ft | Full level-5 smooth costs more than sprayed texture |
| Single bedroom (~140 sq ft ceiling) | $300–$700 | One-day job in most cases |
| 1,100 sq ft ranch, whole home | $1,300–$2,500 | Typical Princess Jeanne / Snow Heights footprint |
| 1,800 sq ft home, whole home | $2,200–$4,000 | Standard removal; abated versions $5,500–$12,000+ |
What Moves the Price of Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Albuquerque
- Paint on the popcorn. The wet-scrape method depends on water soaking in. Painted popcorn resists it — each coat of old paint adds labor, and heavily painted popcorn ceilings sometimes make covering with new drywall the cheaper path.
- Asbestos. The single biggest cost fork. A positive lab result moves the work to a state-licensed abatement contractor with sealed containment and regulated disposal — that’s the jump from $2 to $5+ per square foot. Details on the asbestos page.
- The finish you choose. Knockdown and orange peel are efficient sprayed finishes. A dead-smooth level-5 ceiling means multiple skim coats and sanding passes — beautiful, and priced like it. Compare on the retexturing page.
- What the texture was hiding. Old water stains from monsoon-season roof leaks, settlement cracks, sagging panels — scraping reveals them, and repairs are quoted when found, while the room is already masked.
- Occupied vs. empty rooms. Furniture moving and room-by-room staging add time. Empty homes — between tenants, before move-in — are the cheapest possible moment to remove every popcorn ceiling in the house at once.
Why the Cheapest Bid Usually Isn’t
A scrape-only price can look great until you learn it leaves the ceiling raw: no skim coat, no texture, no primer — and no asbestos test on a 1965 house. A real Albuquerque popcorn ceiling removal quote names the test, the containment, the finish, and the cleanup. That’s the quote worth comparing, and the one a free estimate gets you. Call (505) 358-3651.