How Much Does Drywall Repair Cost? A Contractor’s Pricing Guide

TL;DR Drywall repair costs $295–$925 on average, with the national average around $609. Small holes run $50–$150, ceiling repairs hit $250–$1,400, and water damage can exceed $2,500. This guide breaks down pricing by damage type, square footage rates, and labor costs, so you can quote jobs accurately and protect your margins.

A practical pricing guide to help contractors estimate drywall repair jobs accurately and profitably.

Drywall damage is one of the most common service calls you’ll get. Nail pops, doorknob holes, water stains, and cracked seams – every home has them eventually.

But here’s where most contractors slip up: they either underprice these jobs and kill their margins, or they quote too high and lose to the guy down the street.

The fix? Know your numbers.

Industry data from HomeAdvisor and Angi suggest the average drywall repair cost runs around $609 nationally, with most jobs falling between $295 and $925. 

But averages only tell part of the story. What you actually charge depends on damage type, location, materials, and how you structure your pricing.

This guide breaks it all down, so you can quote with confidence and stop leaving money on the table.

Average Drywall Repair Cost: Market Snapshot

Before quoting any job, you need to know what customers expect to pay and what your competitors are charging. Here’s where the market sits right now:

The average cost to repair drywall lands between $300 and $600 for a typical service call. Urban markets run 25–40% higher than rural areas due to labor costs and overhead.

One thing to remember: minimum service charges matter. Most contractors charge $125–$200 just to show up. If you’re not doing this, you’re probably losing money on small jobs.

Pro tip: Build these pricing tiers into your estimate templates so every quote stays consistent, without guessing on the fly.

Cost Breakdown by Damage Type

Not all drywall damage is equal. Here’s how to think about pricing based on what you’re actually fixing.

Small Holes and Nail Pops ($50 – $150)

These are your bread-and-butter repairs. Quick, simple, and profitable when bundled together.

What’s involved:

• Clean and prep the damaged area
• Apply spackle or lightweight compound
• Sand smooth after drying
• Prime and touch-up paint

Pricing reality: A single nail pop rarely justifies a service call on its own. Encourage customers to bundle multiple small repairs, a better value for them, and more profitable for you.

Medium to Large Holes ($150 – $400)

Doorknob holes, fixture removals, and accidental impacts need actual patching, not just filler.

What’s involved:

• Cut out the damaged section
• Install backing or patch
• Tape seams with paper or mesh
• Apply 2–3 coats of joint compound
• Sand, prime, and paint

Large holes take more skill to finish seamlessly. If callbacks are happening, texture matching is usually where things go wrong.

Wall Cracks ($100 – $450)

Cracks range from cosmetic nuisances to warning signs of bigger issues.

Watch for this: Cracks that keep coming back often signal foundation movement. Know when to refer out to a structural specialist instead of just patching over the problem. Your reputation depends on honest assessments.

Drywall Ceiling Repair Cost ($250 – $1,400)

Ceiling work separates pros from amateurs. It’s harder, slower, and riskier; price accordingly.

Why ceiling repairs cost more:

• Overhead work is physically demanding
• Gravity fights you during compound application
• Often requires scaffolding or specialty equipment
• Texture matching is trickier on ceilings
• Higher safety and insurance considerations

According to industry data from Angi, drywall ceiling repair cost ranges from $220 to $1,300, depending on damage extent and accessibility. Underpricing ceiling jobs is one of the fastest ways to wreck your margins.

Water Damage and Mold ($500 – $2,500+)

Water damage isn’t just patching drywall; it’s dealing with moisture sources, potential mold, and sometimes structural concerns.

What’s typically involved:

• Address the moisture source first
• Remove all affected drywall
• Check for and treat mold if present
• Install moisture-resistant drywall
• Full finishing and painting

Industry reports suggest water damage ceiling repair costs can reach $1,550+, especially when mold remediation is needed (which adds another $375–$7,000).

Never quote water damage until the leak is fixed. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for a callback.

Drywall Repair Cost Per Square Foot

Square footage pricing helps standardize quotes for larger jobs.

Why smaller jobs cost more per square foot: Setup time, travel, and minimum effort don’t scale down with job size. A 2 sq ft patch takes almost as much setup as a 10 sq ft repair.

When replacement makes more sense: If repair costs exceed 40–50% of replacement cost, full section replacement is often smarter. A standard 8′ x 12′ wall runs about $200–$600 to replace entirely.

Sheetrock Repair Cost: Same Thing, Different Name

Quick clarification: Sheetrock repair cost and drywall repair cost are the same thing. Sheetrock is just a brand name (like Kleenex) that became generic in certain regions.

If your customers say “sheetrock,” use that term in your quotes and marketing. Speak their language.

Materials and Labor: Where the Money Goes

Understanding your cost breakdown helps you price profitably and explain quotes clearly.

Materials Breakdown

Most small repairs need $25–$75 in materials. Larger jobs requiring full sheets run $100–$300.

Labor: The Biggest Piece

Labor typically accounts for 65–75% of the total repair cost. That’s where your profit lives.

Typical hourly rates:

• General handyman: $50 – $80/hour
• Specialized drywall contractor: $65 – $100/hour
• Emergency/rush service: $80 – $120+/hour

Handyman drywall repair cost tends to run lower because handymen often handle simpler jobs with lower overhead. Know where you fit in the market.

How to Price Drywall Jobs Profitably

Knowing market rates is step one. Pricing jobs profitably is the real skill.

Factor in Hidden Costs

Your quote needs to cover more than materials and on-site time:

• Travel time to and from the job
• Minimum service fee for small jobs
• Set up and cleanup
• Buffer for callbacks and warranty work
• Overhead: insurance, vehicle, tools, marketing

Build Pricing Templates

Quoting from scratch every time wastes time and leaves money on the table. Create templates for common job types:

• Small hole repair: $X base + materials
• Large hole repair: $X base + materials
• Ceiling patch: $X base + difficulty premium
• Water damage: Assessment fee → custom quote

If you’re using field service management software, save these as reusable templates. Generate professional quotes in minutes instead of scribbling on-site.

Know When to Walk Away

Some jobs aren’t worth taking:

• Customers are shopping for the absolute cheapest option
• Water damage with an unfixed source
• Scope creep red flags
• Access issues that’ll triple your time

Your time has value. Protect it.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: What Customers Are Thinking

Your customers are googling “how much is drywall repair” because they’re deciding whether to call you or hit the hardware store. Here’s how to position your value.

When DIY Makes Sense for Them

Be honest, it builds trust:

• Nail holes and tiny dents under 1″
• Hairline cracks in closets or hidden areas
• They’ve done it before and own the tools

DIY cost: $10–$50 in materials.

When They Should Call You

This is your value pitch:

• Holes larger than a few inches
• Ceiling damage (overhead work is tough)
• Water damage or mold concerns
• Visible areas where finish quality matters
• They already tried DIY and made it worse

Many DIY repairs end up needing professional correction anyway, costing more long-term.

Money-Saving Tips to Share with Customers

Helping customers save money builds trust and referrals.

Bundle multiple repairs: One service call for three small holes beats three separate visits. They save on fees; you get a more profitable job.

Address problems early: A small crack now is a $100 fix. Ignored, it becomes $400 with underlying issues.

Skip fancy finishes in hidden areas: Utility rooms and closets don’t need perfect texture matching. Offer tiered options.

Managing Drywall Jobs Efficiently

Pricing correctly is half the battle. Managing jobs efficiently is how you keep that profit.

Juggling estimates, scheduling, customer updates, and invoicing manually eats hours you could spend on billable work. 

That’s where the right tools pay off.

With FieldCamp’s job scheduling and invoicing features, you can:

• Generate consistent quotes from saved templates
• Schedule jobs and route between appointments
• Send automatic customer updates
• Invoice on-site and get paid faster

If you’re still running your business off paper notes and memory, you’re working harder than necessary.