How to Avoid Being Overcharged for Drywall Repairs

Drywall is an essential part of almost all modern home construction. It seals the interior of your house and provides a nice surface for paint or hanging art. Drywall is what defines the difference between "finished" and "unfinished" space. So a crack or hole in your drywall can cause real problems. No matter where your drywall damage originated, you'll want to get it repaired before you lose too much energy efficiency or make a path for pests into the house.

The one problem? You're not sure what a fair price is for your drywall repair. If you call two contractors and get two different prices, which one is fair? Which contractor is offering you an accurate quote for good service? DoNotPay can help you find the best price for Drywall repair and avoid typical overcharging methods so that the price you are quoted is fair.

What is the Average Cost of Drywall Repairs?

Drywall repairs range from $100 to over $1,000–depending on the size and complexity of the drywall damage. Repairing a small hole or mid-panel crack should cost less than $200, even with service minimums, while repairing ceilings or major cracks can increase the price rapidly. The average cost for drywall repair is around $350 for materials and labor.

Let's look at a chart of typical drywall repair costs to give you a good frame of reference.

Drywall Issues	Repair Cost
Small drywall holes and dents	$50 to $200
Medium to large drywall holes	$200 to $500
Hairline crack, less than 6"	$100 to $300
Medium crack, 6" to 24"	$150 to $350
Large crack or corner repair	$200 to $500
Drywall tape repair	$100 to $250
Replace an entire drywall panel	$200 to $600
Drywall water damage repair	$200 to $500
Drywall mold removal	$1,500 to $3,500
Ceiling replacement	$200 to $1,000

The large price ranges are due to the fact that drywall damage can range in size and severity pretty widely. Even broken down into these categories, the amount of work needed to repair your drywall will depend on the actual damage. However, this should give you a good idea of whether you're being quoted a reasonable price within each range.

The primary cost of drywall repair is labor, but new drywall panels, patch kits, and putty may fall under parts costs.

How to Avoid Excessive Drywall Repair Fees

Never accept the first quote you hear. Contractors, even good ones, are notorious for marking up their prices because they believe that clients don't know better and/or won't fight them on price when repairs are necessary. However, chances are that you have options and choosing the right contractor will ensure that you get the best price.

Watch out for these typical methods to inflate your drywall repair costs:

Shop Fees - Unspecified and non-itemized fees that are often tacked onto a service
Unnecessary Repairs - Just get your drywall fixed. If a contractor says "You'll also need..." get a second opinion before paying for additional services.
Overcharging for Parts - Drywall supplies are not expensive. An entire panel of drywall costs about $15 for a 4-foot section of wall. If you're being charged more than $50 for parts, it's likely inflated. Ask to see an itemized list of part costs and compare that to prices you can find online.
Labor Markup - A contractor may try to overcharge for the value of their time. Watch out for any contractor whose quote is significantly higher than the usual labor charges.

In addition to overcharging, also watch out for any quote that is too far below the average. This can mean a team is either ready to put in sub-par work or they are gearing up for last-minute fees and surprise costs.

Not sure how to judge a good drywall quote? DoNotPay can help by comparing local quotes and helping you spot the usual tactics for overcharging homeowners when they need repairs the most.

Find the Best Local Drywall Quote With DoNotPay

DoNotPay's repair costing product can help you get the right price for every repair. We know that it's tough to understand bids and you don't have time to collect quotes from every contractor in town. That's why we make it easy.

Just tell us about your drywall damage and the repairs that need doing and we'll help you find the right contractor for the job. Or you can upload a quote and we'll tell you whether it's designed to hide inflated fees.

Here’s how to start saving on repairs with DoNotPay:

Search for Quote My Repair on DoNotPay.
Enter the details of the repair you need.
Let DoNotPay find competitive rates for that repair in your area and any relevant information to keep you from being overcharged.

DoNotPay Works Across All Entities, Groups, and Companies With the Click of a Button

DoNotPay can help you find cheap quotes in California the same way it can for Kansas. Similarly, DoNotPay can help you get the best price quote for different products and services, including:

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay is founded on the principles of making life easier and more accessible for everyone. Here are a few more ways we can save you time, money, and headaches this year.