What does HomeAdvisor say it costs in Fort Myers?
HomeAdvisor's Fort Myers page lists an average of $3,959 and a typical range of $1,841 to $4,625, with an overall low-to-high span of $600 to $10,000. The page does not say when its data was compiled; its latest review is dated March 2024.
What do national cost sites say about popcorn ceiling removal cost?
| Source | Figures | |---|---| | Angi (2025) | Average $1,996; most spend $933 to $3,074; about $1 to $6 per square foot | | Bob Vila (updated Oct. 2024) | Average $1,985; most spend $928 to $3,042; $1 to $6 per square foot | | HomeGuide (no year given) | Removal with retexture or paint $2 to $6 per square foot; removal alone $1 to $2 per square foot | | HomeYou (2026) | $4 to $11 per square foot; average whole job $1,493; repairs, skim coat, and paint extra |
The spread is wide because the sites measure different things. Some price scraping alone. Others include refinishing and paint. Compare the per-square-foot figure with a note of what it covers.
What does asbestos testing cost?
HomeGuide lists asbestos testing at $250 to $850. Bob Vila lists at-home test kits at $10 to $35. Local lab prices and turnaround vary, so ask when you call. See the testing page for who may test in Florida.
What if the ceiling has asbestos?
The cost jumps, and the work has to go to a state-licensed asbestos contractor under Florida Statute 469. HomeGuide reports asbestos removal from ceilings at $4 to $20 per square foot. Bob Vila reports remediation at $5 to $20 per square foot plus $75 to $200 per hour for labor. Disposal has its own rules in Lee County, where asbestos-containing material is special waste that must be approved and scheduled.
What makes popcorn ceiling removal cost more or less in Fort Myers?
- Square footage and ceiling height, since high ceilings need scaffolding or taller ladders
- Paint on the texture, which slows scraping
- Drywall repairs after the texture is off
- Finish level: flat smooth costs more than knockdown, as explained on the finishing page
- Furniture moving, room prep, and painting
- Water damage or mold found under the texture, which turns it into ceiling repair
- Condo rules, such as set work hours or insurance paperwork; see the condo guide
How should you compare bids?
Ask each contractor to write down the same things: rooms and square footage, whether the ceiling is tested, the finish level, what happens to repairs, whether paint and primer are included, how the room is protected, and how debris is removed. A low bid that leaves out skim coating and paint is not lower. Also ask which license the contractor holds. The process page lists what a normal job includes.
Frequently asked questions
Is removing popcorn ceiling cheaper than covering it?
The sources here price removal, not covering, so we cannot compare. Ask for both quotes.
Why is the HomeAdvisor figure higher than Angi's?
They use different data and may count different work. HomeAdvisor's Fort Myers number is a local average, while Angi and Bob Vila report national averages.
Does the cost include painting?
Only if the quote says so. HomeYou, for example, says repairs, skim coat, and paint are extra.
Should I test before getting quotes?
Yes for older homes. A positive result changes who can do the work and what it costs.
Get a ceiling quote in Fort Myers
Call and describe the rooms, or send the form with a few details. An independent local contractor will follow up to look at the ceiling and give you a written quote.