Wallpaper Removal & Painting Costs in NZ

Stripping wallpaper and painting is a two-phase job, and the prep between them is where most of the cost sits:

1. Score and soak — The wallpaper is scored with a perforating tool, then soaked with warm water or a chemical stripper (Selleys Kwik Strip is common in NZ). This softens the adhesive.
2. Strip — Wallpaper is scraped off in sections. Vinyl-coated paper peels in sheets. Older paper or painted-over wallpaper comes off in small pieces and takes 2–3× longer.
3. Scrape residual glue — Old adhesive residue must be fully removed. Any glue left on the wall will cause paint to bubble and peel.
4. Repair the wall — GIB or plaster damage from stripping needs filling and sanding. Most wallpapered walls have some damage — nail holes, torn paper facing, and adhesive marks. This step often takes as long as the stripping itself.
5. Prime — A sealer/primer coat (Resene Sealcoat or Dulux 1 Step) is essential. It seals the repaired surface and prevents residual glue or stains from bleeding through.
6. Paint — Two coats of your chosen paint. Walls that have had wallpaper removed often need an extra coat for even coverage.

For standard painting costs without wallpaper removal, see our interior painting cost guide.

The cost difference between a $600 room and a $1,800 room comes down to these factors:

• Wallpaper type — Modern vinyl wallpaper peels off in large strips and is the easiest to remove. Older paper-backed wallpaper, textured wallpaper, and hessian-backed papers are much harder and slower.
• Number of layers — Some NZ homes have 3–5 layers of wallpaper built up over decades. Each layer multiplies the stripping time.
• Painted-over wallpaper — This is the worst case. Paint seals the wallpaper, preventing water and chemicals from penetrating. Removing it often damages the GIB underneath, adding plastering costs.
• Wall condition underneath — If the GIB paper has torn or the plaster is damaged, repair costs adds $10–$20/m² on top of the stripping and painting.
• Room size and height — Standard 2.4 m ceilings are straightforward. High ceilings (3 m+) in older villas need ladder work and take longer per m².
• Steamer vs chemical — Professional steamers work faster on difficult wallpaper but cost more to hire. Most painters include this in their rate.

Wallpaper removal is one of the more accessible DIY jobs — but the painting after is where quality matters:

• DIY stripping — Saves $15–$40/m² in labour. You'll need a scoring tool ($10), wallpaper stripper solution ($15–$25), broad scrapers ($15–$30), and drop sheets. A steamer hire runs $40–$60/day. Budget a full weekend for one room.
• DIY painting after stripping — This is harder than painting a normal wall. The surface is uneven, patched, and often has residual adhesive. Poor prep shows immediately under paint.
• Professional for both — $45–$90/m² all-in. The result is a clean, even finish with no bubbling, peeling, or visible patches. Worth it if you're doing multiple rooms or planning to sell.
• Hybrid approach — Strip the wallpaper yourself, then hire a painter for the filling, priming, and painting. Saves 30–40% while getting a professional finish where it matters most.

For a full comparison of DIY vs professional costs, see our DIY vs professional painting guide.

Keep costs down on a wallpaper removal and painting project:

• Get quotes for the full scope — Ask painters to quote strip + paint as one job. Bundling is cheaper than hiring a stripper and a painter separately.
• Test a small area first — Before getting quotes, peel a corner of wallpaper to see how easily it comes off. This helps painters quote accurately and avoids surprises.
• Don't paint over wallpaper — It's tempting but almost always fails. The wallpaper edges lift, seams show through, and the next repaint is even harder. Strip it properly once.
• Bundle rooms — If you're stripping wallpaper in multiple rooms, doing them all at once saves on mobilisation and setup costs.
• Consider the ceiling — If the ceiling hasn't been painted in years, add it to the scope while the painter is there. Ceiling-only adds $200–$450 per room.

For a full breakdown of what painting quotes should include, see our painting quote example.