*Disclaimer: Prices provided are for informational purposes only, and they do not constitute a quote. There are many factors that may affect your final price.
Your house is boring, plain…cookie cutter. You’re looking for a way to make it stand out. To make it a home that is beautiful and comment-worthy.
Crown molding is an ideal way to accomplish that.
But, how much does it cost?
Crown molding installation cost for a 12×12 bedroom including demolition, 5-⅝ inch primed crown molding, and 2 coats of paint is $1,100 on average or $18.97 per linear foot. Crown Molding installation cost for a typical 3,000 square foot home with removal and haul-off of old crown molding, 8-inch MDF crown molding, and 2 coats of paint is $26,815 on average or $22.35 per linear foot. However, a number of factors can affect your final price.
The Possible Answers You’ll Get to the “Crown Molding Installation Cost” Question
Knowing that we probably won’t be a one-stop-shop for answering the “crown molding installation cost” question, we took the liberty of summarizing the top 5 results in Google for the phrase.
| Average Crown Molding Installation Cost | Average Cost Per Linear Foot | |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | $567-$1,870 | $4-$15 |
| Homewyse | $675-$1,043 | $12.09-$18.74 |
| Angi | $300-$800 | $4-$15 |
| HomeGuide | $464-$1,102 | $7-$16 |
| HomeServe | N/A | $1-$20 |
If you are confused, don’t worry. You are not alone. We read those same articles, and our face did this number:
We do this day in and day out and we still walked away unsure how much they were actually saying it would cost.
Therefore, we thought we’d try to clearly answer the question.
The 4 Big Reasons Crown Molding Installation Costs Vary
To put this right up front, the short answer to the “how much does it cost to get crown molding” question is…IT DEPENDS.
I know, I know. Surprise, shock, awe, but it needs to be said.
There are 4 primary factors that affect your final investment amount, and a long list of things that might affect it (like being on the 17th floor of an apartment building and fighting ninjas).
The long-tail of things that might cause your final price to change is beyond the scope of this article, but any unusual circumstances for your job should be discussed with your carpenter.
The 4 biggest reasons crown molding installation costs can vary are:
1. Crown Molding Size
The first cost factor to consider is the size of crown molding you want to install.
These are the most commonly installed crown molding sizes using the same material, medium-density fiberboard, or MDF for short.
Quick Note: You can go bananas with crown molding sizes and complexity. For example, a custom, ornate, plaster crown can be 12-inches or larger, or it can be a specially designed 5-piece crown molding set. We’ll address those special cases in a future article or YouTube video, but they are a little beyond the scope of this article. Can we do them? Absolutely! However, when someone calls us for crown molding installation, they aren’t usually talking about something that elaborate.
| Size: | Per Linear Foot Cost (Material Only) | 3,000 SF Home “Full Service” Install (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5/8", MDF | $4.83 | $14,800 |
| 4-5/8", MDF | $6.72 | $17,100 |
| 5-5/8", MDF | $7.17 | $17,600 |
| 7-1/4", MDF | $13.69 | $25,500 |
| 8", MDF | $14.85 | $26,800 |
Most Commonly Installed Crown Molding Sizes
If you’re wondering what the most commonly installed crown molding sizes are, there are two answers.
- New construction or home without existing crown molding – 3-⅝ inch
- Upgrading – 8 inch or bigger
There is nothing saying you actually need to follow either suggestion, and we’d actually like to encourage you to get the most appropriate crown molding size for your home.
What Size Crown Molding Should I Get?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer here.
However, our suggestion is to make your decision based on the height of your ceiling.
| Ceiling Height | Suggested Crown Molding Size |
|---|---|
| Less than 10 feet | 3-⅝" - 7" |
| 10 feet tall or more | 7-¼" or larger |
2. Crown Molding Material
There are four primary categories of material used in crown molding installation.
- Clear is stain-grade material made of one solid piece of wood..
- Primed, is a type of finger jointed (or FJ) material that comes with a coat of paint primer already on it.
- MDF, short for medium density fiberboard, is the most cost-conscious material choice.
- PVC, short for polyvinyl chloride, is a waterproof material that holds up against nearly any normal wear and tear.
Other materials – like metal or plaster – are available, but they are not commonly used (and will be addressed in a different article).
Here is how much the different types of materials cost for the same size.
| Material: | Per Linear Foot Cost (Material Only) | 3,000 SF Home “Full Service” Install (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5/8", clear | $6.85 | $17,200 |
| 3-5/8", primed | $2.97 | $12,600 |
| 3-5/8", MDF | $4.83 | $14,800 |
| 3-5/8", PVC | $5.89 | $16,100 |
3. The Linear Feet of Crown Molding Being Installed
The next largest factor affecting your crown molding installation cost is the amount that needs to be installed.
This is generally calculated in linear feet (not square feet).
To calculate the linear feet in your home you measure the length of walls that need crown molding and add those numbers together and you get the linear feet needed.
Generally, you don’t put crown molding in closets, except large walk-in closets. You may notice the amount of material is higher than with baseboards for the same size home.
This is due to doorways. Baseboards lose ~6 feet of needed material per doorway.
Special note on waste: Whenever we estimate for a project like this, we automatically add 10% more to the total number of linear feet. We do this because you cannot use 100% of every board when installing it. You have some short pieces left over. The chart below includes this 10% waste factor.
| Size | # Sticks required | Average Linear Feet Amount (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| 12x12 Bedroom | 5 | 80 |
| 1,000 square foot home | 30 | 480 |
| 2,000 square foot home | 53 | 848 |
| 3,000 square foot home | 75 | 1200 |
| 4,000 square foot home | 98 | 1568 |
| 5,000 square foot home | 120 | 1920 |
4. Scope of Work
The final major cost factor to discuss is the scope of work. There are 5 directly correlated line items that usually go with crown molding installation.
- Crown Molding Installation
- Demolition
- Multiple Run Installation
- Paint/Stain
- Scaffolding
Crown Molding Installation
Multiply your crown molding material cost times the number of linear feet to be installed to get your material cost.
Labor usually costs $2.50 – $7 per linear foot of crown molding to be installed. When in doubt, use $4.
Demolition
If we need to remove existing crown molding it can cost $100-$1,500 with an average of $1,000 for ripping out all the crown molding in a home.
It also usually costs $0.50 – $1.10 for demolition, with the most common number falling at $1 per linear foot.
Multiple Run Installation
Sometimes, the crown comes in multiple pieces and needs to have one round of installation, followed by another.
This comes close to doubling the price for crown installation since the amount of material and labor nearly doubles as a result.
Painting or Staining
Generally, we recommend hiring a professional to paint crown molding due to the difficulty.
It usually costs $0.50 – $3 per linear foot to paint or stain crown molding, with staining being more expensive.
On average, it costs around $2.50 per linear foot for 2 coats of paint on your new crown molding (this does not include painting the walls or ceiling).
Scaffolding
There are generally only 2 situations where we need scaffolding.
- We need to put up crown molding in the middle of a room with 12 foot or larger walls. This is most common when you have trey ceilings or coffered ceilings.
- Stairs. If your stairs have a ceiling that goes all the way to the next story, we’ll need to set up scaffolding.
Most other situations can be handled with ladders.
The most common price range for scaffolding is $500 – $1,000, but can easily blow past $20,000 for exceptionally tall ceilings or large rooms.
Crown Molding Installation Cost per Linear Foot
We’ve been talking about all kinds of numbers, and we totally understand that you might still be confused.
So, let’s get down to brass tacks. What does it cost per linear foot to install crown molding?
Let’s break down the individual elements.
| Item | Average Cost per Linear Foot | Average Range of Per Linear Foot Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Material | $6.85 | $2.79 - $14.85 |
| Demolition | $1.00 | $0.50 - $1.10 |
| Labor | $4.00 | $2.50 - $7.00 |
| Paint/Stain | $2.50 | $1.00 - $4.25 |
If you are doing the math, the average all-in cost with materials, labor, demo, and painting is $14.35 per linear foot, with material cost being the biggest cause of the price difference.
Average Cost to Install Crown Molding
We’ve gone over the 4 big factors that affect the final cost of your crown molding installation and have given you some idea of how to get a decent estimate.
But you still might be wondering how much something like this costs on average.
On average, a single 12×12 bedroom with everything costs around $1,100.
A 3,000 square foot home installing 5-¼ inch crown with everything is looking at around $17,000, on average.
The same 3,000 SF home installing an 8-inch crown with crown enhancement and an additional run and requiring scaffolding looks more like $41,000.
Crown Molding Installation Cost Calculator
In order to help you get an even better idea of how much your project might cost we’ve put together this handy-dandy calculator:
How Long Does Crown Molding Installation Take?
It can take a few hours to a few weeks to install crown molding depending on the amount being installed.
On average, it will take 2-3 days for a typical full-home installation.
A decent rule of thumb is about a day per 1,000 square feet of home.
So, a 2,000 square foot home will take around 2 days to install and a 4,500 square foot home will take around 4 ½ days to install.
Painting can usually be done in a day or two.
You can double the estimated installation time if we need to set up scaffolding.
Meaning, the same 2,000 square foot home would take closer to 4 days with the scaffold set up and tear down added on.
Crown Molding Ideas
There are a ton of crown molding types, sizes, and combinations. Here are a few ideas to consider.
Crown Molding Idea #1 – 6-Inch Crown
First, We have a classic crown molding profile.
This tried and true style elevates a room for a typical 8-foot ceiling while allowing almost any decor style.
Crown Molding Idea #2 – Ornate Cove Crown
Second, this is a more ornate style cove crown with decorative designs. It is made of PVC and is a special order item.
In other words, it’s an expensive material, but it is an elegant style and a unique design that really makes your home stand out.
Crown Molding Idea #3 – Coffered Ceiling with Uplights
Coffered ceilings are ceiling beams with crown molding. The one pictured here has several runs of crown molding including space for uplights.
Uplights are light ropes that hide in the crown molding but can be turned on to create a dramatic effect on the ceiling.
If you want a conversation piece, uplights are a great way to do it.
Crown Molding Idea #4 – 5-Piece Crown
There’s crown molding and then there’s 5-piece crown molding.
True to its name, this type of crown molding is actually made up of 5 separate pieces.
The elegance and impressiveness of this type of crown molding cannot be overstated.
Conclusion
So, now you know a little more about crown molding installation costs.
There are only two caveats to make.
First, is that we are a company based in Hoschton in Northeast Georgia and prices are reflective of our area. These prices may not be accurate in more expensive areas of the country (looking at you New York and San Francisco).
Second, the prices for materials change daily and may have gone up or down since the writing of this article. If the estimate you receive for your home is wildly different, that is a very likely cause.
Hopefully, now you have a dialed-in estimate of what crown molding might cost to install in your home.
