Short answer: in Columbia, MO a small drywall patch runs $125–$300, a medium-to-large patch $275–$600, a crack repair $150–$450, a water-damaged ceiling section $250–$850, and popcorn ceiling removal $1–$3 per square foot. Texture matching is included. Every quote is free, flat-rate and given before work starts.
Published September 14, 2026 · by Tiger Drywall Repair, a Columbia drywall specialist. These are our own typical ranges for Columbia and Boone County, not national averages scraped from a directory — and we update them when our real quotes move.
Drywall repair prices in Columbia, MO (2026)
| Drywall service | Typical Columbia, MO price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Small hole, nail-pop or doorknob patch | $125–$300 |
| Medium-to-large hole or section patch (with texture match) | $275–$600 |
| Drywall or plaster crack repair (settling / stress cracks) | $150–$450 |
| Nail pop / screw pop repair (per room, typical) | $100–$275 |
| Ceiling repair (cracks, sagging, stains, holes) | $200–$650 |
| Water-damage ceiling or wall repair (per affected area) | $250–$850 |
| Popcorn ceiling removal + retexture (per sq ft) | $1–$3 / sq ft |
| Plaster crack and hole repair (older homes) | $175–$550 |
| Move-out / rental turnover multi-patch visit (typical apartment) | $149–$399 |
| Texture matching (knockdown, orange peel, smooth) | included with every repair |
| Drywall installation & finishing (basements, closets, small remodels) | quoted on-site |
The table covers the large majority of residential drywall jobs we do across Columbia, Ashland, Hallsville, Centralia, Rocheport, Fulton, Jefferson City, Boonville and Holts Summit. Bigger or combined projects — several rooms, a whole ceiling, extensive water damage — are quoted individually after a free look at photos or a quick visit.
What actually drives the price of a drywall repair
Two holes that look the same can cost different amounts to fix. Here's what moves the number:
- Size of the damage. A doorknob ding is quick. A large section that has to be cut out, back-blocked and replaced takes more board, more mud and more drying time.
- Texture-match difficulty. A flat, smooth wall is the easy case. Knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel and especially old hand-textured plaster take more skill to blend invisibly — that skill is most of what you're paying for.
- Access and height. A patch at eye level on an open wall is faster than one over a stairwell, behind a vanity or on a vaulted ceiling that needs staging.
- Wall vs. ceiling. Ceilings are harder — gravity works against the mud and ceiling texture is less forgiving — so a ceiling repair sits a little higher than the same-size wall repair.
- Water damage and what's behind it. Water-damaged drywall often hides soft board, stained framing or wet insulation. We seal and stain-block so the mark never bleeds back, which adds a step but saves you a repaint later.
- Number of spots. Several repairs in one visit cost less per repair than booking them separately, because the trip and setup are shared. A whole-house nail-pop sweep is the best value on the list.
The single biggest reason a cheap drywall patch fails is a skipped step — no back-blocking, one coat of mud instead of three, or a rushed texture match. We do every step on every job. That's why our repairs disappear and stay disappeared.
Why we quote flat-rate, not by the hour
Directory sites will tell you drywall repair in Columbia costs "$50–$70 an hour plus materials." The problem is obvious: if the job runs long you pay more, and you don't learn the real cost until it's done. We quote one flat price for the whole job, free, before we start. If something behind the wall changes the scope, we stop and tell you before we keep going. No meter running, no surprise line items, no upsells.
What typical Columbia jobs land at
- Doorknob hole in a Thornbrook hallway — cut, backed, patched, knockdown matched, primed: low end of the small-patch range.
- Cluster of TV-mount and shelf holes in a student apartment on Old 63 — filled, blended, orange peel matched: one flat move-out price for the unit.
- 8" × 10" plumbing access hole in a Benton-Stephens kitchen — closed with a backed patch, smooth finish blended into plaster: middle of the large-patch range.
- Water-stained bathroom ceiling in a Rock Bridge two-story — soft section removed, sealed, replaced, knockdown matched: mid water-damage range.
- Twelve nail pops across a new-build living room in Copperstone — re-fastened, three coats, textured: one flat room price.
- Living-room popcorn removal in a Parkade ranch — scraped, skimmed, knockdown finish: priced per square foot for the whole room.
DIY patch kit or a pro?
A stick-on mesh patch and a tub of spackle will hide a small hole on a smooth, flat-painted wall in a closet. It will not hide anything on a textured wall in a lit room, and it will not hold on a crack or a ceiling. If the wall has knockdown or orange peel, if the spot catches window light, if a landlord is going to inspect it, or if you've already tried once — a professional patch is cheaper than doing it twice. Our DIY-vs-pro guide goes deeper.
Get an exact price for your repair
The ranges on this page get you in the ballpark. The only way to know your exact price is a free quote — and most come back within the hour from a photo. Text a picture of the damage to (913) 375-8472 or use the form. Want the detail behind any number? See our hole repair, water damage, popcorn removal, ceiling repair, nail pop and move-out repair pages.