Costs to Frame an Interior Wall Per Linear Foot

Framing costs $7 to $16 per square foot to install top and bottom plates with studs. When including drywall, you'll spend $20 to $30 per linear foot. Framing costs change slightly for load bearing walls, with the type of material used, and for door and window openings.

Framing a Load Bearing Wall

Framing load bearing walls can cost slightly more than non-load bearing ones because of stud spacing requirements - load bearing walls need more studs throughout. External walls need additional studs at the corners, plus insulation.

Walls supporting an entire floor plus a roof and ceiling made from 2x4s require stud spacing at 16 inches on center rather than 24 inches on center thus increasing material costs by 30%. Loads over windows, doors and pass-throughs require a beam for support, further increasing costs. Most require minor electrical work to meet code requirements for switch and outlet spacing.

Wood vs. Metal Framing

Wood prices have recently risen to meet metal framing costs at $2 to $4 per square foot. Wood sits at $1 to $5 per square foot. Wood is easier to work with and a better choice for those seeking a DIY solution. However, metal is quickly gaining popularity due to it's durability.

Walls with a Door, Window or Pass Through

Framing for a window or door opening costs $120 to $200 per opening. You'll need king and jack studs plus saddle (or sill) pieces in addition to the standard studs. For the doors and windows, expect to spend $50 to $500 in materials alone. A multiple window installation costs an average of $5,700.

Average Prices by Material to Put Up New Walls

Most walls are made of drywall, which is a board made of layers of material bonded to a gypsum plaster core. Other wall materials range from plaster, glass, brick, stone and concrete.

Stud Wall with Plaster & Lath Installation

Plaster installation prices range from $3 to $5 per square foot though it can be as high as $10 per square foot in some areas. Though drywall is by far the most common type of wall, plaster is handy for both curved interior walls and for decorative touches.

Drywall

Prices for hanging drywall run $2 per square foot of drywall. Gypsum board installation runs $65 per panel. A typical panel is 4 feet by 8 feet or 32 square feet. Interior walls framed with drywall run $20 to $30 per linear foot though actual costs will vary by region. Other material costs include the following.

• Drywall screws: $25 per 1,000
• Joint compound or "mud": $6 per 3.5-quart pail
• Joint tape: $5 for 500 feet

Pricing remains about the same regardless of framing material or pass throughs.

Drywall is the most common type of wall. Buying the drywall sheets for your walls (and ceilings if you are doing them at the same time) will be a bulk of the price to install. Drywall is heavy and installation usually requires at least two workers.

Glass Walls

You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $75 per square foot for a tempered glass wall installation. Adding a glass door adds another $1,000 to $3,000 or more. Labor rates run anywhere from $35 to $150 per hour in glass wall installation costs. Prices vary wildly between one location and another.

For smaller walls or to fill openings in bathrooms, glass blocks are a more economical solution. Glass blocks cost $450 to $1,000 per project on average. Always get at least three quotes before choosing an installation contractor.

Brick, Stone & Concrete Walls

Brick and stone walls cost an average of $4,400 for both solid and veneers. Poured concrete walls cost an average of $6,400. For interior brick walls, you would use a thin veneer brick, which runs $5 to $15 per square foot.

Wood or Upholstery Paneling

Wood, vinyl and upholstery paneling are cost-effective ways to personalize the design of your home.

• Wood paneling: $7-$35 per square foot.
• Wood flooring and siding styles like tongue and groove and shiplap siding cost between $3 to $7 per square foot and are quickly becoming a popular way to create accent and feature walls.
• Vinyl panels: $20 per 4-foot by 8-foot sheet. They're cheap and easy to clean making them great finishes for basements, laundry rooms and garages.

Average Cost to Add a Partition Wall to Divide a Room

Costs to add a partition wall vary greatly depending on the type and size. Options include skyfold walls, accordion or panel walls and half walls that don't reach the ceiling.

Skyfold, Accordion, Panel & Other Temporary, Commercial Office Walls

• Skyfold: varies. Fully automated accordion style walls that fold into the ceiling. They are custom designed for each application with numerous features and designs. Contact a professional contractor for rates for your project.
• Everblock Systems: $4 per block with a 26 pack for $150. They're very similar to large Lego blocks for use in both commercial and residential settings.
• Loftwall: $35-$50+ per square foot. Offering modular and moveable walls for professional and home use. They offer standalone and fastened options in metal, melamine and acrylic.
• Custom Built: $400-$3,500. Besides premade walls, temporary walls can always be created with a simple 2x4 or 2x2 frame and some type of paneling. A DIY job can run as little as $150 for supplies.

Offices, event centers, conference rooms, hotels and most other large commercial venues make use of moveable and retractable walls. There are many brand options to choose from for premade and temporary walls. Speak with your local contractor for the best option for your project.

Half Walls

Half wall pricing depends on the type of materials used. Since most are drywall finished, you'll spend about $10 to $20 per linear foot. They extend only part of the way from the floor to ceiling, creating a visible boundary without impeding light or air flow.

Most interior half walls have some type of finished top ledges - usually finished wood or a railing. In large, open spaces, you'll often find them between two support pillars dividing the space without losing any of the visual appeal of an open concept.

Types of Half Walls:

• Half walls: This is a partition used along stairs, in bathrooms and in open concepts to distinguish between the kitchen, dining and living areas.
• Pony walls: This non-load bearing option is generally three feet tall.
• Stem walls: A short, concrete wall, this connects the concrete footings of a home to either the floor joists or the concrete slab.
• Cripple Wall: Sometimes referred to as a sleeper wall, this is a short, load-bearing wall found in slab construction.
• Attic Knee Wall: This is any wall in the attic that runs from the floor to the roof rafters. It is usually under three feet tall and is finished to create useable attic space.
• Retaining or Sleeper Wall: This type is generally considered a cripple wall in the United States.

Building Exterior vs. In-House Walls

Though framing costs are almost identical for both interior and exterior walls, all other aspects of finishing them are different. Exterior load-bearing walls use house wrap and insulation and usually include windows, doors and some type of siding.

Construction Cost Considerations

Beyond straightforward labor and materials, other considerations like wall finishes, size of the project and electrical and plumbing installation can all affect the price.

Paneling and Texturing

Texturing is fast fading out of style but it's still a quick and cheap way to finish a wall. 500 square feet will run about $550, or just over $1 per square foot. You also have the option to install paneling at $5 to $25 per square foot. Choose vinyl or wood paneling depending on your homes aesthetics.

Size

Bids are determined based on the size of the project. Bigger spaces mean more materials and longer work time for professionals, all of which can increase the price to install a wall.

Electrical & Plumbing Considerations

Electrical work costs about $350 for the project or somewhere between $50 to $100 per hour with the first hour slightly higher at $150. Outlet and switch spacing and placement are governed by building code. Most walls will need some minor electrical work.

If you're installing walls for a new kitchen or bath, you'll need to consider the cost to hire a plumber. Plumbing rough -in costs run between $350 to $1,850. Most small projects will fall on the lower end of that range.

Red Tape

The National Association of Home Builders attributes an estimated 25% of new home construction costs to complex regulator policies. Part of these costs includes building permits averaging $1,000 per new home build. For simple interior walls, you can expect to pay closer to $100 to $300 in permits depending on your location. These prices vary greatly from state to state. Despite your location, permits are required for almost all stages of construction, even if you need to knock down the old walls first.

Cleanup

Installation pricing almost always includes cleanup. Wall installation is a messy job and something that your pro should clean up before leaving. It's smart to double check that your contractor includes cleanup in the bid.

DIY vs. Hiring a Contractor

It's almost always a good idea to hire a contractor for building walls of any type. Though it may seem a straightforward job, you need to consider all code requirements, permitting, electrical and plumbing installation, load-bearing needs, and finish work. Constructing one without all parts of it done correctly could diminish the value of your home.

Improperly installed walls are possible structural issues causing massive and costly damage to your entire home. Fire and flood hazards from improperly installed plumbing and electrical work pose serious safety concerns and could lead to thousands of dollars in damage.

Before starting any building project, get a professional consultation. They're usually free opportunities to understand all the requirements for your project and weigh contractor costs against DIY ambitions.

FAQs

How much does it cost to put an arch in a wall?

A wall arch costs between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the arch size and whether it is purely aesthetic or load-bearing. For very large projects, budgets will run considerably higher.

What are the best dividing walls for basements or garages?

The best dividing walls depend on your use. If you want a permanent wall, spend the $20 to $30 per linear foot for a stud and drywall-finished look. Typical garages aren't finished to the same level as an interior house wall. They usually have just two layers of joint compound over the tape with the fastener heads and corner beads covered.

For permanent walls between garages and homes, code requires the use of a fire-rated wall, usually 5/8-inch fire-rated gypsum board. You'll spend about 20% more for this type of wall cover. Sheetrock makes Firecode Core and Fireguard, both rated with differing thicknesses. Other manufacturers offer fire-rated products as well. Check with your contractor or local building department to make sure you are meeting local fire codes.

What are the costs and factors for building a demising or party wall?

Demising walls, also known as a party or common wall, cost as much as any other interior wall or about $20 to $30 per linear foot. A demising wall separates tenant spaces from shared areas. They are typically found in commercial spaces like a shopping mall.

How much does it cost to remove and replace, or move a wall?

The cost to remove a wall falls anywhere from $300 to $10,000 or more depending on the size of the wall and whether it was load-bearing. Removing or moving load-bearing walls is labor-intensive and requires shifting the load to another support during construction.