Popcorn Ceilings - Are They Really So Bad? - Crossland Real Estate

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2011 and has been updated in 2025 for clarity and current standards.

TL;DR: Popcorn ceilings aren’t as scary as you think. They’re a cosmetic issue, not a dealbreaker for most buyers. But in 2025, smooth ceilings are still trending, and removing the texture can help your home feel more modern. If your popcorn ceiling is in good shape and doesn’t contain asbestos, it may be just fine to leave it alone – or paint it. This post breaks down the pros, cons, costs, and options.

In 2011, as I was suffering with Austin allergies, praying the medicine would work, and wishing I could at least start to half-breath again, I took respite on my living room sofa and laid there for a while, like a zombie, staring at my ceiling, meditating and trying to will my sinuses into operation.

As I did so, I made an odd observation. “This is one of the nicest popcorn ceilings I’ve ever seen!”, I thought. I continued examining the ceiling, from corner to corner. Not a blemish, stain or evidence of previous repair or patchwork anywhere. No discoloration around the A/C vents. No defects at all. The popcorn ceilings in my house are, in a word, pristine. Not bad for a late-1970s ranch-style home that’s spent over half its life as a rental.

Many home owners scrape their popcorn ceilings (aka Acoustic Ceilings). In 2025, professional popcorn ceiling removal typically runs between $3.00 and $5.00 per square foot in Austin, depending on factors like ceiling height, finish quality, and whether asbestos testing or remediation is needed.

When we list homes in Austin with popcorn ceilings, and seek feedback from Realtors who show the home, we’ll often hear “the buyers didn’t like the popcorn ceilings”. So, when selling, you have to take that into account as it can affect the value of your home. Often, a listing in 1970s Austin neighborhoods will boast of the popcorn removal. In our Austin MLS right now, there are comments in listings that say (actual quotes):

• … popcorn removal & paint already done
• … NO popcorn here
• … ceiling popcorn removed
• … owners have gone through the trouble to remove the popcorn ceilings
• … NO POPCORN ceilings

People hate popcorn ceilings. But as I look at my own vintage 1978 popcorn ceilings, and how perfect they are, I wonder what all the fuss is about.

I mean, really. What’s the big deal? Sylvia and I are getting ready to install hardwood floors this summer, and I know the popcorn ceilings will drastically reduce the echo noise produced by hard surface flooring. This sound dampening provides a more pleasant acoustical experience in the home, being much easier on the ears. This, in fact, is why it is technically called an “acoustical texture”. The term “popcorn” came into use because it describes the appearance. But have you ever been in an all-tile or all-wood home where the ceilings have been scraped flat? It’s noisy and echoes badly. If you’re older, that makes it even worse.

So, when you’re up watching Letterman, your spouse shouts from the bedroom “turn down the TV!”, and you respond “it’s already down to number 4, and I can barely hear it”, you have your scraped ceilings and wood or tiles floors to thank for this unwelcome sound travel throughout your home. Throw rugs will help a bit, but are not nearly as effective as popcorn ceilings at dampening sound.

Some people think the popcorn ceilings have asbestos and are dangerous. Partially true. Popcorn ceilings installed before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos, though not all do. Testing is inexpensive and widely available. If asbestos is confirmed, removal should be handled by a certified abatement contractor. If no asbestos is present, regular contractors can handle the removal safely, or you can do it yourself.

I do agree that once the ceilings have had a few roof leaks, been painted, and start to look funky, the popcorn can become unattractive. But so can a flat textured ceiling that has suffered the same fate.

That all being said, Sylvia dislikes the popcorn. When we replace the flooring, she’ll probably say “shouldn’t we go ahead and scrape the popcorn while we’re doing the floors anyway?” (Project Creep) My response, “remove this perfect, pristine popcorn?! Are you crazy?! I love these ceilings!”

Please, somebody agree with me and let’s admit that this obsessive neurosis about the texture and appearance of a popcorn ceiling is nothing more than “texture snobbery”.

Curious how updates like popcorn ceiling removal might affect your home’s value? Not all improvements are worth the cost. Get a quick online estimate of your home’s current value here.