Crown molding cost calculator

Enter the length and the molding, add painting, and enter your ZIP. The price is HomeAdvisor's installation rate plus the molding itself, with each step shown.

$4 to $23A linear foot installed (HomeAdvisor)

$552Typical MDF crown, one 12 by 12 room

$3 to $12Labor a linear foot (HomeAdvisor)

Crown molding installation cost

$400 to $1,900

Typical $1,150 (US average)

$11.50Per linear ft, all in, typical

$400Low

$1,900High

Free. Your numbers become an estimate you can send from your phone.

How we got this

MDF (paint grade), installed$4.00 to $19.00 a linear ft (typical $11.50)Labor $3 to $12 a linear foot plus mdf (paint grade) molding $1 to $7 (HomeAdvisor).
Length100 linear ftLow, typical and high each times 100.
RegionUS average prices (no ZIP entered)Enter a ZIP to scale the labor part of the price to your state's wages.
Total$400 to $1,900, typical $1,150

Item	Qty	Low	Typical	High
MDF (paint grade) crown molding, installed	100 linear ft	$400	$1,150	$1,900
Total		$400	$1,150	$1,900

Sources: HomeAdvisor, crown molding installation cost; CostHelper, crown molding cost; Fixr, crown molding cost; HomeAdvisor, ceiling painting cost; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files); US Census Bureau, 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Area to county relationship file. Checked 2026-10-09.

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Key takeaways

Crown molding usually costs $4 to $23 a linear foot installed, HomeAdvisor says.
CostHelper puts standard crown at about $8 to $12 a foot, or $300 to $500 for a 10 by 10 room.
MDF and PVC are the budget choices. Solid wood and plaster cost the most.
Painting in place adds $0.50 to $3 a linear foot.

Crown molding cost by material

Molding	Material a foot (HomeAdvisor)	Installed, typical a foot
PVC	$1 to $4	$10.00
MDF	$1 to $7	$11.50
Polyurethane	$2 to $10	$13.50
Plaster	$6 to $20	$20.50
Solid wood	$3 to $30	$24.00

Installed figures add HomeAdvisor's labor of $3 to $12 a linear foot to the molding. HomeAdvisor puts custom crown at about $15 to $20 a linear foot.

How to measure

Add up the length of every wall the crown runs along. A 12 by 12 foot room is 48 linear feet. Add 10 to 15 percent for cuts and waste; outside corners and many short walls use more.

Why crown is labor-heavy

Crown sits at an angle between wall and ceiling, and every corner is a compound cut. Walls and ceilings that are out of square need coping and caulk. CostHelper notes elaborate designs, uneven walls and irregular layouts with many corners raise the price.

A worked example

MDF crown in one 12 by 12 room, 48 feet, comes to $192 to $912, about $552 typical. One hundred feet of painted solid wood is about $2,575 typical. Enter a ZIP to scale the 60% labor share to your state.

Quoting crown

Quote by the room and the foot. Homeowners think in rooms.
Paint-grade or stain-grade. Stain-grade needs tighter joints.
Paint as its own line.

Save it as an estimate in Koira.

Last checked October 9, 2026. More for your trade: how trades run on Koira.

FAQ

How much does crown molding cost per foot installed?

HomeAdvisor says $4 to $23 a linear foot with materials and labor.

How much does crown molding cost for one room?

CostHelper puts standard crown at $300 to $500 for a 10 by 10 foot room.

Is MDF crown molding good?

For painted crown in dry rooms, yes. It is cheap and straight. Use PVC or poly in bathrooms.

How much is labor to install crown molding?

HomeAdvisor says $3 to $12 a linear foot.

Does crown molding add value?

It makes rooms look finished, which buyers like, but it is a modest return.

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