What crown molding costs
| Job | Installed |
|---|---|
| Typical installed price | $7–$16 / linear ft |
| Full range Simple foam to built-up hardwood | $4–$23 / linear ft |
| Average project | About $1,302 |
| 12×12 room 48 linear feet at typical rates | About $340–$770 |
Materials
Most crown molding in homes is painted, which makes MDF the common choice. Solid wood is for stained trim. PVC and polyurethane suit bathrooms and are the easiest to handle.
| Job | Material cost |
|---|---|
| PVC or polyurethane Moisture-proof, light | $1–$4 / linear ft |
| MDF Paint-grade, most popular | $1–$7 / linear ft |
| Solid wood Paint or stain grade | $3–$30 / linear ft |
What moves the price
- Corners. Every inside corner is coped and every outside corner mitered at a compound angle. A room with bump-outs and columns can double the time of a plain square room.
- Profile size. Larger crown, or built-up crown made from several pieces, costs more in material and labor.
- Ceiling height. Anything above about 9 feet slows the work and may need scaffolding.
- Walls and ceilings that are not straight. Gaps have to be scribed, shimmed or caulked, and blocking may be needed where there is nothing solid to nail into.
- Painting. Pre-painted runs still need filling, caulking and touch-up.
How crown molding is installed
- Measure each wall and plan joints so seams fall away from the room's focal point.
- Cut inside corners by coping, which stays tight when the house moves, and outside corners with compound miters.
- Nail into the wall's top plate and the ceiling joists, adding blocking where needed.
- Glue and pin corner joints, fill nail holes, and caulk the edges against the wall and ceiling.
- Paint.
Crown molding and ceiling cracks
Crown molding covers the joint between wall and ceiling, which makes it a common fix for cracks that reappear there every winter. Where those cracks come from seasonal movement of the roof framing, the molding should be fastened to only one surface so it can slide with the movement. See drywall ceiling repair for why that happens. For trim at the floor, see baseboard installation cost.
Common questions
MDF or wood crown molding?
MDF for painted trim in dry rooms; it is cheaper and paints smoothly. Solid wood where you want a stained finish or extra durability. PVC in bathrooms.
How long does it take to install crown molding in a room?
A typical room takes most of a day, longer with many corners or high ceilings, plus time for filling, caulking and paint.
Can I install crown molding myself?
It is one of the harder trim jobs to do yourself, because of the compound angles at every corner. A coping saw, a good miter saw and scrap pieces for practice make it achievable.
Related guides
Compiled from published 2026 national cost data (Angi, Inch Calculator, HomeGuide, Homewyse). We update these figures as we complete jobs.