Wallpaper hanging on evenings and weekends

Hang wallpaper in homes on your days off, starting with accent walls, powder rooms and referrals from local painters.

Startup cost$300 to $1.5k
Monthly revenue$400 to $2.5k
Time needed6+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • $300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.

Official data

38,280 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.8% in a year

NAICS 238320 “Painting and wall covering contractors”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.

What it is

Hanging wallpaper that clients have already bought, mostly in single rooms such as powder rooms, nurseries and accent walls. You prep the walls, hang the paper and trim it neatly.

Your first three steps

  1. Practice on a spare wall or board with different paper types (pre-pasted, paste-the-wall, grasscloth) and buy a starter tool kit
  2. Check local rates by calling a few wallpaper hangers for quotes, then set a per-roll price and a minimum job fee
  3. Introduce yourself to local painters, interior designers and wallpaper shops and offer to take small jobs they don't want
Who pays

Homeowners who bought wallpaper but don't want to hang it, plus painters, designers and contractors who need a subcontractor for small jobs.

How it makes money

Usually a price per roll or per job for labor only. Clients buy the paper themselves, so you carry little material cost and no stock.

Skills that help
  • Patience and an eye for detail
  • Measuring and pattern matching
  • Wall prep and patching
  • Clear quotes and communication
Watch out for
  • General liability insurance, since a damaged wall or a ruined expensive roll is your risk
  • Check whether your state or city requires a contractor or handyman license for this type of work, as rules and dollar limits vary
  • Pre-1978 homes may have lead paint under old finishes, so check the EPA's rules before sanding or scraping
  • Expensive or hand-printed paper leaves no room for error, so quote carefully and ask for an extra roll

Deep research report · US

Everything you need to start: wallpaper hanging on evenings and weekends

Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a wallpaper hanging side hustle?

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the tools and supplies you need to buy. Insurance is another cost to plan for, since a damaged wall or ruined expensive roll is your risk.

Do I need a license to hang wallpaper in the US?

Check whether your state or city requires a contractor or handyman license for this type of work, as rules and dollar limits vary. Also check the EPA's rules for pre-1978 homes before sanding or scraping, and look into general liability insurance.

How much can I earn hanging wallpaper part time?

Monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $2,500 as an estimate, depending on how many jobs you take and how many hours you can offer. Expect to put in at least around 6 hours a week. Accurate quotes help protect your income.

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