Prices below are indicative Klang Valley ranges. Your actual cost depends on room size, wallpaper type and pattern repeat — get an exact quote on WhatsApp.
How much does wallpaper cost in Malaysia?
Wallpaper pricing in Malaysia combines two components: the cost of the wallpaper rolls (supply) and the installation labour. Most contractors quote a per-sq-ft rate that includes both, or provide a roll rate + a fixed installation day rate. Here are 2026 indicative Klang Valley ranges:
| Scope | What’s included | Indicative cost (installed) |
|---|
| Feature wall (1 wall) | 1 wall, standard bedroom/living room | RM600 – RM2,500 |
| Full room (4 walls) | Typical bedroom or living room | RM2,000 – RM8,000+ |
| Per sq ft installed | Supply + installation, medium-range wallpaper | RM5.00 – RM15.00 |
Wallpaper cost by type
The biggest variable in wallpaper pricing is the material type. Here is how the main types compare on cost and suitability:
| Type | Supply cost per sq ft | Installation cost per sq ft | Total installed (indicative) |
|---|
| Basic PVC / vinyl (solid vinyl) | RM1.50 – RM3.00 | RM2.00 – RM3.00 | RM3.50 – RM6.00 |
| Non-woven (fibre-based) | RM2.50 – RM6.00 | RM2.00 – RM3.50 | RM4.50 – RM9.50 |
| Embossed / textured vinyl | RM3.00 – RM7.00 | RM2.50 – RM4.00 | RM5.50 – RM11.00 |
| Fabric / grasscloth / natural fibre | RM5.00 – RM15.00 | RM3.00 – RM5.00 | RM8.00 – RM20.00+ |
| Designer / imported (e.g. Graham & Brown, Elitis) | RM8.00 – RM25.00+ | RM3.00 – RM5.00 | RM11.00 – RM30.00+ |
Feature wall vs full room: which is better value?
The most popular approach in Klang Valley condos and terrace houses is the feature wall — one accent wall in wallpaper, with the remaining walls painted. This is cost-effective and impactful:
- Feature wall (1 wall, ~50–80 sq ft): RM600–RM2,500 depending on material. Most homeowners use a bolder pattern or textured wallpaper here that they would not use on all four walls.
- Full room (4 walls, ~200–350 sq ft): RM2,000–RM8,000+. Better suited to a plain or subtle texture wallpaper that works as an all-over finish. Requires more careful pattern matching and more rolls, raising material waste.
- Ceiling wallpaper: A growing trend in bedrooms and dining areas. Labour cost is higher (working overhead) and pattern matching more complex. Adds RM800–RM3,000 for a typical room ceiling.
For most budgets, a feature wall approach gives the highest visual impact per ringgit spent.
Wallpaper type comparison
| Type | Durability | Moisture tolerance | Ease of removal | Best for |
|---|
| PVC / vinyl | Good (7–12 yrs) | Good — wipe-clean | Moderate (peel backing may remain) | High-traffic areas, feature walls |
| Non-woven | Good (8–15 yrs) | Moderate (not for wet zones) | Easy (strips in one piece) | Bedrooms, living rooms, premium feature walls |
| Fabric / grasscloth | Moderate (5–10 yrs) | Poor (absorbs moisture) | Moderate | Dry bedrooms, studies, premium interiors |
| Designer imported | Good | Type-dependent | Moderate | Feature walls, high-end projects |
Malaysia climate note: Klang Valley humidity (typically 70–90% RH) makes moisture tolerance important. Fabric, grasscloth and natural-fibre wallpapers are at risk of mould if installed in rooms with poor ventilation or in bathrooms. Always ensure adequate aircon or ventilation in wallpapered rooms.
Supply vs installation cost
Wallpaper costs have two separable components:
- Material (rolls): Most wallpapers are sold per roll (typically 0.5 m or 0.53 m wide × 10 m long, covering approximately 5 sq m / 54 sq ft per roll). A standard bedroom feature wall (approximately 12 sq m / 130 sq ft) needs 3–4 rolls depending on pattern repeat. Budget wallpaper starts at RM30–RM80/roll; mid-range RM80–RM200/roll; premium/imported RM200–RM600+/roll.
- Installation labour: Typically RM1.50–RM5.00/sq ft depending on wallpaper type and complexity. Large pattern repeats (25 cm+) waste more material and take longer to match, so the effective installed cost per sq ft increases. Plain or random-match wallpapers are faster and cheaper to install.
Ask your contractor for a quote that separates material and labour — this lets you compare material prices independently and choose your own rolls if preferred.
What affects wallpaper installation cost the most?
- Wallpaper material and brand. The biggest cost driver. Mid-range non-woven rolls from local or Chinese brands (RM80–RM150/roll) are significantly cheaper than European designer imports (RM250–RM600+/roll).
- Pattern repeat. Large pattern repeats (30 cm+) increase material waste (each strip must be aligned) and slow installation. A RM120/roll wallpaper with a 64 cm repeat can cost significantly more in effective installed cost than a RM180/roll with no repeat.
- Room size and wall complexity. Multiple windows, door frames, irregular walls, alcoves and built-in furniture all add cutting, fitting and labour time.
- Wall preparation required. Rough, cracked or textured walls need skim coat or sanding before wallpaper will lay flat. Factor this in — skim coat adds RM1.50–RM4.00/sq ft before wallpaper installation begins.
- Removal of existing wallpaper. Stripping old wallpaper (if the previous installation is not removable type) adds RM1.00–RM3.00/sq ft to the job.
Worked example: KL condo master bedroom feature wall
An illustrative cost for a 3.6 m × 2.8 m (approximately 100 sq ft / 10 sq m) feature wall behind the bed in a Klang Valley condo master bedroom, using a mid-range non-woven wallpaper:
| Item | Detail | Indicative cost |
|---|
| Non-woven wallpaper, mid-range | 3 rolls @ RM120/roll (10 m×0.53 m roll) | RM360 |
| Installation labour | ~10 sq m @ RM3.50/sq ft (~RM37/sq m) | RM370 |
| Adhesive and materials | Included in labour rate | — |
| Total | | ~RM730 |
With a premium imported wallpaper (RM350/roll), the same 10 sq m feature wall would cost approximately RM1,050 for materials + RM370 labour = ~RM1,420. A designer European import at RM600/roll would push material cost to RM1,800 for three rolls, total ~RM2,170 installed.
How to choose the right wallpaper for Malaysia’s climate
- Always choose non-woven or vinyl for humidity-prone rooms. Natural fibre, grasscloth and paper-backed wallpapers absorb moisture and can mould in Klang Valley humidity without continuous air-conditioning.
- For feature walls in bedrooms: Non-woven is the most popular choice — good print quality, easy to install and remove, and holds up well in air-conditioned rooms.
- For high-traffic walls (TV wall, hallway, children’s room): Vinyl or thick embossed wallpaper with a wipe-clean surface. Avoid thin paper types in these zones.
- For a budget feature wall: Plain-textured or subtle geometric non-woven from local suppliers at RM60–RM100/roll gives a good result at minimal cost. The difference between budget and mid-range wallpaper is mostly print quality and durability, not day-to-day appearance.
- Check the pattern repeat before buying. A striking pattern with a 64 cm repeat may look beautiful in the showroom but waste 20–30% of each roll in offcuts, significantly raising the effective per-sq-ft cost.
See our TV feature wall cost guide → for how wallpaper integrates with built-in TV wall designs. Or read the full renovation cost guide → for complete project budgeting.
Wall preparation before wallpaper installation
Wallpaper will only look as good as the surface beneath it. Unlike paint, wallpaper shows every lump, crack and texture through the face. Wall preparation is not optional — it is part of the cost:
- Smooth painted walls in good condition: Light sanding and a primer coat is usually sufficient.
- Rough or textured walls: Skim coat is required before installation. Budget RM1.50–RM4.00/sq ft for skim coat on top of the wallpaper installation cost.
- New plaster: Must cure for at least 28 days and be sealed with a sizing agent before wallpapering.
- Previously wallpapered walls: Ideally strip the old wallpaper completely. Papering over existing wallpaper risks bubbling, adhesion failure, and seams telegraphing through.
Common wallpaper mistakes to avoid
- Papering over rough or unprepared walls. Every imperfection shows under wallpaper. Skim coat first for a flat base.
- Choosing natural fibre wallpaper for humid rooms. In Malaysia, fabric and grasscloth wallpapers mould without continuous air-conditioning. Stick to vinyl or non-woven in rooms that are not always air-conditioned.
- Ignoring the pattern repeat when buying rolls. Underestimating the number of rolls needed because of a large repeat is common. Your contractor should calculate rolls including pattern-matching waste.
- Papering around an unresolved moisture problem. Damp patches, active water seepage or condensation will destroy wallpaper within months. Fix the source of moisture first.
- No primer/sizing coat before installation. Installing wallpaper directly on bare plaster without a sizing agent makes future removal very difficult and risks adhesion failure.
Removing old wallpaper
Removing existing wallpaper adds cost and time to any installation job:
- Non-woven / strippable wallpaper: Can be dry-stripped in one piece from most surfaces. Labour: RM0.50–RM1.50/sq ft.
- PVC / vinyl on paper backing: The vinyl face peels but the paper backing remains. Score, soak with warm water or remover and scrape. Labour: RM1.00–RM3.00/sq ft.
- Old paper-backed wallpaper stuck with starch paste: Requires soaking and careful scraping to avoid damaging the plaster beneath. Labour: RM1.50–RM3.00/sq ft, more if the plaster is soft.
If the existing wallpaper is strippable and in good condition, some contractors will paper over it for lower-traffic rooms. But for a clean, long-lasting result, stripping is always preferable.
How to choose a wallpaper installation contractor
- Ask for a quote that separates material and labour so you can price rolls independently.
- Confirm the contractor has experience with your specific wallpaper type (non-woven requires different adhesive and technique than vinyl).
- Check that the quote includes wall preparation (at minimum primer/sizing; skim coat if specified).
- Ask to see completed feature wall installations — particularly how corners, trim and window reveals are finished.
- Confirm pattern matching is included in the labour rate, not treated as an extra.
⚠️ These are indicative Klang Valley ranges. For a fixed wallpaper installation quote,
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