How Much Does Installing Trim Cost in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

Most homeowners spend around $1,381 on trim installation, with costs averaging from $634 to $2,249, but some projects can cost up to $7,000. Your total cost for trim installation depends on factors like trim type, project size, and materials. Beyond adding style, trim also serves functional purposes, such as hiding gaps and providing minor structural support.

Trim Installation Cost Factors

Several cost drivers impact the price of your project. Here are the trim installation cost components to consider.

Material

The material your trim is made from significantly impacts your installation project. Here are the average costs of common trim materials.

Finishing

Painting or staining your trim adds a customized look to your home. On average, finishing trim with paint or stain costs between $1 and $4 per linear foot. Keep in mind that baseboards are often wider and may cost more to finish due to the additional time and materials required.

Labor 

Hiring a professional trim installer typically costs between $75 and $125 per hour. Experienced pros may charge more, especially in areas with a higher cost of living.

Cost to Install Trim by Type

Different types of trim offer unique aesthetic and practical benefits. Here's a breakdown of common trim types and their average costs per linear foot.

Shoe 

The cost of door and window trim, like shoe molding, is between $0.50 and $1.50 per linear foot. You’ll most often buy it in eight-foot lengths. Shoe molding is a narrow molding consisting of two inward-facing flat sides and one outward-facing concave side. The most common use of shoe molding is to hide small gaps between a wall and floor, typically by installing it on a taller baseboard.

Quarter Round

Quarter-round molding costs between $0.50 and $4 per foot and is commonly sold in eight-foot lengths. Named for its shape—a quarter of a circle—quarter-round molding is ideal for covering gaps at the base of your walls, similar to shoe molding.

Base 

The cost of installing baseboard molding ranges from $1 to $10 per linear foot, depending on the material. It’s typically between two and four inches tall, although it can be taller than that. Base molding defines lines at the bottom of a wall and hides gaps. It isn’t as detailed as crown molding, but it is available in many finishes suitable for painting or staining.

Crown 

Crown molding costs between $4 and $50 per linear foot. The most important cost variables include the material, finish, and design detail. Crown molding installers in your area typically install crown molding at a 45-degree angle to the wall, creating a hollow space behind. The most common locations are in the corners between a wall and a cabinet or another wall.

Casing

Casing costs about the same as baseboard, at $0.50 to $1.50 per foot, depending on the material, design, and finish. Its primary purpose is to define windows and door frames rather than the wall near the floor. Casing is rarely more than two inches tall since it’s usually installed at eye level. It’s otherwise similar to baseboards and often has the same style and design.

Chair Rail

A chair rail costs between $1 and $3 per foot and is readily available in a variety of colors and finishes. It runs horizontally along a wall at a height of about three feet. The original purpose of a chair rail was to protect walls from chairs, but changes in chair styles have made chair rails largely decorative. Their most common use today is to delineate a wall with two different types of paint or wallpaper.

Picture Rail

A picture rail costs between $1 and $3 per foot, depending on design and style. Their purpose is to provide a place to hang pictures without creating holes in drywall. Picture rails are similar to chair rails, except they’re narrower and often have a lip on top that you can use to anchor hanger wires on a frame. They also sit higher on the wall than chair rails.

Wall Frame

Wall frames usually cost between $8 and $25 per linear foot, depending on their size and material. Unlike other types of molding and trim, they consist of premade squares rather than a length of material. Wall frames are purely decorative and typically found in high-end homes. Homeowners may also paint the interior of a wall frame in a different color or cover it with wallpaper.

DIY Trim Installation vs. Hiring a Pro

While installing trim might seem straightforward, hiring a professional ensures a seamless, high-quality result. Pros have the expertise to handle uneven walls and achieve tight joints, giving your home a polished look.

"Modifications of the trim in your home can vary in complexity. Though it looks simple, a professional can make the trim installation look much more seamless," says Andrew Kilborn, Expert Review Member and Owner of Andy's Handyman. Hire a local trim installation professional to ensure a flawless finish in your home.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.