How much does sandblasting cost?
Ashburn, VA

How much does sandblasting cost?

Ashburn, VA

How much does sandblasting cost?

$1 – $5 average cost per square foot (includes labor & materials)
$45 – $80 average cost per hour

Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:

$1 – $5 average cost per square foot (includes labor & materials)

$45 – $80 average cost per hour


Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:
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Tamatha Hazen
Written by
Tamatha Hazen
Edited by
Tara Farmer
Fact-checked by
Jennifer Carlson

Average sandblasting cost

Sandblasting costs $1 to $5 per square foot or about $1,500 to $7,500 to sandblast a 1,500-square-foot home exterior. Dustless blasting costs $2 to $3 per square foot for areas with strict environmental regulations. Sandblaster labor costs $45 to $80 per hour on average or up to $300 per hour for complex projects.

Average cost of sandblasting
Rate Average cost* Most common for:
Per square foot $1 – $5 Large projects like the exterior of a home or building
Per hour $45 – $80+ Small, precision jobs like car rims, doors, or other components
Per project $1,500 – $7,500+
(1,500 SF project)
Sore experienced sandblasters quoting a comprehensive price for larger exterior jobs over 1,500 square feet

*Includes materials and labor

Get free estimates from sandblasting services near you.

Sandblasting typically ranges from $1 to $5 per square foot of surface area. This common pricing method allows quick and accurate estimates based on the size of the home or building exterior.

Sandblasting cost per square foot
Square footage Average cost*
200 $200 – $1,000
500 $500 – $2,500
1,000 $1,000 – $5,000
1,500 $1,500 – $7,500
2,000 $2,000 – $10,000
3,000 $3,000 – $15,000

*Includes materials and labor

Sandblasting cost calculator

Sandblasting is a surface prep technique that uses compressed air to propel abrasive materials at high speed to remove contaminants, coatings, or roughened surfaces. When you pay for sandblasting, you are not only paying for the labor and abrasive materials, but other costs like fuel, equipment, and disposal of abrasives.

Sandblasting cost calculator
Factor Average cost
Labor $45 – $300 per hour
$1 – $5 per SF
Materials / abrasive media $0.10 – $3.00 per pound
Diesel fuel $3.00 per gallon
Pickup / delivery / transportation $50 – $500 (if applicable)
Surface preparation Included in labor cost
Job planning / quoting Included in labor cost
Cleanup & disposal Included in labor cost
Additional services Variable

Several factors influence the cost of a sandblasting project:

  • Project size & complexity: Larger areas and projects with curves, tight spots, or intricate details require more time and effort, increasing the cost.

  • Experience & reputation: Experienced, in-demand sandblasters typically charge more.

  • Location: Some companies charge travel fees for jobs that are far from their workshop. They also charge more for projects that are difficult to access or require disassembly before sandblasting.

Labor

Labor makes up the majority of the price for sandblasting. Labor rates range from $45 to $80 per hour for basic jobs and up to $300 per hour for complex, specialized projects. Most contractors charge a 1-hour labor minimum.

A sandblaster working on a metal frame
A sandblaster working on a metal frame

Materials

Sandblasting material prices range from $0.20 to $3.00 per pound. Despite the name, sand is no longer the most common abrasive material for sandblasting. Contractors are moving towards other safer media types, such as aluminum oxide, glass beads, steel grit, or walnut shells.

Expendable options like coal slag and corn are cheaper up front but discarded after only one use. Reusable materials like aluminum oxide and steel grit cost more per pound but can be used multiple times.

Sandblasting cost by media type
Media type Average cost
per pound
(materials only)
Details
Expendable media
Corn cobs $0.80 – $1.00
  • Soft, biodegradable, made from dried corn cobs
  • For gentle cleaning of wood, concrete, and brick
Silica $1.50 – $1.80
  • Very hard, angular silica sand for aggressive etching and profiling
  • Potential health hazards
Baking soda $1.50 – $2.50
  • Soft, non-etching sodium bicarbonate
  • Ideal for cleaning and degreasing surfaces
Coal slag $0.20 – $0.30
  • Economical, angular byproduct media
  • For heavy-duty removal of mill scale and coatings
Reusable media
Aluminum oxide $2.00 – $3.00
  • Highly abrasive, durable media
  • For etching concrete, brick, and masonry surfaces
Iron silicate
(copper slag)
$0.20 – $1.00
  • Angular copper smelting byproduct
  • Rapidly removes coatings and rust from steel
Steel grit $2.00 – $2.50
  • Extremely hard, reusable media
  • Intensive cleaning and profiling of steel substrates
Glass bead $0.50 – $2.50
  • Spherical media
  • Provides uniform etch patterns on delicate surfaces
Walnut shells $1.00 – $1.30
  • Soft, reusable, eco-friendly
  • For gentle cleaning of wood and aluminum
Plastic media $3.00 – $6.00
  • Precision polymer media
  • Allows cleaning without etching on delicate surfaces

Additional costs

Most contractors include the time for planning, surface prep, and cleanup in their labor. However, you may see these additional costs listed in a sandblasting quote:

  • Fuel costs: Diesel fuel for the sandblasting machinery costs $3.00 per gallon on average. However, fuel costs fluctuate from day to day and location to location, so costs will vary.

  • Pickup / delivery fees: Some contractors include an additional fee to cover the cost of transporting equipment to a job site or picking up an item for sandblasting in the shop. These costs can range from $50 for local jobs to $500+ for complex logistics.

  • Add-on services & fees: Depending on the process, you may see additional services and fees for rust inhibitors, masking, and disassembly/reassembly.

Cost by method

Dry blasting is the most common and affordable sandblasting method. However, various techniques exist that differ in the type of media they employ, how they deliver it, the specific applications they are suited for, and the associated material, equipment, labor, and disposal costs.

Sandblasting cost by method
Method Cost per square foot* Common uses
Dry sandblasting $2.00 – $4.50 Heavy-duty surface preparation of steel, concrete, or masonry before recoating or refinishing
Dry ice sandblasting $3.50 – $5.00 Delicate materials like electrical equipment, removing paints or coatings without damaging the underlying substrate
Dustless (vacuum) sandblasting $2.00 – $3.00 Indoor settings or areas with strict environmental regulations for surface preparation and coating removal
Hydro blasting $1.00 – $2.50 Cleaning industrial equipment, concrete surfaces, or removing tough deposits like mill scale from steel structures
Wet sandblasting $1.30 – $3.50 Various applications, including graffiti removal, surface etching, and preparing substrates for coatings or linings

*Includes materials and labor

  • Dry sandblasting propels abrasive media like sand or metal grit using compressed air to aggressively remove coatings, rust, or texture surfaces.

  • Dry ice sandblasting uses compressed air to accelerate dry ice pellets that sublimate on impact, effectively cleaning surfaces without abrasive residue.

  • Dustless sandblasting employs a slurry mixture of abrasive media and water to clean surfaces while suppressing airborne dust particles.

  • Hydro blasting utilizes extremely high-pressure water jets to remove coatings, contaminants, or prepare surfaces without the use of abrasive media.

  • Wet sandblasting combines abrasive media with a water spray to clean and prepare surfaces while providing better dust control than dry sandblasting.

Cost by surface material

Sandblasting costs also vary depending on the surface being treated. Softer surfaces require careful media selection and lower-intensity sandblasting to avoid damage. Surfaces in poor condition with major rust buildup, paint layers, or contaminants require more media, higher intensity levels, and longer labor hours–all factors that increase the overall cost.

Sandblasting cost by surface material
Surface material Average cost per square foot* Description
Asphalt $2.00 – $5.00
  • Hard surface that can withstand higher pressures without damage
  • Porous nature, may require more abrasive media and effort to thoroughly clean
Brick $2.50 – $3.75
  • Durable material, can handle moderate sandblasting intensities
  • Requires extra care to avoid damaging the mortar joints
  • Uneven surface requires more media usage
Concrete $2.50 – $4.25
  • Very hard surface that can withstand aggressive sandblasting
  • May need more intense blasting if the surface is old or damaged
  • Surface preparation is crucial for concrete.
Steel $3.00 – $8.00
  • Requires harder abrasive media at higher intensities to clean and etch before refinishing or recoating
Stucco $1.50 – $3.50
  • Soft surface requiring light pressures to avoid damage
  • Requires more labor time and specialized media compared to harder surfaces
Tile $1.50 – $3.25
  • Delicate material that requires low-intensity sandblasting to prevent cracking or chipping
  • Specialized media and intricate cleaning process
Wood $2.00 – $6.00
  • Softer material requiring gentler blasting media like costly crushed glass or walnut shells to prevent damage
  • Requires careful work that takes longer than average
Wrought iron $4.00 – $8.00
  • Very hard metal, can withstand aggressive sandblasting
  • Intricate designs and potential rust or paint buildup require more intense blasting

*Includes materials and labor

A worker in a protective suit sandblasting a home's brick façade
A worker in a protective suit sandblasting a home's brick façade

Cost by intensity

The intensity level of sandblasting influences the total cost per square foot. Higher intensity levels cost more as they require more abrasive media, higher air pressures, and potentially specialized equipment.

Sandblasting cost by intensity
Intensity Cost per square foot* Details
Very light brush blast
(1/32 inch deep)
$1 – $3 Allows for delicate etching, light shading effects and surface preparation without aggressive material removal
Light blast
(1/16 inch deep)
$2 – $4 Suitable for relatively clean surfaces that require gentle cleaning or etching
Medium blast
(1/4 inch deep)
$4 – $7 Strikes a balance between aggressive cleaning and minimizing surface damage
Heavy blast
(3/8 inch+ deep)
$7 – $16 Employs highly abrasive media like steel grit or shot and extremely high pressures

*Includes materials and labor

Sandblasting FAQs

What is sandblasting?

Sandblasting, also known as abrasive blasting, uses compressed air to blast abrasive particles onto a surface for cleaning, etching, or texturing purposes. Despite the name, sand is no longer considered a safe choice for sandblasting. Professionals use modern alternatives like steel grit or walnut shells instead.

What is dustless sandblasting?

Dustless sandblasting, also called vapor abrasive blasting or wet abrasive blasting, is a surface preparation technique that combines air, water, and an abrasive media to remove coatings, contaminants, or etch surfaces without creating a plume of dust.

Is sandblasting safe?

Sandblasting with abrasive media containing crystalline silica (like traditional sand) can lead to serious respiratory diseases. Also, the improper use of sandblasting equipment can cause injury and hearing damage. Safer procedures include using alternative abrasive media and proper personal protective equipment like respirators, blast suits, and hearing protection.

Can you sandblast wood?

Yes, sandblasting can be an option for wood, but it requires a delicate touch and may not be suitable for all projects. In some cases, alternative methods like chemical stripping or blasting with a softer media may be a better choice.

Can you rent a sandblaster?

Get free estimates from sandblasting services near you.

Yes, you can rent a sandblaster from various equipment rental companies and home improvement stores for around $70 to $200 per day, depending on the size of the sandblaster.

Getting estimates from sandblast companies

Choose the right sandblast company for your project by following these suggestions:

  • Look for a company with a clear plan for your project that will keep you informed throughout the process.

  • Choose a company with a proven track record in the industry that can handle different materials and project sizes.

  • Make sure the company has a system for maintaining its equipment and following safety protocols, prioritizing quality work.

  • Confirm the company provides proper protective gear for their workers.

  • Hire a local company to avoid any permitting issues specific to your area.

  • Save the time and hassle of finding multiple contractors by choosing a company that offers sandblasting for various surfaces (metal, wood, concrete) and additional services like painting.

  • Avoid going the DIY route. Professional services offer the best results and avoid costly mistakes.

Questions to ask a sandblaster

Before trusting your project to a sandblaster, ask these questions to determine their experience and professionalism:

  • How long has your company been providing sandblasting services?

  • Are you licensed and insured to perform sandblasting work in my area?

  • Do you have experience with projects similar to mine? Can you share some examples?

  • Which blasting media do you recommend for my project, and why?

  • Do you offer any guarantees or warranties if the results don't meet my expectations?

  • How will you communicate with me and keep me updated on the project's progress?

  • What safety precautions and equipment do you use to protect your workers and the surrounding environment?

  • Do you have any practices in place to minimize the environmental impact of the sandblasting process?