Sandblasting Cost Calculator

Most blasters charge $1.50-$6 per square foot for residential work and $2-$10+ per square foot for industrial jobs with heavy coatings or lead paint. The rate depends on media type, coating condition, and surface complexity. The biggest cost drivers are media consumption rate and labor speed, both of which vary with coating thickness and surface difficulty.

Coal slag and recycled glass are the cheapest blast media at roughly $0.18 per pound. However, cheaper media often has higher consumption rates. Coal slag uses 5-17 lbs per square foot depending on coating condition, while garnet at $0.40/lb only uses 1.5-4.5 lbs/sqft. Total media cost depends on both price per pound and how many pounds you need.

Media consumption varies significantly by type and coating condition. Crushed glass uses 4-14 lbs/sqft (light to lead paint), garnet uses 1.5-4.5 lbs/sqft, and steel grit uses only 0.2-0.8 lbs/sqft because it is recyclable. Heavier coatings and lead paint always require more media per square foot.

Production speed depends on surface complexity and coating condition. Flat surfaces with light coatings blast at about 200 sqft/hr, while intricate surfaces with lead paint slow down to about 10 sqft/hr. A typical moderate-complexity job with medium coating runs around 80 sqft/hr. Use these rates to estimate labor hours for your job.

Crushed glass is the best general-purpose media for paint removal. Garnet is ideal for precision work, marine jobs, and recoating prep. Coal slag works well for large surfaces where cost matters. Glass bead is used for finishing, peening, and delicate surfaces. Walnut shell is safe for soft substrates like wood and fiberglass. Steel grit handles heavy mill scale and is recyclable.

A typical house exterior is about 1,000 sqft. Using crushed glass on medium coating at moderate complexity, expect roughly 7,000 lbs of media ($1,750), 12-13 hours of labor ($940 at $75/hr), plus travel and markup. A competitive bid usually lands between $3,000 and $4,500 depending on your rates and the condition of the paint.

A full car body is about 120 sqft. With crushed glass on medium coating, you need around 840 lbs of media ($210) and 1.5 hours of labor ($112 at $75/hr). With 25% markup the bid runs $400-$600 for a full strip. Partial panels or single fenders are $100-$200.

Across all job types and media, going rates average between $2 and $5 per square foot. Residential work with crushed glass runs $2-$4/sqft. Commercial and industrial jobs range $3-$6/sqft. Marine work with garnet runs $3-$5/sqft. Lead paint abatement is $5-$8+/sqft before disposal costs. The biggest variable is coating condition and how much media each square foot eats.