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The short answer
A POP ceiling job is priced from the area: measure the room in square metres, cost the materials and labour per square metre, then add borders and design work. In our labelled example, a 20 sqm room with a plain ceiling and cornice comes to ₦169,000, about ₦8,450 per sqm or ₦785 per square foot.
What POP work involves
POP (plaster of Paris) ceilings are cast or screeded plaster ceilings hung below the roof or slab, finished smooth and painted. Installers also make cornices, borders, drop-down levels and recesses for lighting. In many Nigerian homes and offices POP has replaced asbestos and PVC panel ceilings in living rooms, while PVC or other boards may still be used in kitchens or bathrooms where moisture is a concern.
The work is usually done after roofing and before final painting and electrical fittings, so a POP installer is often brought in by the building contractor, the painter or the electrician. Those relationships matter as much as advertising.
Learning the trade
Most installers learn as apprentices under an experienced POP master, starting with mixing and screeding before moving to hanging, levelling and design. Agree the length of training and what you will be allowed to do on site. The skills that separate good installers are:
- Setting a level ceiling across a large room, using a laser level or water level.
- Hanging the ceiling securely to the roof timbers or slab so it does not sag or crack.
- Mixing to the right consistency so the plaster sets evenly.
- Making clean cornices and borders with moulds, and leaving accurate openings for lights.
Tools and starting costs (example figures)
| Item (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Scaffold or strong ladders | ₦80,000 |
| Trowels and floats | ₦15,000 |
| Mixing drums and buckets | ₦10,000 |
| Cornice and design moulds | ₦60,000 |
| Laser level | ₦45,000 |
| Electric drill | ₦50,000 |
| Cutters and saws | ₦10,000 |
| Total | ₦270,000 |
These are example prices only. You can start with hired scaffolding and a few moulds and add more designs as clients ask for them. Budget separately for transport, as POP bags are heavy and are often moved by tricycle or van.
Pricing per square metre: worked example
Example only. A living room measuring 4m by 5m has a ceiling area of 20 sqm and a perimeter of 18m (4 + 5 + 4 + 5). The client wants a plain flat ceiling with a cornice around the edge.
| Item (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| POP powder, 12 bags at ₦4,500 | ₦54,000 |
| Fibre, 2 bags at ₦3,000 | ₦6,000 |
| Nails, binding wire and hangers | ₦12,000 |
| Finishing plaster | ₦10,000 |
| Materials subtotal | ₦82,000 |
| Labour, 20 sqm at ₦3,000 | ₦60,000 |
| Cornice, 18m at ₦1,500 | ₦27,000 |
| Total quote | ₦169,000 |
Materials work out at ₦4,100 per sqm (₦82,000 ÷ 20). The all-in price is ₦8,450 per sqm (₦169,000 ÷ 20). Some clients and installers quote per square foot; one square metre is about 10.764 square feet, so ₦8,450 per sqm is about ₦785 per square foot. Say clearly which unit you are using, because the two numbers look very different.
What changes the price
- Design. Drop-down levels, curves and recessed lighting take more time and material; price them per metre of edge or as a fixed design fee.
- Height. Double-height rooms need more scaffolding and slower work.
- Roof condition. If the roof timbers or slab need repair before hanging, quote that separately.
- Painting. Agree whether the price includes sanding and painting or ends at a smooth plaster finish.
Finding clients
POP work is visual, so the strongest marketing is a record of finished ceilings. Build a photo album on your phone and a simple social media page, and ask happy clients whether you can show their ceiling to prospects. Other sources of steady work:
- Building contractors and site engineers who need a reliable ceiling team on several houses at once.
- Painters and electricians, who see ceilings that need replacing and can refer you.
- Estate managers and landlords refreshing flats between tenants.
- Shop and office fit-outs, where clients often want borders and lighting recesses finished quickly.
Contractor work often pays later than private clients. Agree stage payments in writing and avoid buying materials on credit for a job that has not paid a deposit.
Running jobs well
Take a deposit before buying materials, usually enough to cover the bags and fibre, and agree the balance on completion. Write down the measurements you used so a client can check them. Coordinate with the electrician before you close up the ceiling, because cutting new light holes later damages the finish. Photograph each finished job: pictures of clean cornices and level ceilings are what win the next client.
Keep records of each job and its costs; they help you see your real earnings per square metre and support your tax record. Our guide to how sole traders pay tax covers the basics, and VAT remains 7.5% under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 if your turnover means you must charge it.
The Corporate Affairs Commission's fee schedule gazetted in May 2025 lists ₦1,000 to reserve a business name, useful if contractors want an invoice from a registered business.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account can hold job deposits apart from personal money, and invoicing lets you send a clear quote and invoice with the measurements. For a deposit, a verifiable receipt through receipts, built with VerifyDoc.ai, gives both sides a record that cannot be changed. Tilers working on the same sites may find our tiling pricing guide useful.
Questions people ask
How much is POP ceiling per square metre in Nigeria?
It depends on design, location and materials. In our labelled example, a plain ceiling with cornice costs about ₦8,450 per sqm all in, of which ₦4,100 is materials.
How many bags of POP do I need for a room?
It varies with thickness and design. Our 20 sqm example uses 12 bags, but ask your installer to show how they calculated the number for your room.
Is POP priced per square foot or per square metre?
Both are used. One square metre is about 10.764 square feet, so always confirm which unit a quote uses before comparing prices.
How long does it take to learn POP?
Most people learn through an apprenticeship. The length varies, so agree it in advance and make sure you learn levelling, hanging and design moulds, not just mixing.
Sources
- Corporate Affairs Commission: New Schedule of Fees (gazetted 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Forvis Mazars: Nigeria Tax Act 2025, VAT key business changes (16 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.