A wall mural is the specific case of an architectural wrap where the surface is one large wall and the content is a single image or composition rather than a wrap of multiple panels. The print and install process is the same; the design challenge is different. A mural is content-first, where most architectural wraps are surface-treatment-first.
What we install
Three common mural categories, by what's being printed:
- Photographic murals: large-format reproduction of a single photograph. Cityscapes, nature, architectural detail, custom photography. Resolution matters: a 10×8 ft mural needs source imagery at 100+ MP or stitched panoramas to print crisply.
- Branded environments: corporate brand imagery, mission statements, custom illustration tied to the company identity. Often paired with paint colours and lighting design.
- Custom artwork: original illustration, painting, or graphic design produced specifically for the space. We can print artwork supplied by you or produced by our in-house designer.
For wall-covering with branding (logo + tagline + colour blocks), see architectural wraps; that's the broader category with more pattern options.
What's different about wall murals vs. wallpaper
Wall murals and traditional wallpaper occupy adjacent markets but differ in three meaningful ways:
| Vinyl mural | Wallpaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cast PVC vinyl with adhesive backing | Paper or non-woven substrate with paste-on |
| Image source | Digital file printed once for this wall | Manufactured roll, repeating pattern (usually) |
| Custom content | Anything: your photo, your brand, your art | Pre-designed catalog options |
| Install | Wet-mount or dry-peel, single-sheet seam-planned | Booked paper or paste-the-wall, multiple drops |
| Removal | Pull-off in one piece within rated life | Steam or scrape, often damages drywall |
| Cost | $15/sq ft installed | $8–$30/sq ft material + $5–$10/sq ft install |
| Lead time | 5–10 business days from approval | 1–3 days off the shelf; weeks for custom |
| Custom designs | Standard offering | Premium-only |
Mural beats wallpaper when the content needs to be custom or photographic. Wallpaper beats mural when you want a pattern off-the-shelf and don't need single-image treatment.
Pricing
Installed price scales with area and complexity. Typical ranges:
| Mural size | Installed price |
|---|---|
| Accent wall, 8 × 8 ft (64 sq ft) | $1,000–$1,400 |
| Feature wall, 8 × 12 ft (96 sq ft) | $1,500–$2,100 |
| Long wall, 10 × 20 ft (200 sq ft) | $3,000–$4,500 |
| Floor-to-ceiling lobby, 12 × 24 ft (288 sq ft) | $4,500–$6,500 |
Excludes design fees. Custom design from concept: $500–$2,500 depending on complexity. Source-imagery quality and licensing are yours to source; we can advise on what print resolution your file actually supports.
How a wall mural project goes
- Site survey. We measure the wall (including any obstructions like outlets, switches, vents, picture rails, and baseboards), photograph the surface in the actual install lighting, and note the wall material.
- Design and proofing. Your supplied artwork or our designed concept gets mocked up on a photo of the wall at scale. You see exactly what the install will look like before printing.
- Production. 3–5 business days for printing. Cast vinyl with UV-rated inks and matching laminate.
- Surface prep. On install day, we clean and lightly sand the wall if needed, mask outlets and switches, and prep the wall for vinyl bond.
- Install. 4–8 hours for a single feature wall, panel-by-panel with seam planning. Outlets and switches are cut around or wrapped depending on your preference.
- Inspection and walkaround. We check every seam and edge in full light before leaving.
Related work
- Architectural wraps: the broader category including column wraps, partitions, exterior hoarding
- Window graphics: printed vinyl on glass
- Large format printing: the print process behind the mural
- Signs: for wall-mounted panel signage
Common questions
Can you print a photo from my phone as a mural?
Probably not at meaningful size. A phone photo (12–48 MP) prints crisply at maybe 4 × 6 ft maximum. Beyond that, the image goes soft. For a 10+ ft wide mural we need source files in the 100+ MP range, or a stitched panorama, or photography shot specifically for large-format reproduction.
What if the wall has texture?
Smooth and lightly-textured walls (orange peel, fine sand) work fine. Heavy textured walls (heavy knockdown, popcorn, stucco) telegraph through the vinyl; the mural shows the underlying texture as a surface variation. We can prep with skim-coat plaster to smooth a textured wall before install; budget extra for that.
Will a wall mural damage my walls?
Removable-adhesive vinyl installed on a properly-primed and painted drywall comes off cleanly within its 5–7 year rated life. Older or improperly-prepped surfaces can lose some paint at removal; we'll inspect and flag risks before installing.
Can I update the mural later or only fully replace it?
The vinyl is a single sheet (or pre-planned seamed panels), so partial updates are usually impractical. Replacement is straightforward: peel the old, prep the wall, install the new.
Do you do residential murals?
Yes, but most of our mural work is commercial. Residential projects work the same way; the consideration is that residential walls are sometimes less ideal substrate (older paint, more texture) and may need more prep than a recently-built commercial wall.
Can you print artwork I commissioned from another artist?
Yes, with their permission and a print-ready file (vector preferred, high-resolution raster acceptable). We don't print copyrighted work without documentation of permission.