Wood vs. Faux Beam Coffered Ceiling Cost Guide
The material layer prints apart by frame: Frame A prints material lines from drywall at $2 to $3 per square foot to mahogany at $17 to $30, materials alone, while Frame B prints one installed rate across materials.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
Material classes, priced apart in both frames
| Frame | Material line, as published | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Frame A (material lines, materials alone) | all materials, per square foot | $2-$30 |
| Frame A (material lines, materials alone) | drywall, per square foot | $2-$3 |
| Frame A (material lines, materials alone) | PVC, per square foot | $15-$20 |
| Frame B (per-square-foot installed) | installed rate, all materials | $10-$40 |
Every figure here is a published line inside its own frame, never folded into the other. Frame A prices material classes alone, per square foot; Frame B prices the installed project per square foot and prints no per-material band. The project whole prices on the coffered-ceiling installation hub; the room-size layer on the room-size guide.
Solid wood lines, as published in Frame A
| Wood line, materials alone | Frame reading | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Oak, per square foot | Frame A, as published | $4-$8 |
| Cherry, per square foot | Frame A, as published | $7-$10 |
| Walnut, per square foot | Frame A, as published | $10-$30 |
| Mahogany, per square foot | Frame A, as published | $17-$30 |
The solid wood class prints as named species lines in Frame A, each a materials-alone line apart from any install total. The published data names traditional wood options as the top of its material range.
Hollow faux and drywall-and-plywood lines, as published
| Material line, materials alone | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| PVC, per square foot | Frame A | $15-$20 |
| Fiberboard, per square foot | Frame A | $6-$15 |
| Drywall, per square foot | Frame A | $2-$3 |
| Plywood, per square foot | Frame A | $3-$4 |
The hollow faux class prints through the PVC and fiberboard lines; the drywall-and-plywood class prints at the bottom of the Frame A range. Frame B names hardwood beams and hollow PVC as its material contrast, and prints its single installed rate across both.
Room totals read against the material lines, by frame
| Room total line | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Average install, per room | Frame A | $3,750 |
| Typical range, per room | Frame A | $2,200-$6,720 |
| Average room total, 150 square feet | Frame B | $1,500-$6,000 |
| 16x20 living room | Frame B | $3,200-$12,800 |
Material class reads inside the room frames, never instead of them. A wood quote and a faux quote at the same footprint read against the same two room frames apart.
Reading a material quote, as reported lines only
A material quote should name its class and frame on every line: a Frame A species or PVC line for the material scope, read apart from the Frame B installed rate.
- Material class named beside every per-square-foot band
- Species lines shown apart from the faux and panel lines
- Frame B rate read as an across-materials rate, as published
- Room totals read by frame, never as material lines
Frequently asked questions
How much do wood and faux beam coffered ceilings cost, as published?
Frame A prints material lines, materials alone: oak at $4 to $8 per square foot, cherry at $7 to $10, walnut at $10 to $30, and mahogany at $17 to $30 for the wood class; PVC at $15 to $20 and fiberboard at $6 to $15 for the faux class. Frame B prints one installed rate of $10 to $40 per square foot across materials.
What do the drywall-and-plywood lines price at, as published?
Frame A prints drywall at $2 to $3 per square foot and plywood at $3 to $4, materials alone, at the bottom of its published material range of $2 to $30 per square foot.
What does the installed frame print by material, as published?
Frame B prints no per-material band: its $10 to $40 per square foot installed rate reads across materials as published, with room totals of $1,500 to $6,000 on average for a 150-square-foot room. That absence prints here as published, with no invented split.
What do the PVC and fiberboard lines price at, as published?
Frame A prints PVC at $15 to $20 per square foot and fiberboard at $6 to $15, materials alone. Both lines sit inside the hollow faux class in this guide, apart from the solid wood species lines.
How do room totals read against the material lines, as reported?
By frame, apart: Frame A prints an average of $3,750 per room and a typical range of $2,200 to $6,720, and Frame B prints $1,500 to $6,000 for a 150-square-foot room. A material line names the class beside a total, never instead of a frame.