Drywall Calculator
Calculate drywall sheets, joint compound, and materials needed for your construction project.
For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Wall height: Standard calculations assume 8 ft walls unless specified.
- Board size: Quick mode uses 4' x 8' boards by default.
- Waste factor: 10% waste for straightforward rooms.
- Labor rates: Based on 2025-2026 national averages ($1.50-$2.50/sq ft).
Last updated: February 2026
How to Estimate Drywall Costs
Drywall estimation starts with accurate area measurements, but there are several factors that separate a rough guess from a reliable bid. The most critical calculation is sheet count: standard 4x8 sheets cover 32 square feet each, but 4x12 sheets (48 square feet) are more efficient for 8-foot walls because they reduce the number of butt joints, resulting in less taping and faster finishing.
Material costs for standard 1/2-inch drywall run $10-$14 per sheet in 2025. Moisture-resistant (green board) costs 25-30% more, and mold-resistant (purple board) runs 35-45% more. Type X fire-rated 5/8-inch drywall, required on garage ceilings and shared walls in multi-family construction, typically costs $13-$17 per sheet. For a typical 1,500 square foot house interior (approximately 4,500 square feet of wall and ceiling area), you will need around 140-160 sheets including waste.
Labor is where drywall costs get complicated. The work breaks into three distinct phases: hanging (installing sheets), taping (applying joint compound and tape to seams), and finishing (sanding and final coats). Hanging alone runs $0.25-$0.50 per square foot. Full installation with Level 4 finish (ready for paint) runs $1.50-$2.50 per square foot nationally. Level 5 finish (skim coat over the entire surface, required for glossy paints and critical lighting conditions) adds another $0.50-$1.00 per square foot.
The most expensive mistake in drywall estimating is underestimating waste. Standard rooms with four walls and few openings need 10% waste factor. Rooms with multiple windows, doors, and angles need 15%. Cathedral ceilings, soffits, and complex architectural features can push waste to 20%. Each cutout generates waste, and unlike lumber, you cannot use small drywall scraps effectively.
Joint compound consumption is another overlooked cost driver. Plan on 25-30 pounds of joint compound per 100 square feet for a standard Level 4 finish. That works out to roughly one 4.5-gallon bucket per 250-300 square feet. Pros go through more mud than DIYers expect - a 2,000 square foot hanging job will use 7-8 buckets minimum, not counting touch-ups.
Typical Drywall Cost Breakdown
Here is how a typical drywall project budget breaks down between materials, labor, and other costs.
| Cost Category | % of Total | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall Sheets | 20-30% | $10-$17/sheet | Varies by type (standard, moisture, fire-rated) |
| Joint Compound & Tape | 5-8% | $0.10-$0.20/sq ft | All-purpose mud, paper or mesh tape |
| Fasteners & Accessories | 3-5% | $0.05-$0.10/sq ft | Screws, corner bead, J-channel, adhesive |
| Hanging Labor | 20-25% | $0.25-$0.50/sq ft | Cutting, lifting, fastening sheets to framing |
| Taping & Finishing Labor | 25-35% | $0.75-$1.50/sq ft | 3 coats of mud, sanding, touch-ups |
| Equipment & Disposal | 3-5% | $100-$400 flat | Scaffolding, lifts, dumpster rental |
| Overhead & Profit | 10-20% | Varies | Contractor markup, insurance, cleanup |
Regional Pricing Factors for Drywall
Drywall labor rates show significant regional variation, primarily driven by local labor markets and cost of living. In the Southeast and Midwest, full installation (hang, tape, finish) often runs $1.25-$1.75 per square foot. In coastal metro areas like San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Seattle, expect $2.50-$4.00 per square foot for the same work. Union markets in the Northeast and California push rates even higher.
Material prices are more consistent nationally because drywall manufacturing is distributed across the country, but transportation still matters. If you are more than 200 miles from a manufacturing plant, expect a 10-15% premium on sheet prices. States with active construction booms (Texas, Florida, Arizona) sometimes see temporary supply constraints that push prices up 5-10% above normal.
Enter your ZIP code in our calculator for region-adjusted pricing, or explore drywall costs in your state:
Pro Tips from a Construction PM
Add 15% Waste for Rooms with Many Openings
Standard 10% waste works for open walls, but rooms with multiple windows and doors generate significantly more cutoff waste. Bathrooms and kitchens with their cabinets, fixtures, and multiple cutouts should use 15-20% waste factor. Measure the actual wall area minus openings, then add back your waste percentage.
Hang Ceilings First, Then Walls
Always install ceiling drywall before walls. The wall sheets will support the ceiling edges, creating a tighter joint. Use a drywall lift for ceilings - trying to hold a 4x12 sheet overhead while driving screws is a recipe for poor results and back injuries. Rent a lift for $40-$60/day; it pays for itself in quality and speed.
Never Skip the Back-Blocking
Where two sheets meet away from a stud (butt joints), install a back-blocking or backer board behind the joint. This gives you a solid fastening surface and prevents the joint from cracking or showing through the finish. This step adds 15 minutes per joint but eliminates the most common drywall callback.
Specify Finish Level in Every Contract
The difference between Level 3 finish (tape and one coat, suitable for texture) and Level 4 finish (tape plus two coats, suitable for flat paint) is 30-40% in labor cost. Level 5 (skim coat, required for glossy paint) nearly doubles finishing labor. Get the finish level in writing before work starts to avoid disputes about what "finished" means.
Check Framing Before Hanging
Walk the framing with a straightedge before any drywall goes up. Bowed studs, twisted plates, and proud corners will telegraph through the finished surface. It takes 10 minutes to plane a bowed stud before hanging versus hours of extra mud and sanding to hide it after.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Construction Cost Estimation FAQs
A 12x12 foot room with 8-foot ceilings has approximately 384 square feet of wall area (perimeter of 48 ft Ć 8 ft height) plus 144 square feet of ceiling, totaling 528 square feet. Subtract roughly 50 square feet for a door and window. At 32 square feet per 4x8 sheet, you need about 15 sheets plus 10% waste, so purchase 17 sheets. If using 4x12 sheets for the ceiling, you can reduce sheet count and get cleaner joints.
Level 1 is tape embedded in compound, used in concealed areas like above ceilings. Level 2 adds a skim coat over tape and fasteners, used in garages. Level 3 has two coats over tape and one over fasteners, suitable for heavy texture. Level 4 has three coats over tape and two over fasteners, the standard for flat paint. Level 5 adds a skim coat over the entire surface, required for glossy paint, critical lighting, or thin wallcoverings. Each level adds approximately $0.25-$0.50 per square foot in labor.
Hanging drywall is manageable for a capable DIYer - it is physically demanding but not technically complex. The real skill gap is in taping and finishing. Professional tapers achieve smooth, invisible joints in 3 coats over 3 days. Most DIYers need 4-5 coats with extensive sanding to approach similar quality. If budget is tight, a common compromise is to hang the drywall yourself (saving $0.25-$0.50/sq ft) and hire a professional taper for the finishing work.
A standard 2-car garage (approximately 400-600 square feet of wall and ceiling area) costs $1,200-$3,000 for full drywall installation. Garages typically require 5/8-inch Type X fire-rated drywall on the ceiling and any walls shared with living space, which costs 20-30% more than standard 1/2-inch. Unfinished garage drywall (Level 2 finish, no painting) runs $1.50-$2.00 per square foot. Adding a Level 4 finish brings it to $2.00-$3.00 per square foot.
For a standard 12x12 bedroom, a two-person crew can hang drywall in 3-4 hours. Taping and finishing takes 3 separate visits over 3-4 days: first coat (1-2 hours), second coat after 24 hours of drying (1-2 hours), and final coat plus sanding after another 24 hours (2-3 hours). Total active labor is about 10-14 hours, but the calendar time is 4-5 days due to drying time between coats. DIYers should expect roughly double the active labor time.
Drywall Calculator by State
Get drywall cost estimates with state-specific regional pricing: