Drywall Calculator
Calculate drywall sheets, screws, joint compound, and tape for your project. Deducts doors and windows automatically.
Last updated: February 7, 2026
Enter Room Details
One room project
Room Size
(8 ft standard)
Openings (deducted from total)
21 sq ft each
12 sq ft each
Most common — fits through doorways easily (54 lbs per sheet)
Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways
% (10% recommended)
Covers normal cuts and mistakes. Use 15% for rooms with many windows or odd shapes.
Results
Drywall Sheets Needed
11
10 sheets + 10% waste
4' × 8' (32 sq ft) · 1/2" Standard
Wall Area352 sq ft
Openings Deducted-33 sq ft
Net Area319 sq ft
Additional Materials
Screws: 352 (1-1/4")
Joint Tape: 23 ft (1 roll)
Joint Compound (mud): 1 bucket (4.5 gal)
Corner Bead (metal edge strips): 32 ft
Cost Estimate
Materials:$132
Labor (hanging):$638
Finishing (tape/mud):$319
TOTAL: $1,089
*Estimate only. Actual costs vary by location and contractor.
Shopping Tips
- • Total weight: ~594 lbs — fits in a pickup truck
- • Buy all sheets from the same lot to ensure consistent color/thickness
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your project type — New construction, renovation, basement, or garage. The calculator suggests the right drywall type for each.
- Enter room dimensions — Measure length, width, and wall height in feet or inches. Standard ceiling height is 8 ft.
- Count doors and windows — Each door deducts 21 sq ft, each window deducts 12 sq ft. This prevents overbuying.
- Choose sheet size and type — 4×8 is standard. Use moisture-resistant in bathrooms, fire-resistant for garages.
- Review your shopping list — Sheets, screws, tape, joint compound, and corner bead — everything you need in one place.
How We Calculate
Sheets = (Wall Area + Ceiling Area - Openings) ÷ Sheet Size × (1 + Waste%)
Standard sheet: 4' × 8' = 32 sq ft | Standard door: 7' × 3' = 21 sq ft
Sheet Sizes
- • 4×8: 32 sq ft (54 lbs) — most common
- • 4×10: 40 sq ft (68 lbs) — fewer seams
- • 4×12: 48 sq ft (82 lbs) — fewest seams
Material Estimates
- • Screws: ~32 per sheet (1/sq ft)
- • Joint compound: 1 gal/180 sq ft (3 coats)
- • Tape: ~2 ft per sheet
- • Corner bead: 4 corners + ceiling perimeter
Example: 12×10 Room with 8 ft Ceilings
- Perimeter: 2 × (12 + 10) = 44 ft
- Wall area: 44 × 8 = 352 sq ft
- Minus 1 door + 1 window: 352 - 33 = 319 sq ft
- Sheets (4×8): 319 ÷ 32 = 10 sheets
- With 10% waste: 10 × 1.1 = 11 sheets
Drywall Types & When to Use Them
- Standard 1/2": Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways — the go-to for most projects.
- Moisture-Resistant: Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms — not for direct water contact though.
- Type X (5/8"): Required by code in attached garages, some ceilings, and shared walls between units.
- Soundproof (5/8"): Worth the extra cost for home theaters, bedrooms next to living areas, or home offices.
Calculations based on Gypsum Association installation guidelines and industry-standard material estimates. Learn more