Drywall cost calculator (materials)
Enter the room and the prices from your supplier. The calculator counts the sheets, pails of joint compound, rolls of tape and pounds of screws, and totals them. The prices filled in are only examples: type your own.
Enter your measurements
More options: Door · Waste allowance · Sheet $ …
- Drywall sheets
- $270.00
- Joint compound
- $40.00
- Tape
- $5.00
- Screws
- $8.23
- Shopping list
- 18 sheets of 4×8, 2 pails of compound, 1 roll of tape, 1.4 lb of screws
- Drywall area
- 508 sq ft
18 sheets × price = $270.00 · 2 pails × price = $40.00 · 1 roll × price = $5.00 · screws $8.23
Total $323.23
- Quantities follow the drywall calculator and USG’s estimating table (10 gal of compound, 370 ft of tape and 2.7 lb of screws per 1,000 sq ft). Delivery, corner bead, primer and tool rental are extra.
Materials by sheet size (same room and prices)
| Sheet | Shopping list | Materials total |
|---|---|---|
| 4×8 | 18 sheets of 4×8, 2 pails of compound, 1 roll of tape, 1.4 lb of screws | $323.23 |
| 4×10 | 14 sheets of 4×10, 2 pails of compound, 1 roll of tape, 1.4 lb of screws | $263.23 |
| 4×12 | 12 sheets of 4×12, 2 pails of compound, 1 roll of tape, 1.4 lb of screws | $233.23 |
The prices filled in are placeholders, not what drywall costs where you live. Board prices vary a lot by thickness, type (regular, lightweight, moisture-resistant, fire-rated) and region, so price the exact sheets you will hang. New to this? Drywall words explained.
How the material cost is worked out
sheets = (walls + ceiling) × (1 + waste) ÷ sheet area, rounded up pails = area × 10 gal per 1,000 sq ft ÷ 4.5 gal, rounded up tape rolls = area × 370 ft per 1,000 sq ft ÷ 250 ft, rounded up screws = area × 2.7 lb per 1,000 sq ft
The quantities match the other drywall calculators: a 12 × 12 room with 8 ft walls and a door is 18 sheets of 4 × 8, two 4.5 gal pails, one 250 ft roll of tape and about 1.4 lb of screws. See how many sheets of drywall for a 12x12 room and how much mud per sheet of drywall.
Ways the cost changes
- Sheet size. 4 × 12 sheets cost more each but you need fewer, and fewer joints means less mud and labor.
- Board type. Lightweight, moisture-resistant and fire-rated (Type X) board each cost more than regular 1/2 in.
- Waste. Rooms with many openings, angles or a vaulted ceiling waste more; 15% is a safer allowance there.
- Delivery. Many suppliers charge for delivery but carry the board in; for a pickup truck, see what a bundle of drywall weighs.
What you’ll need
- Drywall screw gunMid-range price
Sets each screw just below the surface without tearing the paper, which a regular drill makes hard to do consistently.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Drywall T-square (48 in)Budget price
Scores a full-width sheet square in one pass. USG’s tool list includes a 4 ft straightedge or T-square.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Taping knife set (6, 10, 12 in)Budget price
Narrow for embedding tape and screw spots, wide for feathering the second and third coats.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - All-purpose joint compound (ready-mixed)Budget price
Tapes, fills and finishes. USG estimates about 10 gallons per 1,000 sq ft of panels for its All Purpose compound.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drywall a 12x12 room?
In materials: 18 sheets of 4 × 8, two pails of joint compound, a roll of tape and about 1.4 lb of screws for the walls and ceiling. Put your supplier’s prices into the calculator for the total.
What drywall materials do I need besides sheets?
Screws, joint compound, paper tape, corner bead for outside corners, sandpaper, and primer before painting. USG’s estimate per 1,000 sq ft is 10 gallons of compound, 370 ft of tape and 2.7 lb of screws.
Is it cheaper to use 4x12 sheets?
Per square foot the board often costs about the same, but 4 × 12 sheets leave fewer joints to tape and finish. They are heavier and harder to get into the house.
Does the cost include labor?
No. It is the materials for a do-it-yourself job. Add tool rental (a panel lift, a screw gun) if you need it.
Related guides
Sources
- USG, How to Install and Finish Sheetrock Brand Gypsum Panels (J371) (opens in a new tab) — Panel coverage table; per 1,000 sq ft of panels: 2.7 lb of Type W screws (12 in on ceilings, 16 in on walls), 5.3 lb of nails, 370 ft of joint tape, about 10 gal of All Purpose or 9 gal of Plus 3 compound; First Coat primer at 400 sq ft/gal.
- USG, Sheetrock Brand All Purpose Joint Compound, Ready-Mixed, submittal sheet (J1969) (opens in a new tab) — Approximately 10 gal per 1,000 sq ft of gypsum panels (37.8 L per 100 m²); 4.5 gal pail, 3.5 and 4.5 gal cartons.
- USG, Interior Finishing Products catalog (J1424) (opens in a new tab) — Paper joint tape in 75, 250 and 500 ft rolls; corner bead in standard 8, 9 and 10 ft lengths; ceiling spray texture in 32 and 40 lb bags.