How many drywall screws per 4×12 sheet?
A 4 × 12 sheet of drywall on a wall with studs 16 in on center takes 40 screws: 10 studs with 4 screws each. On a ceiling at 12 in spacing it takes 50.
How to work it out
- Wall: a 4×12 sheet crosses 10 studs at 16 in; 4 screws down each at 16 in = 40 per sheet × 1 = 40
- Plus 10% extra = 44 screws
- By weight, USG’s table gives 2.7 lb of 1-1/4 in Type W screws per 1,000 sq ft: 48 sq ft → 0.1 lb
A 4 × 12 sheet runs across ten studs at 16 in centers, so it takes 40 screws on a wall and 50 on a ceiling. Per square foot that is the same as a 4 × 8, but there are fewer sheets, fewer joints and fewer edge rows overall.
Adjust for your project
More options: Wall · Ceiling · Extra (dropped and stripped screws)
- Screws per wall sheet
- 40
- Pounds to buy (USG estimate by area)
- 0.1 lb
- Drywall area
- 48 sq ft
- Each sheet is counted with its own edge screws, even where it shares a stud with the next sheet; that matches how sheets are actually fastened.
- Set every screw just below the paper surface without breaking it; a screw that tears the paper holds nothing and needs another next to it.
Screws per sheet by sheet size
| Sheet | Screws per wall sheet |
|---|---|
| 4×8 | 28 |
| 4×10 | 32 |
| 4×12 | 40 |
What to know about 4×12 sheets
- Wall: 40 screws. 144 in across the studs is 9 spaces of 16 in, so 10 studs; 4 screws down each at 16 in.
- Ceiling: 50. The same 10 joists, 5 screws each at 12 in.
- Studs 24 in apart: 7 studs × 4 = 28 on a wall.
- Weight in pounds: USG’s 2.7 lb per 1,000 sq ft is about 0.13 lb of screws per 48 sq ft sheet.
Four-by-twelve sheets weigh about 77 lb at 1/2 in regular and 106 lb at 5/8 in Type X, so get the first few screws in quickly while a helper holds the sheet, then fill in the field. On walls, hang the top sheet first, tight to the ceiling, and the bottom sheet up against it.
The 4 × 8 counts are on how many drywall screws per 4x8 sheet. What the sheet weighs: how much does a 4x12 sheet of drywall weigh.
Different size? Use the full Drywall Screw Calculator (Screws per Sheet).
What you’ll need
- Coarse-thread drywall screws (1¼ in)Budget price
The 1¼ in Type W bugle-head screw is what USG lists for single-layer 1/2 in panels on wood framing.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 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)
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Frequently asked questions
How many drywall screws per 4x12 sheet with studs 24 inches apart?
28 screws on a wall.
How many drywall screws for 30 sheets of 4x12?
About 1,320 screws on walls with 10% extra, or 4.3 lb by USG’s estimate.
Other common sizes
- How many drywall screws per 4x8 sheet — 28 screws per sheet (wall, studs 16 in apart)
- How many drywall screws per sheet for a ceiling — 35 screws per 4×8 sheet (12 in spacing)
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.