Drywall Calculator

Figure how many sheets of drywall a room takes, plus the mud, tape and screws to finish it.

Ceiling
21 sq. ft. each (3′ × 7′).
15 sq. ft. each (3′ × 5′).
Sheet Size
$
$
Fractions and decimals both work.
Sheets
Area to cover
Walls
Ceiling
Joint compound
Joint tape
Screws
Cost

Room List

Items you add are saved in this browser.

RoomSizeAreaSheetsMudCostRemove

How to Estimate Drywall

Add up the wall area (the room's perimeter times the wall height), add the ceiling if you're covering it, and subtract doors and windows. Divide by the area of one sheet and add extra for cuts and breakage.

Wall area = 2 × (length + width) × height − openings   Ceiling = length × width
Sheets = area ÷ sheet area × (1 + waste)

For finishing materials, a Lowe's drywall estimating chart lists about 9 gallons of joint compound, 350 feet of tape and 1,250 screws per 1,000 square feet of drywall.

Worked Example

Materials per 1,000 Square Feet

MaterialPer 1,000 Sq. Ft.
4×8 sheets31.25
4×12 sheets20.8
Joint compound9 gallons (about 123 to 140 lb)
Joint tape350 ft
Screws1,250

Tips

Longer sheets mean fewer butt joints to tape, but they're heavier and harder to get into a room. Hang the ceiling first, then the walls, and run sheets horizontally on walls to reduce seams. Use moisture-resistant board in bathrooms and ⅝″ fire-rated (Type X) board where code calls for it, such as walls and ceilings between a garage and the house.