How much drywall do I need?

Enter your room size to get the sheets, joint compound, tape, and screws you need — plus the installed cost with labor. Full materials bill, brand-neutral rates, free, no signup.

Short answer

To estimate drywall, take the wall area (perimeter × ceiling height) plus the ceiling, divide by the sheet size (32 sq ft for a 4×8), and add ~10% for waste. A 12×15 room with an 8-ft ceiling is about 612 sq ft — roughly 22 sheets — and costs about $1,300–$2,400 installed. Plan ~0.5 gal of joint compound and ~40 ft of tape per sheet.

4×8 sheet

32 sq ft

also 4×10, 4×12

Waste

~10%

for cuts

Installed

$1.50–$3.50

per sq ft

Per sheet

~0.5 gal

mud + 40 ft tape

Length (ft)Width (ft)Ceiling (ft)

Drywall the ceiling tooSheet sizeInclude installation labor

Enter your room size or drywall area to see the sheets, materials, and installed cost.

Drywall cost by area

200 sq ft 400 sq ft 500 sq ft 800 sq ft 1,000 sq ft 1,200 sq ft 1,500 sq ft 2,000 sq ft

Drywall by room size

10 × 10 room 10 × 12 room 12 × 12 room 12 × 14 room 12 × 16 room 12 × 20 room 14 × 16 room 16 × 16 room 16 × 20 room 20 × 20 room

Frequently asked questions

How much drywall do I need?

Measure the wall area (perimeter × ceiling height) plus the ceiling if you are drywalling it, then divide by the sheet size — 32 sq ft for a 4×8 — and add about 10% for waste. A 12×15 room with an 8-ft ceiling is about 612 sq ft, or roughly 22 sheets of 4×8. Enter your room above for the exact sheets, mud, tape, and screws.

How much is a sheet of drywall?

A standard 1/2-inch 4×8 sheet runs about $12–$18. Larger 4×10 and 4×12 sheets cost more each but cover more area and leave fewer seams to tape. Installed labor adds roughly $1.50–$3.50 per square foot.

How much does it cost to install drywall?

Hanging and finishing drywall runs about $1.50–$3.50 per square foot installed, materials plus labor, at a standard Level 4 finish. A 12×15 room is roughly $1,300–$2,400 installed. Level 5 finish, texture, and high ceilings cost more.

How much joint compound, tape, and screws do I need?

Plan on roughly half a gallon of joint compound (mud) and about 40 linear feet of tape per 4×8 sheet for a standard three-coat finish, plus about 32 screws per sheet. The calculator totals all three from your area.

Should I use 4×8, 4×10, or 4×12 sheets?

Bigger sheets mean fewer seams to tape and finish, which is faster and looks better — pros often use 4×12 on long walls and ceilings. They are heavier and harder to handle in tight spaces, where 4×8 is easier. The calculator adjusts sheet count for whichever you pick.