Drywall Calculator
Pick the sheet size you can get into the room. Bigger sheets mean fewer seams to tape and fewer screws per square foot, but they are heavy and awkward on stairs.
How this calculator works
- Area = walls (minus openings) + ceiling; sheets add 10% for cutoffs.
- Screws: about one per square foot (the Gypsum Association spacing works out close to this).
- Mud and tape use the common rule of thumb of about 0.053 gal of compound and 0.37 ft of tape per square foot of board.
Drywall questions
How many drywall sheets for a 12×12 room?
With 8 ft walls and a ceiling, about 477 sq ft after openings, so 17 sheets of 4×8 with 10% waste.
1/2" or 5/8" drywall?
1/2 inch is standard on walls. 5/8 inch Type X is required for fire separation between a garage and living space in many codes, and is stiffer on ceilings.
Hang drywall horizontally or vertically?
On walls, horizontal is common for residential work because it cuts seam length and bridges framing irregularities. Commercial jobs often hang vertically.