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Drywall Material Calculator

Calculate drywall sheets, joint compound, tape, and screws needed for your project. Accounts for doors, windows, and includes 10% waste factor.

Enter Room Dimensions

Length of the room

Width of the room

Standard: 8 ft, 9 ft, or 10 ft

Match sheet length to ceiling height when possible

Openings & Pricing

Standard door opening: 21 sq ft

Standard window opening: 15 sq ft

1/2" drywall: $12-18 per sheet

Average: $2-4 per sq ft (hang + finish)

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Enter Your Room Dimensions

Fill in the length, width, and ceiling height on the left to calculate your drywall needs.

How to Use This Calculator

Formula Explained

The calculator uses the following method:

Total Area = 2(Length × Height) + 2(Width × Height)
Net Area = Total Area - Doors - Windows
Sheets = (Net Area / Sheet Size) × 1.10
  • • Calculates all 4 walls of the room
  • • Subtracts door openings (21 sq ft each)
  • • Subtracts window openings (15 sq ft each)
  • • Adds 10% waste factor for cuts and mistakes
  • • Joint compound: 1 gallon covers ~100 sq ft (3 coats)
  • • Screws: 32 screws per sheet, 150 screws per pound

Sheet Size Selection

8-ft CeilingsUse 4×8 sheets
9-ft CeilingsUse 4×10 sheets
10-ft+ CeilingsUse 4×12 sheets

Drywall Thickness Guide

1/4 inchCurved surfaces, repairs
3/8 inchExisting walls, double layer
1/2 inchStandard walls & ceilings
5/8 inchFire-rated, soundproof