Drywall Calculator

Enter the room dimensions, pick a sheet size, subtract doors and windows — get a full bill of materials: drywall sheets, screws, joint compound buckets, paper tape, and a to-scale wall-elevation preview that shows how the sheets lay out.

Room dimensions

Sheet size

Doors & windows (subtract from wall area)

Doors

Windows

Fasteners & finishing materials

Pricing (optional)

Wall-elevation preview

Sheets shown to scale, laid horizontally with a half-sheet stagger between rows — the industry-standard layout that avoids long continuous joints.

Long wall

14.0 × 8.0 ft

5 panels · cut pieces

Short wall

12.0 × 8.0 ft

4 panels · cut pieces

About the Drywall Calculator

Drywall — also called sheetrock, gypsum board, plasterboard, or wallboard — is the most common interior wall and ceiling material in North American homes. A drywall job is deceptively simple to estimate but easy to under-order: you need sheets, screws, joint compound (mud), paper tape, and corner bead, and each is sold in a different unit.

This Drywall Calculator turns your room dimensions into a complete bill of materials. Pick the sheet size that suits the wall length (4′ × 12′ sheets give fewer butt joints on long walls), subtract doors and windows, add a sensible waste percentage, and the calculator returns sheet count, screws, mud buckets, tape linear feet, and total cost. The wall-elevation preview shows how the sheets stagger across each wall so you can spot trouble before you start cutting. Pair it with the Flooring Calculator and Wall Painting Calculator to plan a full room renovation.

How to use the Drywall Calculator

  1. Toggle Imperial or Metric at the top right.
  2. Enter the room's length, width, and ceiling height.
  3. Choose the sheet size: 4×8 is the standard, 4×10 and 4×12 minimise butt joints on long or tall walls.
  4. Tick Include ceiling if you're hanging the ceiling drywall too.
  5. Enter the count and dimensions of doors and windows — their area is subtracted.
  6. Adjust screws per sheet (32 is standard for walls, 40+ for ceilings), mud coverage, tape per sheet, and waste % if needed.
  7. Fill in prices (optional) to see a total budget.
  8. Review the bill of materials on the right and the wall-elevation preview below to plan cuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many drywall sheets do I need per room?

Divide your net drywall area (walls + ceiling, minus doors and windows) by the sheet area, then add 10% for waste. A typical 14′ × 12′ room with 8′ ceilings and one door + two windows needs about 14–16 sheets of 4′ × 8′.

How many screws per sheet of drywall?

The industry standard is 32 screws per 4′ × 8′ sheet for walls (one every 12″ on studs and 16″ on field). Ceilings need more — about 40–44 per sheet — because gravity is working against the fastener.

Which sheet size should I buy: 4×8, 4×10, or 4×12?

4′ × 8′ is the easiest to handle solo. 4′ × 10′ and 4′ × 12′ reduce the number of butt joints on long walls — fewer joints means less mud, less tape, and a flatter finished wall. Pick the longest sheet that fits through your doors and stairwells.

How many buckets of joint compound (mud) will I need?

For a three-coat finish on new drywall, expect one 5-gallon bucket of pre-mix lightweight compound per 150–250 ft² of drywall. The default 200 ft²/bucket is a safe mid-range estimate — fine textured walls need more, smooth Level-5 finishes more still.

How much drywall tape do I need?

Roughly 11–12 linear feet of paper tape per 4′ × 8′ sheet covers all joints, butts, and inside corners. A standard 250′ roll covers about 21–22 sheets. Mesh tape (for repairs) and metal corner bead are separate purchases.

Why does the wall-elevation preview stagger the sheets?

Staggering (offsetting butt joints by half a sheet on every other row) prevents long continuous vertical joints, which are prone to cracking and visible from across the room. Every pro hangs drywall this way — the preview reflects that real-world layout.

Should I add a waste percentage?

Yes — 10% is standard for a rectangular room, 15% if the room has lots of cuts (alcoves, sloped ceilings, lots of windows). It is far easier to return one unused sheet than to drive back to the lumber yard mid-project.

What thickness of drywall does this calculator assume?

The calculator is thickness-agnostic — sheet count is the same whether you choose ½″ (standard walls), ⅝″ (Type X fire-rated, common on ceilings and garage walls), or ¼″ (bendable, curves). Match thickness to your code requirements and weight tolerance.