Drywall Calculator

Estimate how many drywall sheets you need for the walls (and optionally the ceiling) of a room.

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How it works

Wall area is the perimeter times ceiling height; add the floor area if you are drywalling the ceiling. Add 10% for waste, then divide by the square footage of your chosen sheet (a 4×8 sheet is 32 sq ft).

Formula

Sheets = ⌈(Wall area + ceiling) × 1.10 ÷ sheet size⌉

Frequently asked questions

How many drywall sheets for a 12x12 room?

About 15 sheets of 4×8 drywall for the walls and ceiling of a 12×12 room with 8 ft ceilings, including waste.

What size drywall sheet should I use?

4×8 sheets are easiest to handle solo; 4×12 sheets cover faster with fewer seams but need two people.

How much joint compound do I need?

Budget roughly one gallon of compound per 100 square feet of drywall for taping and finishing.