Drywall Calculator

What this calculator does

This drywall calculator turns rough dimensions into a practical materials list you can hand to a supplier or use to price a project. Start with a simple room or switch to custom walls to model additions, basements, or odd layouts. You can choose common panel sizes (4×8, 4×10, 4×12) or metric equivalents, enter waste, and add optional pricing for sheets, screws, tape, joint compound, and corner bead. The tool outputs sheet counts for walls and ceilings, screw totals, tape length, compound needs by coat, corner bead pieces, estimated weight, and a roll-up cost if you provide prices.

Numbers here follow common field rules of thumb and are meant for planning. Real layouts, stud spacing, and framing quirks can change waste and seam patterns. If you’re painting after drywall, pair this with the Paint Calculator. Need to sanity-check your floor area or tile a bathroom? Try the Square Footage Calculator and Tiles Calculator.

Pro tip: enter prices you actually pay, not shelf price. Bulk buys and contractor packs often reduce cost per unit. Your totals update instantly, so it’s easy to test “what-ifs” like changing sheet size, adjusting waste, or adding another mud coat.

Settings

Sheet size and pricing

Accessories & pricing (optional)

Room

Openings to subtract

Custom walls

Understand your results

• Sheet counts are area-based with your waste factor applied. Actual layouts, stud spacing, and window placement can change how many panels you cut.
• Screws use separate per-sheet assumptions for walls and ceilings. Tighten or loosen these to match your crew and code requirements.
• Tape and mud scale with seams and coats. If you skim or add a third coat, increase the gallons per 100 ft² or coat count.
• Corner bead estimates vertical interior corners at average wall height. Add pieces if you have lots of soffits or openings.
• Weight is based on board thickness and a simple pounds-per-ft² factor. Use care when lifting and staging sheets.

These outputs are planning aids. Before ordering, confirm counts against your layout and building code. For paint quantity after finishing, head to the Paint Calculator.

How to use this calculator

1. Pick your Units and waste in Settings.
2. Choose a Sheet preset or enter a custom size. Add prices if you want a cost total.
3. In Room, enter length, width, and height. Toggle ceiling and enter door/window counts or areas.
4. Or switch to Custom walls to add each wall, plus optional ceiling area and openings total.
5. Click Calculate. Review Summary and Materials. Use Download CSV to save or share.

Tip: Try both 4×12 and 4×8 to see how seams and waste affect cost. Longer sheets can cut seams but may be harder to handle.

Drywall FAQs