MaterialSum

Drywall Calculator

Know your total wall area? Enter it here to get sheet counts, plus rough screw and mud estimates.

Dimensions
ft²
ft²
Material & Waste
Optional Cost
Enter your measurements above to see results.

How to use the Drywall Calculator

  1. Add up the square footage of the surfaces you are boarding (or use the Walls & Ceiling calculator from room dimensions).
  2. Subtract large openings — doors (~21 ft²) and standard windows (~12 ft²).
  3. Pick your sheet size and keep 10% waste for cuts and breakage.

Formula & methodology

Sheets = Area ÷ sheet area × (1 + waste). A 4×8 sheet covers 32 ft². Screws ≈ 1.25 per ft². Joint compound ≈ 1 gallon of ready-mix per 100 ft² (approximate).

Example

400 ft² of wall with 40 ft² of openings leaves 360 ft². At 32 ft² per sheet that is 11.25 sheets — buy 13 with 10% waste.

Related calculators

Drywall Sheets CalculatorNo area math needed — enter the room dimensions and this calculator sizes the walls and ceiling for you.Paint CalculatorEnter your wall area and number of coats to see how much paint to buy — no half-used cans, no second trip to the store.Ceiling Tile CalculatorEnter your room size and panel format to find how many ceiling tiles — and boxes — to order for a suspended grid.

FAQ

How many 4×8 sheets cover 1,000 square feet?

1,000 ÷ 32 = 31.25 sheets exactly — buy 35 with a 10% waste allowance.

How many screws per sheet of drywall?

Roughly 32–40 screws per 4×8 sheet on 16 in centers (about 1.25 screws per square foot). Screws are cheap — buy a bulk box.

How much joint compound per sheet?

Plan on roughly 1 gallon of all-purpose ready-mix per 100 ft² of board for tape and fill coats — more for a level-5 finish.

Should I use 4×10 or 4×12 sheets?

Longer sheets mean fewer seams on tall walls or long ceilings — if you can handle the weight and your room allows, they speed up finishing.