Drywall Calculator
Enter room dimensions to get how many sheets of drywall to buy — plus rough screw, joint compound, and tape estimates.
Room
You'll need
Board area (+10% waste)0 sq ft
Drywall sheets
0
32 sq ft each
Screws (approx)0
Joint compound~0 lb
Joint tape~0 ft
Screws/compound/tape are rough estimates — quantities vary with stud spacing and finish level.
How to estimate drywall
Total the wall area with 2 × (length + width) × height, add the ceiling (length × width) if you're boarding it, add ~10% for waste, and divide by the sheet area. Order full sheets — a few extra beat a second trip to the lumberyard.
Take off a whole room from one LiDAR scan
ProBuildCalc turns your iPhone's LiDAR scanner into a job-site measuring kit — walk the space and it captures the square footage, material takeoff, and a blueprint automatically. No tape measure, no graph paper.
Drywall calculator FAQ
- How many sheets of drywall do I need?
- Add up the wall area — 2 × (length + width) × height — plus the ceiling if you're boarding it, add about 10% for waste, then divide by the sheet size (32 sq ft for a 4×8, 48 for a 4×12). Round up to whole sheets.
- Should I use 4×8 or 4×12 drywall sheets?
- Bigger 4×12 sheets mean fewer seams to tape and finish, so pros prefer them for large walls and ceilings. 4×8 sheets are easier to carry and handle in tight spaces or for DIY.
- How much joint compound and tape do I need?
- As a rough rule, plan on about 0.05 lb of joint compound and roughly 0.4 linear feet of tape per square foot of board. The calculator gives a quick estimate, but buy a little extra.
- How many screws per sheet of drywall?
- Roughly 32 screws per 4×8 sheet on walls with 16-inch stud spacing. Ceilings and 12-inch spacing use more.