Skip to content
CostToUpgrade
Interior & Insulation

Drywall Calculator

Size your drywall order. Enter the room dimensions and ceiling height, pick a sheet size, and add waste to get the total wall area, sheets needed, and an estimated installed cost.

Reviewed by The CostToUpgrade Estimating Desk Last reviewed How we estimate

Your project

Room

Standard ceilings are 8 ft; many great rooms run 9–10 ft.

Material

Covers cuts around corners, doors, and windows.

Pricing

Installed drywall (material, labor, tape, and mud) commonly runs $60–$90 per 4×8 sheet.

Estimate

13sheets

Sheets needed · Includes waste allowance

Wall area
352ft²
Estimated installed cost
$975.00

Estimates are guidance only and exclude tax, labor, and site conditions unless stated. Confirm with a local pro.

How it's calculated

No black boxes — here is the exact math behind your estimate, so you can check it or adapt it for your own quote.

  1. 1Wall area (ft²) = perimeter × wall height = [2 × (length + width)] × height
  2. 2Sheets = ⌈ (wall area ÷ sheet size) × (1 + waste% ÷ 100) ⌉
  3. 3Cost = sheets × price per sheet

Worked example

A 12 ft × 10 ft room with 8 ft ceilings using standard 4×8 sheets.

Inputs

Room length
12 ft
Room width
10 ft
Wall height
8 ft
Sheet size
32
Waste allowance
10 %
Price per sheet
75 $/sheet

Result

Sheets needed
13 sheets
Wall area
352 ft²
Estimated installed cost
$975.00

Tools & materials for this project

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

  • Drywall screws Fasten panels to studs and ceiling joists.
  • Joint compound Tape and finish the seams smooth.
  • Taping knife set Spread and feather compound over joints.
Get real quotes

Compare local pros for drywall installation

An estimate gets you a budget. A few competing quotes get you the real price. Tell us about the job and we'll help you find vetted contractors nearby.

Get matched

Drywall cost by state

The calculator does the quantity math exactly. What it can't know is what a fair unit price looks like where you live — drywall installation runs 61% more in the priciest US market than the cheapest.

Drywall cost in all 50 states + DC US average $75 per sheet installed · regional averages, full ranked table, and typical project totals.

Frequently asked questions

How many sheets of drywall do I need for a room?
Multiply the room’s perimeter by the wall height to get wall area, divide by your sheet size (32 ft² for a standard 4×8 sheet), then add about 10% for waste. A 12×10 room with 8 ft ceilings needs roughly 13 sheets.
What size drywall sheet should I use?
4×8 sheets are the standard and easiest for one person to handle. 4×12 sheets cover more area per sheet and mean fewer seams, but generally need two people or a panel lift to install.
Does this include the ceiling?
No — this estimates wall sheets only. If you’re also drywalling the ceiling, calculate its square footage (length × width) separately and divide by your sheet size to add those sheets.