Net Area
395.00
sq ft
Home
Drywall Calculator
Estimate drywall sheets, framing, screws, finishing materials, and cost from one room worksheet.
WallsCeilingWhole roomCSV
Plan. Calculate. Build with confidence.
Enter room dimensions, subtract openings, then price the drywall material list.
Calculate For
1. Room Information
2. Openings
| Type | Width | Height | Quantity | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Door and window areas are deducted from wall area only.
3. Results Summary
Boards Needed
14
sheets
Total Cost
$575.13
estimate
4. Material Takeoff
| Item | Qty | Unit | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall Board (4 x 8 ft) | 14 | sheets | $12.00 | $168.00 |
| Stud / Channel | 376 | ft | $0.90 | $338.40 |
| Screws | 588 | pcs | $0.01 | $5.88 |
| Joint Compound | 13.49 | kg | $1.80 | $24.27 |
| Tape | 141.12 | ft | $0.16 | $22.58 |
| Corner Bead | 32 | ft | $0.50 | $16.00 |
| Grand Total | $575.13 | |||
5. Assumptions / Notes
- Board waste: 10%
- Other material waste: 5%
- Screws: 40 pcs per board before waste
- Joint compound: 0.35 kg per sq m before waste
- Corner bead: 4 room corners
- Prices are user-provided estimates and vary by region.
Results update automatically.
Need a change for Drywall Calculator?
About this calculator
Method, formulas, and limits.What this does
Calculates drywall material quantities for walls, ceilings, or an entire room. It subtracts door and window openings where applicable, adds waste, and converts the result into sheets, framing length, screws, joint compound, tape, corner bead, and estimated material cost.
Who it is for
Homeowners, DIY remodelers, contractors, and material estimators planning drywall purchases before a repair, room finish, basement build-out, or small renovation.
How it works
The calculator converts the visible unit inputs to meters for the core math, computes wall and ceiling area, deducts openings from wall area, applies board and other waste allowances, then rounds purchase quantities where needed. Length-based material costs use the currently selected length unit.
Limitations
Results are planning estimates. The calculator does not optimize sheet layout, model cuts, include labor, account for fastener schedules by code, or replace a local contractor's takeoff for complex rooms.
Key calculations
- Wall Area
- Wall gross area = 2 × (length + width) × height. Door and window opening areas are subtracted to get net wall area.
- Board Count
- Boards = ceil(netArea / boardArea × (1 + boardWaste)). Board area is width × length of the selected board size.
- Framing
- Stud count = ceil(perimeter / studSpacing) + 4. Ceiling channel length is the smaller of the two crossing runs.
- Finishing
- Screws ≈ 40 per board, joint compound ≈ 0.35 kg per sq m, tape ≈ 1.2 × board length per board, corner bead = height × 4 for wall modes.
Reference ranges
- Board Waste
- 5-10% waste is typical for simple rooms. 10-15% is safer for complex layouts with many openings or angles.
- Screws
- About 40 drywall screws are used per 4 x 8 ft sheet in standard residential installation.
How to use it
- 1.Enter room dimensionsInput length, width, and height, and choose the unit. Switch to ceiling mode for ceiling-only takeoffs.
- 2.Add openingsAdd doors and windows with their sizes and quantities. Opening areas are deducted from wall area only.
- 3.Set material settingsChoose board size, stud and screw spacing, waste percentages, and unit prices.
- 4.Review and exportCheck the material takeoff, grand total, and assumptions. Export to CSV or print the material sheet.
Yes. Opening areas are subtracted from wall area when you add them. Openings do not reduce ceiling area.
5-10% is standard for simple rooms. Use 10-15% for complex layouts, many openings, or angled cuts.
No. The calculator estimates material quantities and prices only. Labor is not included.
Yes. Use Export CSV to download the takeoff or Print for a formatted material sheet.
Related calculators
Quick jumps
Concrete Block
Estimate concrete blocks for walls, steps, and whole-house projects with openings, pallets, mortar, and cost.
Siding Calculator
Estimate siding squares, package counts, and cost for house takeoffs, gable ends, and direct square feet.
Roofing Calculator
Estimate roofing squares, material quantities, and cost for roof takeoffs.