Net Area
395.00
sq ft
Home
Drywall Calculator
Estimate drywall sheets, framing, screws, finishing materials, and cost from one room worksheet.
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
- wallGrossArea = 2 x (length + width) x height; wallNetArea = max(wallGrossArea - openingArea, 0).
- Ceiling Area
- ceilingArea = length x width. Whole Room mode adds ceiling area to the net wall area.
- Drywall Sheets
- boardsNeeded = ceil(netArea / boardArea x (1 + boardWasteRate)).
- Finishing Materials
- Screws use 40 per sheet before waste, joint compound uses 0.35 kg per sq m, tape uses board length x 1.2 per sheet, and corner bead uses four room-height corners in wall modes.
Reference ranges
- Board Waste
- 10% is a common allowance for simple rooms. Increase it for many cuts, unusual corners, or first-time installation.
- Common Board Size
- 4 x 8 ft sheets are common in the United States, while metric projects often use 1.22 x 2.44 m equivalents.
- Screw Allowance
- The v1 estimate uses 40 screws per sheet before waste as a quick planning rule, not a code-specific fastening schedule.
How to use it
- 1.Choose the takeoff areaSelect Walls, Ceiling, or Whole Room so the calculator applies the right area formula.
- 2.Enter room measurementsEnter length, width, height, and unit. Switching units preserves the same physical dimensions.
- 3.Subtract openingsAdd door, window, or custom openings with width, height, and quantity. These are deducted from wall area.
- 4.Set material and pricesEdit board size, spacing, waste, and unit prices to match the products you plan to buy.
- 5.Export the material sheetUse the material takeoff table, CSV export, or print action for a shopping or job-site checklist.
Measure the room length, width, and height. For walls, the calculator uses 2 x (length + width) x height, subtracts doors and windows, then divides by the area of one sheet and adds waste.
No. Openings are wall deductions only. Ceiling mode uses length x width, while Whole Room mode adds the ceiling area to the net wall area.
Ten percent is a practical default for a simple rectangular room. Use more for rooms with many openings, closets, alcoves, angled walls, or if you want extra sheets on hand.
They are estimating quantities for planning and shopping. Final needs can change with sheet layout, local fastening rules, corner details, product size, and installer preference.
Yes. The calculator includes a CSV export for the material table and a print action for a compact material sheet.
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