Drywall Calculator
Calculate how many sheets of drywall, plus screws, joint compound and tape, for any room.
The drywall calculator returns the sheet count plus all the supporting materials - screws, joint compound and tape - for any room. Enter the room dimensions, door/window count and whether you are doing the ceiling, and the calculator handles the rest. Standard 4x8 sheets are easiest to handle solo; 4x12 sheets cover faster but need two people or a lift. Plan on 10% waste for cuts and breakage. Common questions like "how many sheets of drywall for a 12x10 room" or "how much joint compound do I need per sheet" can be answered in seconds.
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Frequently asked questions
A 12x10 room with 8 ft ceilings has 352 sq ft of wall area. After subtracting one door (21 sq ft) and two windows (30 sq ft), wall area is 301 sq ft. Adding a 120 sq ft ceiling = 421 sq ft total. With 32 sq ft 4x8 sheets and 10% waste, you need 15 sheets.
4x8 sheets (32 sq ft) are standard - lighter, easier to handle solo, and fit through most doors and stairs. 4x12 sheets (48 sq ft) cover 50% more area with fewer joints to tape, but each weighs 75+ lbs and needs two people. Use 4x12 for big open rooms; 4x8 for small or hard-to-access spaces.
Plan on roughly 1 gallon of pre-mixed joint compound per 175 sq ft of drywall, or about 5-6 sheets. A 5-gallon bucket covers 800-900 sq ft. Three coats (tape coat, fill coat, finish coat) is standard - the calculator includes all three.
About 32 screws per 4x8 sheet (1 screw every 8 inches on studs, 6-7 studs per sheet). 1 lb of 1-1/4 inch drywall screws contains about 200 screws, so 1 lb covers 6-7 sheets. For ceiling drywall, use 1-5/8 inch screws and add 25% more screws because of the gravity load.
Yes - use moisture-resistant green board or purple board for bathroom walls, and cement board (Durock, HardieBacker) on shower walls behind tile. Regular drywall absorbs moisture and grows mold. Greenboard costs about 30% more than standard drywall but is essential for any wet area.