How to use it
- Choose a partition wall, a furring wall or a ceiling.
- Enter the wall length and height, or the ceiling size, and any doors.
- Pick one or two sides, one or two layers, sheet size and stud spacing.
- Check the assumptions and unit prices and change anything that differs.
- Download the materials list as a PDF or Excel file.
What this drywall calculator figures out
Most drywall calculators stop at sheet count. This one works out the whole job, so the estimate matches what you actually haul home.
Walls (partition or furring wall):
- sheets of drywall (4×8, 4×10, 4×12 ft or any size you enter), with a waste allowance
- studs at 16 in or 24 in on center, plus two extra studs per door opening
- top and bottom track or plate, with the door width deducted from the bottom
- drywall screws, anchors, sealant or sill gasket, joint tape and joint compound
- insulation area for the stud cavities
Ceilings: sheets, furring channels at your spacing, hangers, splices, perimeter track, screws and joint finishing.
Every rate is visible and editable: screws per square foot, compound per square foot, waste, stud and track lengths. Each line has an estimated unit price you can overwrite, and you get a total. A wall drawing shows the stud layout. Export the list to PDF or Excel for free, with no sign-up. Everything runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded. US units are the default; switch to metric with one click.
Formula and worked example: a 12 ft wall
Example: a 12 ft long, 8 ft high partition wall, drywall on both sides, one layer of 4×8 sheets, studs 16 in on center, 10% waste, 1 screw per square foot.
- Area per side: 12 × 8 = 96 sq ft
- Board area: 96 × 2 sides = 192 sq ft
- Sheets: 192 × 1.10 / 32 = 6.6 → 7 sheets of 4×8
- Studs: 12 ft / 16 in = 9 spaces + 1 = 10 studs, 8 ft each
- Track or plates: top + bottom = 24 ft
- Screws: 192 × 1 = 192 screws
- Tape: 4 ft sheets on a 12 ft wall leave 2 vertical seams: 2 × 8 ft × 2 sides × 1.10 = 35.2 ft
Add a 3 ft × 6 ft 8 in door and the board area drops to 152 sq ft: 6 sheets, 12 studs (two extra at the opening), 152 screws, and 21 ft of track in total, because the door opening is cut out of the bottom plate.
The joint compound line multiplies the finished area by a rate you can set from the coverage printed on your bucket or box. With two layers, the calculator adds compound for the hidden first-layer joints and uses wider screw spacing for the base layer.
Sheet size, stud spacing and thickness
| Choice | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 4×8 sheets | easy to carry; standard for small rooms and repairs |
| 4×10 or 4×12 sheets | fewer butt joints on long walls and 9 or 10 ft ceilings |
| Studs 16 in o.c. | standard for walls; edges of 4 ft sheets land on studs |
| Studs or joists 24 in o.c. | common in some framing; thicker board is often chosen on ceilings |
| Two layers | stiffer wall, better sound control, used in rated assemblies |
1/2 in board is the everyday choice for walls. 5/8 in board sags less on ceilings and is used in fire-rated assemblies such as garage separation walls; check your local code and the manufacturer's tested assembly for those. Moisture-resistant board for baths and laundry rooms is counted the same way, so just change its unit price in the list.
Pro tips for hanging drywall
- Plan the seams. Stagger joints between the two sides of a wall, and offset the second layer from the first.
- Go long. A sheet as tall as the wall, or as long as a short wall, removes a joint you would otherwise tape and sand.
- Block before you board. Add backing for grab bars, TV mounts and cabinets, and run wiring and boxes first.
- Count corners. Inside corners need tape too, and outside corners need corner bead. Add a little extra tape and mud for them.
- Keep a spare. One extra sheet covers a cracked corner or a botched outlet cutout.
Common mistakes
- Dividing area by 32 and stopping. Studs, screws, tape and mud are a real part of the cost.
- Forgetting the second side. A partition wall needs drywall on both faces.
- Rounding down. 6.1 sheets means 7 sheets.
- Ignoring openings. Doors reduce board area, but each one adds studs and changes the bottom plate.
- Treating drywall as structure. Partition walls built this way are not load-bearing; ask a pro before removing or moving any wall.
Painting next? Carry the area into the paint calculator. Tiling a bathroom wall? Use the tile calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 12 × 8 ft wall?
For one side, 96 sq ft divided by 32 sq ft per 4×8 sheet is 3 sheets, or 4 with waste. For both sides with 10% waste, 7 sheets.
How many drywall screws per sheet?
About one screw per square foot is a common estimate, so roughly 32 per 4×8 sheet on walls. Ceilings are usually screwed closer. You can change the rate in the calculator.
How much drywall mud do I need?
The drywall mud calculator part multiplies the finished area by a coverage rate you can edit. Use the coverage on your compound bucket for the best estimate.
How many studs for a 12 ft wall?
At 16 in on center, 12 ft divided by 16 in is 9 spaces, so 10 studs. Each door adds two more in this calculator.
Does it work for ceilings?
Yes. Ceiling mode counts sheets, furring channels, hangers, splices, perimeter track, screws, tape and compound.
Is it the same as a sheetrock calculator?
Yes. Sheetrock is a brand name that many people use for drywall in general, and the math is the same for any gypsum board.
Last updated: November 13, 2026