Drywall Cost Calculator

This calculator provides a practical installed-cost estimate for drywall (gypsum board) projects by converting a measured surface area into the number of sheets required and combining material plus labor allowances. It is intended for quick budgeting and planning; use contractor proposals for final pricing.

Estimates account for sheet size, cutting/waste allowance, a per-sheet material price, and a labor rate adjusted by a finishing-level multiplier to reflect taping, joint compound, and sanding effort.

Updated Nov 28, 2025QA PASS — golden 25 / edge 120Run golden-edge-2026-01-23

Governance

Record 91a95c62b373 • Reviewed by Fidamen Standards Committee

Inputs

Total drywall surface area to cover (sq ft)

Min 1 · Max 100000

Drywall sheet width (inches)

Min 12 · Max 72

Drywall sheet height (feet)

Min 4 · Max 16

Waste and cutting allowance (%)

Min 0 · Max 50

Material price per sheet (local currency)

Min 0 · Max 1000

Labor rate per sq ft (installation only)

Min 0 · Max 200

Finish-level multiplier (1 = basic level; more than 1 increases finishing time/cost)

Min 0.5 · Max 3

Results

Updates as you type

Single sheet area (sq ft)

Sheets required (including waste)

—

Estimated material cost

—

Estimated labor cost

$1,500.00

Total estimated installed cost

—

Installed cost per sq ft

—

Output	Value	Unit
Single sheet area (sq ft)	32	sq ft
Sheets required (including waste)	—	—
Estimated material cost	—	USD
Estimated labor cost	$1,500.00	USD
Total estimated installed cost	—	USD
Installed cost per sq ft	—	USD

Primary result32

Visualization

Points

Methodology

Sheet area is computed by converting sheet width in inches to feet (width_in / 12) and multiplying by sheet height in feet. The number of sheets equals total surface area divided by single-sheet area, increased by the waste percentage and rounded up to whole sheets.

Material cost equals sheets required times the per-sheet price. Labor cost is calculated from total surface area multiplied by the labour rate and adjusted by the finishing multiplier. Total cost is material plus labor. These steps follow standard estimating practice used in residential and light-commercial construction and align with unit conventions from NIST.

For handling, worker safety, and site controls consult OSHA construction guidance and local building codes; disposal, permits, and specialty finishes (moisture- or fire-rated boards) add separate costs.

Worked examples

Example 1: 500 sq ft, 48 in × 8 ft sheets, 10% waste, $12/sheet, $2.50/sq ft labor, 1.2 finish: yields sheets, material, labor and total cost.

Example 2: For ceilings or high walls, increase waste_percent to account for extra cuts and scaffold time; adjust finish_multiplier for additional corner work or heavy texture.

F.A.Q.

Can I enter multiple rooms or different sheet sizes?

This calculator uses a single total surface area. For multiple rooms or mixed sheet sizes, sum the surface areas into one total or run separate calculations per room and add results for the most accurate count.

How should I choose the waste percentage?

Typical waste ranges from 5% for large, regular rooms up to 15% or more for small irregular rooms, many openings, or ceilings. Use a higher waste for small rooms, nonstandard heights, or where many cuts are required.

What does the finish-level multiplier represent?

Finish multiplier scales labor to account for taping, joint compound coats, sanding, and texture. Use 1.0 for minimal finishing, 1.1–1.3 for standard finish, and higher values for premium or complex finishes.

Does the estimate include fasteners, joint tape, corner bead, or paint?

No. This tool estimates board count, board material cost, and labor for hanging/finishing. Add separate line items for fasteners, tape, beads, corner guards, primer/paint, scaffolding, waste disposal, and permits.

How accurate is the result?

Estimates are intended for planning and budgeting. Accuracy depends on the precision of your inputs (area, local rates, waste allowance). Typical variation versus a detailed contractor bid can be ±10–20% depending on site complexity and local labor markets.

Are there regulatory or safety considerations I should know?

Yes. Follow OSHA construction safety requirements for manual handling and fall protection. Use appropriate rated board types (fire, moisture, mold) where required by local building codes. Engage licensed contractors when structural changes or code compliance is at issue.

How should I account for ceilings or high walls?

Increase waste_percent and consider higher labor_cost_per_sqft to reflect additional time for lifts, scaffolding, or taping overhead. For very high walls, consult a contractor for an accurate bid.

Does the calculator include removal or disposal of existing drywall?

No. Demolition, hauling, and disposal are not included and should be estimated separately based on volume, local landfill fees, and any hazardous-material handling requirements.

Sources & citations

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Construction — https://www.osha.gov/construction
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — Units and conversions — https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/si-units
U.S. Department of Energy — Insulation and sealing guidance — https://www.energy.gov/energysaver
Environmental Protection Agency — Lead and renovation rules — https://www.epa.gov/lead
MIT OpenCourseWare — Materials and construction resources — https://ocw.mit.edu
ACI — American Concrete Institute Standards — https://www.concrete.org/publications/typesofpublications/standards(codesandspecs).aspx
ACI 211.1-91 — Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Concrete — https://www.concrete.org/
ASTM International — Construction Standards — https://www.astm.org/

Further resources

Related tools

Versioning & Change Control

Audit record (versions, QA runs, reviewer sign-off, and evidence).

Record ID: 91a95c62b373

What changed (latest)

v1.0.0 • 2025-11-28 • MINOR

Initial publication and governance baseline.

Why: Published with reviewed formulas, unit definitions, and UX controls.

Public QA status

PASS — golden 25 + edge 120

Last run: 2026-01-23 • Run: golden-edge-2026-01-23

Engine

v1.0.0

Data

Baseline (no external datasets)

Content

v1.0.0

Governance

Last updated: Nov 28, 2025

Reviewed by: Fidamen Standards Committee (Review board)

Credentials: Internal QA

Risk level: low

Reviewer profile (entity)

Fidamen Standards Committee

Review board

Internal QA

Entity ID: https://fidamen.com/reviewers/fidamen-standards-committee#person

Semantic versioning

MAJOR: Calculation outputs can change for the same inputs (formula, rounding policy, assumptions).
MINOR: New features or fields that do not change existing outputs for the same inputs.
PATCH: Bug fixes, copy edits, or accessibility changes that do not change intended outputs except for previously incorrect cases.

Review protocol

Verify formulas and unit definitions against primary standards or datasets.
Run golden-case regression suite and edge-case suite.
Record reviewer sign-off with credentials and scope.
Document assumptions, limitations, and jurisdiction applicability.

Assumptions & limitations

Uses exact unit definitions from the Fidamen conversion library.
Internal calculations use double precision; display rounding follows the unit's configured decimal places.
Not a substitute for calibrated instruments in regulated contexts.
Jurisdiction-specific rules may require official guidance.

Change log

v1.0.0 • 2025-11-28 • MINOR

Initial publication and governance baseline.

Why: Published with reviewed formulas, unit definitions, and UX controls.

Areas: engine, content, ui • Reviewer: Fidamen Standards Committee • Entry ID: 1879e2062e9a