Drywall Calculator
Enter your room's dimensions and sheet size to get the full materials list: drywall sheets (with 10% for cuts), screws, joint tape and compound.
Results
How the drywall calculator works
The calculator totals your wall area (perimeter × height) plus the ceiling, adds 10% for cuts and breakage, and divides by the sheet size. It then estimates the finishing materials that scale with area:
- Screws: about 32 per 4×8 sheet with 16" stud spacing (one per stud every 12" in the field, 8" on edges)
- Joint tape: roughly 37 feet per 100 sq ft of drywall
- Joint compound: about 0.9 gallons of ready-mix per 100 sq ft, covering taping plus two finish coats
| Room | Total area | 4×8 sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 420 sq ft | 15 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 528 sq ft | 19 |
| 14 × 16 ft | 704 sq ft | 25 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 1,040 sq ft | 36 |
Drywall tips
- Use the biggest sheets you can handle and get into the room — fewer joints means much less taping and mudding.
- Hang ceilings first, then walls: the wall sheets support the ceiling edges.
- Hang wall sheets horizontally in most rooms — it puts the long joint at a comfortable working height and bridges more studs.
- ½" is standard for walls, ⅝" (Type X) for garages and ceilings with 24" joist spacing; moisture-resistant board for bathrooms.
Frequently asked questions
How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 12x12 room?
With 8-foot ceilings and the ceiling included, a 12 × 12 room has about 528 sq ft of surface — that's 19 sheets of 4×8 drywall including 10% waste.
How many screws per sheet of drywall?
About 32 screws per 4×8 sheet on 16-inch stud spacing — screws every 12 inches in the field and 8 inches along edges. That works out to roughly one screw per square foot.
How much joint compound do I need?
Plan on about 0.9 gallon (or 10–12 lb) of ready-mixed compound per 100 sq ft of drywall, which covers embedding the tape plus two finishing coats.
Should drywall be hung vertically or horizontally?
Horizontally on most residential walls — it reduces the total joint length, bridges more studs for strength, and puts the seam at an easy height for finishing. Go vertical when walls are taller than the sheet is long.