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Drywall Calculator – Estimate Materials for Your Project

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Planning a drywall project?
Before you buy materials, use our free drywall calculator to estimate exactly how many sheets, screws, and gallons of joint compound you’ll need.

Whether you’re remodeling a single room or finishing an entire home, this drywall calculator helps you save time, reduce waste, and budget more accurately.

Drywall Calculator

Drywall Calculator Tool

Simply enter your room dimensions and project details below:

  • Length (ft)
  • Width (ft)
  • Height (ft)
  • Openings (#) – doors, windows, or other wall cutouts
  • Sheet Size – standard 4×12 drywall
  • Stud Spacing (in) – typically 16” centers
  • Waste (%) – usually 10%

Then click “Calculate” to get your results instantly.

✅ Example Result:

Wall Area: 610 ft²  
With Waste: 671 ft²  
Sheet Size: 4×12  
Sheets Needed: 14  
Screws (approx): 672  
Joint Compound (approx): 5.37 gal

You can also Reset or Print Result for your records.

Note: These numbers are estimates based on average coverage and spacing. Always round up slightly for irregular walls or custom layouts.

📏 How the Drywall Calculator Works

Our drywall calculator measures the surface area of your walls and ceiling and divides it by the size of the drywall sheet you choose.
It then adds your waste percentage (to account for offcuts and mistakes) and estimates supporting materials such as screws and joint compound.

Formula:

(Total Wall Area × (1 + Waste %)) ÷ (Sheet Width × Sheet Height)

For example, a 20×20 ft room with 8 ft walls and two openings would require roughly 14 sheets of 4×12 drywall, allowing for 10% waste.

🧰 What Materials Does It Estimate?

This drywall calculator gives you approximate quantities for:

  • 🧱 Drywall Sheets – standard 4×8 ft or 4×12 ft
  • 🔩 Screws or Nails – based on stud spacing (16” OC = ~48 screws per sheet)
  • 🪣 Joint Compound – typically 1 gal per 120–125 sq ft of drywall
  • 📏 Joint Tape & Corners – proportional to seams and room dimensions

Adjust values based on your project complexity and desired finish quality.

🧮 Tips for Accurate Drywall Estimates

  • Include both walls and ceilings. Add ceiling area for full coverage.
  • Account for openings. Subtract windows and doors to save on materials.
  • Use a waste factor. Always plan for at least 10% waste.
  • Select proper sheet orientation. Vertical or horizontal installation affects cuts.
  • Match thickness to purpose. Use 1/2″ for standard walls, 5/8″ fire-rated for ceilings or garages.

🧱 Why Use a Drywall Calculator?

Because guessing costs money.

Accurate material estimates mean:
✅ Less waste and fewer leftover sheets
✅ Better budget planning
✅ Fewer last-minute store runs
✅ Faster completion and cleaner job sites

Professional drywall installers (like our team at Jaime’s Construction) rely on similar estimation tools every day. This calculator lets you plan your project just like the pros do.

🧩 Drywall Estimator Example

Let’s take a 12 × 15 ft bedroom with 8 ft walls and one door (openings = 1):

  • Total area = (2 × 12 × 8) + (2 × 15 × 8) = 432 sq ft
  • Add 10% waste = 475 sq ft
  • Using 4 × 12 ft sheets (48 sq ft each) → 10 sheets required
  • Screws ≈ 480 pcs
  • Joint compound ≈ 3.8 gal

🧱 From DIY Projects to Professional Drywall Installation

If you’re a homeowner in Tyler TX or East Texas planning a remodel, our calculator helps you start right.
But when it comes to installation, finishing, and painting, trust our experts at Jaime’s Construction & Remodeling LLC.

We specialize in:

📞 Call (903) 245-5824 for a free consultation or schedule your drywall service today.

Drywall Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions