Drywall Calculator

Enter the wall and ceiling square footage and the calculator shows how many sheets you need in each of the three standard sizes, plus finishing materials using common estimating rates: ~0.053 lb of joint compound, ~0.37 ft of tape, and ~1 screw per square foot of board.

Common uses

• Order board and mud for a basement finish
• Pick between 4×8 and 4×12 sheets by comparing counts

Example

480 sq ft walls + 160 sq ft ceiling, 10% waste

22 4×8 sheets (or 15 4×12) · 34 lb compound · 237 ft tape · 640 screws

Limitations

• The three sheet counts are alternatives — buy one size, not all three
• Finishing rates assume taped joints with two finish coats; level-5 finishes need more mud

How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 12x12 room?

A 12×12 room with 8 ft ceilings has 384 sq ft of wall plus a 144 sq ft ceiling — 528 sq ft total. With 10% waste that's 19 4×8 sheets, or 13 sheets in the 4×12 size.

How much joint compound do I need per sheet of drywall?

About 1.7 lb per 4×8 sheet, using the common estimating rate of 0.053 lb per square foot of board. That covers taping plus two finish coats; a skim-coated level-5 finish takes noticeably more.

How many screws go into a sheet of drywall?

Roughly one per square foot — about 32 screws for a 4×8 sheet on 16 in framing, spaced every 12 in on ceilings and 16 in on walls. This calculator counts them at 1 screw per square foot of board.

Should I buy 4x8 or 4x12 drywall sheets?

Longer sheets mean fewer joints to tape and often span a whole wall, but a 4×12 weighs over 80 lb and is awkward in tight stairwells. The calculator shows all three sheet counts as alternatives — pick one size, not all three.

Is my room data stored or transmitted by this calculator?

No. Sheet, mud, tape, and screw counts are computed locally in your browser; your measurements never leave your device.