Drywall Calculator
Enter wall and ceiling area to get sheet count for 4×8, 4×10, or 4×12 sheets, plus screws, joint compound, and tape. Includes an adjustable waste factor.
Area to Cover
Sheet Size & Waste
Materials Needed
How to estimate drywall
Total wall area (perimeter × height, minus doors/windows) plus ceiling area (length × width for each room) gives you the coverage. Divide by sheet size (32 sq ft for standard 4×8, 40 for 4×10, 48 for 4×12), then add waste. 10% waste covers a rectangular room; go 15% if the layout has lots of cuts (short walls, closets, angled ceilings).
Ancillary materials
Screws: ~1 screw every 12" on studs = roughly 30-40 screws per 4×8 sheet. Buy a 5 lb box (about 1,400 screws) for a typical bedroom. Joint compound: budget 1 gallon per 100-150 sq ft of drywall for the first two coats plus finishing. Tape: about 350 linear feet per 1000 sq ft of drywall coverage.
Bigger sheets save labor
4×12 sheets have fewer joints to tape and mud, so pros usually pick the largest sheet that fits through your door and up your stairs. 4×8 is easier for DIY solo work.