Calculate how many drywall sheets you need plus joint compound, tape, screws, and corner bead. Works for full rooms, individual walls, ceilings, or custom square footage. Includes 10% waste factor.
Drywalling a 12×14 foot room with 8-foot ceilings, 2 doors, 2 windows, and including the ceiling? Total area is approximately 512 square feet. Using 4×8 sheets, you need about 18 sheets of drywall, 2 buckets of joint compound, 2 rolls of tape, 6 boxes of screws, and 4 pieces of corner bead. At $12–$16 per sheet, the drywall alone costs $216–$288.
| Room Size | Walls Only | Walls + Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| 10×10, 8 ft ceiling | 9 | 12 |
| 10×12, 8 ft ceiling | 10 | 14 |
| 12×14, 8 ft ceiling | 12 | 18 |
| 14×16, 8 ft ceiling | 15 | 22 |
| 16×20, 8 ft ceiling | 18 | 29 |
All estimates include 10% waste and subtract 2 doors and 2 windows.
For walls only with 8-foot ceilings (minus 2 doors and 2 windows), approximately 11 sheets of 4×8 drywall. Add 5 more sheets if you are also doing the ceiling.
1/2 inch is standard for walls. Use 5/8 inch for ceilings (it resists sagging) and for fire-rated walls (garages, furnace rooms). Use 1/4 inch for curved surfaces.
Approximately one 4.5-gallon bucket per 100 square feet of drywall when applying the standard three coats (fill, cover, finish).
Horizontally for walls. This creates fewer seams on 8-foot walls and places the tapered edges together for easier finishing. Hang ceilings first, then walls.
Approximately 32 screws per 4×8 sheet when studs are 16 inches on center. Place screws every 8 inches along edges and every 12 inches in the field.
Wondering what drywall installation actually costs? See our full drywall cost guide for 2026 pricing by room size and finish level.
Typical Results
💡 Use 4×12 sheets for rooms wider than 8' — fewer seams to tape.