How to measure drywall
For a room, enter length, width, wall height, and whether the ceiling is included. For renovations or partial rooms, enter a known covered area instead.
Method
Ceiling area = length x width when included
Covered area = wall area + ceiling area - openings
Sheets = covered area x (1 + waste allowance) / sheet area, rounded up
Source-based factors
For every 1,000 square feet of drywall panels, this calculator uses 2.7 lb of Type W screws, 370 linear feet of joint tape, 10 gallons of standard compound, or 9 gallons of lightweight compound.
Assumptions
- Sheet count is rounded up to whole panels.
- Finishing material estimates scale from covered area before waste.
- Corner bead, texture, primer, specialty board, adhesive, and fasteners other than Type W screws are separate.
- Fire-rated assemblies, wet areas, and code-sensitive work may need specific board and fastening schedules.
FAQs
Should I subtract doors and windows?
Small openings are often ignored because cuts and waste offset the savings. Larger openings can be entered as an opening deduction.
Where do the tape and compound factors come from?
The factors use USG Sheetrock guidance per 1,000 square feet of drywall panels for planning estimates.
Does this include framing or insulation?
No. This calculator estimates drywall panels and common finishing consumables only.
References
Finishing factors are based on USG Sheetrock installation and finishing guidance. Manufacturer calculator context was also compared against CertainTeed drywall calculator guidance.