Drywall estimates start with surface area: every wall plus the ceiling, minus large openings. Divide by the sheet area and add 10% for cuts. Longer 12 ft sheets mean fewer butt joints and less finishing, but they are heavier to hang.
Finishing materials
For finishing, a long-standing industry ratio is roughly 370 ft of tape and 138 lb of ready-mixed joint compound per 1,000 ft² of board. A 4.5 gal pail of ready-mix weighs about 62 lb. Screws run around 32 per 4×8 sheet on walls with 16" framing.
Square framing helps
Out-of-square wall corners leave tapered gaps at inside corners and make taping harder. Check corners with 3-4-5 when framing and fix them before the board goes up.
Frequently asked questions
What thickness of drywall should I use?
1/2" is standard for walls; 5/8" is common for ceilings with wide joist spacing and for fire-rated assemblies.
How many screws per sheet?
Roughly 28–32 for a 4×8 sheet on walls; ceilings use closer spacing, so plan on more.
Results are planning estimates. For structural work, confirm requirements with your local building authority and a qualified professional. See our disclaimer.