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Drywall Cost Calculator

What drywall costs hung, taped and finished.

Your measurementsEvery assumption editable01

Walls plus ceiling. Use the drywall calculator to work it out.

Sheets, screws, tape and compound.

A level 5 finish costs substantially more than the standard level 4.

Estimated costCalculated live02

Result

$2005–3341estimated

Midpoint $2673 — about $2.97 per sq ft

Board area
900 sq ft
Materials
$675
Labour72% of the subtotal
$1755
Subtotal
$2430
Contingency10%
$243
Midpoint estimate
$2673
Likely range±25%, the usual concept-stage spread
$2005 – $3341
Cost per sq ft
$2.97

This is a budgeting figure, not a quote. Regional labour rates vary by a factor of two or more across the country, and the same job priced in a busy season and a quiet one can differ by a third. Get three local quotes before committing to anything.

The range matters more than the midpoint. Construction estimating works to roughly ±25% until a scope is drawn and priced, and a single confident number would be pretending to a precision that does not exist at this stage.

Labour is usually the larger half and the more variable half. If the figure looks wrong, the labour rate is almost always the input to revisit first — material prices are far more consistent between regions than crews are.

Split into the three things that are actually priced separately: the board, hanging it, and taping and finishing. Finishing is the biggest single line and the one that varies most with the level of finish specified.

Why use this tool?What it does differently03

Why use this tool?

Three separate trades

Board, hanging, and taping and finishing are priced independently and often done by different crews.

Labour dominates

Around 72% of the job. Board is cheap; getting it flat is not.

Finish level matters

A level 5 skim costs substantially more than the standard level 4.

Texture optional

A separate line, since much of the country does not use it at all.

How this worksThe method04

How this drywall cost calculator works

Everything is rated per square foot of board area — walls plus ceiling. The drywall calculator works that figure out from room dimensions if you do not have it.

Hanging and finishing are separated because they are genuinely different trades, often done by different crews at different rates. Finishing is usually the larger of the two and is where quality differences show.

Level of finish matters more than most people expect. A standard level 4 covers most residential work; a level 5, which skims the entire surface, costs substantially more and is worth it only under critical lighting or gloss paint.

How to use itStep by step05

How to use it

  1. Step 1: Work out the board area

    Walls plus ceiling. The drywall calculator derives it from perimeter and height.

  2. Step 2: Set the hanging rate

    Around $0.70 to $1.20 per square foot in most areas.

  3. Step 3: Set the finishing rate

    Higher for a level 5 finish, and it is the dominant labour line.

  4. Step 4: Add texture if used

    Regional. Much of the country finishes smooth.

Example usageWorked figures06

Example usage

A 900 sq ft room
$675 of board against $1,755 of labour — about $2,673 midpoint, or $2,005 to $3,341. That is $2.97 per square foot, and labour is 72% of it.
A level 5 finish
Raising the finishing rate to $1.90 takes the same job to about $3,465. Skimming the whole surface is a lot of additional work.
Hanging only
Board and hanging with no finish is about $1,485 — useful if you intend to tape it yourself, which is the classic sweat-equity split.
Frequently asked questionsCommon questions07

Frequently asked questions

How much does drywall cost per square foot?

Roughly $2.50 to $4 per square foot hung, taped and finished. Board itself is well under a dollar of that.

How much does a sheet of drywall cost installed?

A 4 by 8 sheet covers 32 square feet, so at around $3 per square foot that is roughly $95 installed — against maybe $15 for the sheet itself.

What is the difference between level 4 and level 5?

Level 4 finishes the joints and fasteners, which suits most residential work. Level 5 adds a skim coat over the entire surface and costs substantially more — worth it under critical lighting or gloss paint.

Can I save money hanging it myself?

Some, but hanging is the easier half. Taping and finishing is the skilled part and the larger cost, and a poor finish shows through paint permanently.

Is texture included?

Only if you enter a rate. It is regional — much of the country finishes smooth and never texture at all.

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