Drywall Calculator
Enter the total wall and ceiling area you're covering (or estimate it from room size). The calculator returns sheet count for 4×8 or 4×12 panels with a 10% waste factor, plus screws and joint compound.
Your measurements
ft²
%
Coverage
- Area
- 400 ft²
- Sheet area
- 32 ft²
Materials
- Screws
- 448 screws
- Joint compound
- 1.8 gal
Drywall sheets
14 sheets
Estimates only. Order a little extra for waste and verify against your supplier's coverage figures.
The formula
Sheets = Total area ÷ sheet area × (1 + waste %)
Example: A 12 ft × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls has ~384 ft² of wall — about 14 × 4×8 sheets (incl. 10% waste).
How it works
- 1Add up all wall and ceiling area you're covering.
- 2Divide by the sheet area: 32 ft² for 4×8, 48 ft² for 4×12.
- 3Add ~10% for waste and cuts, then round up to whole sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use 4×8 or 4×12 drywall sheets?
4×12 sheets cover more area with fewer seams (less taping) but are heavier and harder to handle. Use 4×8 for tight spaces or solo hanging.