Drywall Calculator — Sheets, Screws & Mud
Enter your room size to get how many drywall (sheetrock) sheets you need for the walls and ceiling, plus the screws, joint compound, and tape to finish it.
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How it works
area = 2×(L+W)×H + (ceiling? L×W); sheets = ceil(area × (1 + waste%) ÷ sheet sq ft)
Drywall sheets by room size (8 ft ceiling, walls + ceiling, 10% waste)
| Room size | Drywall area | 4×8 sheets | 4×12 sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 420 sq ft | 15 | 10 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 472 sq ft | 17 | 11 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 528 sq ft | 19 | 13 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 640 sq ft | 22 | 15 |
| 14 × 16 ft | 704 sq ft | 25 | 17 |
Includes the ceiling and 10% waste. Deduct large door and window openings on bigger jobs. A sheet needs ~32 screws, and figure roughly 0.05 lb of joint compound and 0.75 ft of tape per sq ft.
Frequently asked questions
How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 12×12 room?
A 12×12 room with 8 ft ceilings has about 528 sq ft of drywall (walls plus ceiling). With 4×8 ft sheets and 10% waste that is about 19 sheets — or roughly 13 sheets if you use larger 4×12 ft sheets, which also means fewer seams to tape.
How many sheets of drywall for 1,000 square feet?
For 1,000 sq ft of wall and ceiling area, plan on about 35 standard 4×8 ft sheets (32 sq ft each) or about 23 4×12 ft sheets, including 10% waste.
What size drywall sheet should I use?
4×8 ft sheets (32 sq ft) are easiest to carry and hang solo. 4×12 ft sheets (48 sq ft) cover more area with fewer seams — less taping and mudding — but they are heavy and need two people and good access.