🧰Drywall Calculator: Sheets, Screws, Mud & Tape
Enter your room size, choose a sheet size and we will total up sheets, screws, mud and tape.
Your room
You'll need
17 sheets (4x8)
519 sq ft incl. waste
Sheets
17
Screws
520
Joint compound
5.2 gal
Tape
193 ft
Hang ceilings first, then walls — the wall sheets help hold up the ceiling edges.
How it works
- Wall area = (length + width) × 2 × height
- Ceiling area = length × width (if included)
- Add your waste factor
- Sheets = area ÷ 32 sq ft (4×8) or 48 sq ft (4×12), rounded up
- Screws ≈ 1 per sq ft
- Joint compound ≈ 1 gallon per 100 sq ft
- Tape ≈ 0.37 ft per sq ft
Worked example
A 12 × 10 ft room with 8 ft walls: walls 352 sq ft + ceiling 120 sq ft = 472 sq ft. With 10% waste: 519 sq ft → 17 sheets of 4×8, about 519 screws, 5.2 gallons of mud and 193 ft of tape.
Questions people ask
4×12 sheets mean fewer seams to tape, but they are heavy and hard to carry. 4×8 is easier for DIY.
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Last updated September 28, 2026. These results are friendly estimates to help you plan — always double-check before buying or making big decisions.