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Drywall installation cost calculator

Enter a room's size to estimate what it costs to have drywall hung, taped and finished on the walls and ceiling, with the labor and the sheets broken out.

Units
Room

Floor to ceiling.

Openings

Prices are for new drywall hung, taped and finished smooth. Ceilings, tall walls, textures and taking out old drywall cost more; ask for them in the quote.

Estimated cost

$1,188 typical

National range $792 to $1,848 for 528 sq ft of drywall

Drywall area
528 sq ftWalls and ceiling
4 × 8 sheets
19With 10% extra
Sheets alone
$228 to $380$12 to $20 a sheet; mud, tape and screws extra
Labor to finish
$528 to $1,584Hang, tape, mud and sand: $1 to $3 per sq ft

Your price

per sq ft

Typical US price $1.50 to $3.50 per sq ft (Angi, HomeGuide, Fixr, October 2026). Labor alone: $1 to $3 per sq ft (HomeGuide, Fixr).

How it's calculated
  1. Walls: 2 × (12 ft + 12 ft) × 8 ft = 384 sq ft
  2. Ceiling: 12 ft × 12 ft = 144 sq ft
  3. 528 sq ft × $2.25 = $1,188

National averages from US cost guides, checked October 2026. Prices vary by region and job; get local quotes.

Estimates use manufacturer data sheets and industry guides (sources). Check local codes and your supplier's figures before you order.

How to use the drywall installation cost calculator

  1. Enter the room's length, width and wall height.
  2. Untick the ceiling if it stays, and choose whether to take doors and windows off.
  3. Read the typical installed cost and the national range.
  4. Type a contractor's price per square foot to check a quote.

How the drywall cost is worked out

Walls = 2 × (length + width) × height
Drywall area = walls + ceiling
Cost = drywall area × installed price per sq ft

Example: a 12 × 12 ft bedroom with 8 ft walls, walls and ceiling, doors and windows left in.

  • Walls: 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 = 384 sq ft
  • Ceiling: 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft
  • Drywall: 528 sq ft
  • At a typical $2.25 per sq ft: about $1,188, within $792 to $1,848
  • Of that, labor runs $528 to $1,584, and the 19 sheets $228 to $380

CertainTeed’s estimating advice is not to subtract doors and windows, so the calculator leaves them in; tick the box to take them off if your quote does.

What moves the price

  • Finish level. Fixr’s labor runs from $0.30 per square foot for board hung and left unfinished to $1.15 to $3.50 for a smooth level 5 finish.
  • Ceilings and tall walls. Work overhead and on scaffolding costs more; HomeGuide puts ceilings at up to $3.80 per square foot.
  • Board type. Moisture-resistant, mold-resistant and fire-rated board cost more than standard 1/2 in sheets.
  • Old drywall. Removing it adds $0.50 to $1 per square foot (Fixr), or up to $2.50 (HomeGuide).
  • Where you live. Labor is most of the price and varies by region.

Cost by area

At $1.50 / $2.25 / $3.50 per sq ft, hung, taped and finished.

Drywall area Typical National range
500 sq ft $1,125 $750 to $1,750
1,000 sq ft $2,250 $1,500 to $3,500
2,000 sq ft $4,500 $3,000 to $7,000
4,000 sq ft $9,000 $6,000 to $14,000

To order the sheets, screws, joint compound and tape yourself, use the drywall calculator.

Questions and answers

How much does drywall installation cost per square foot?

$1.50 to $3.50 per square foot of drywall, hung, taped and finished, about $2.25 typical: HomeGuide and Fixr both give $1.50 to $3.50. HomeGuide puts the materials at $0.50 to $0.80 of that; labor is the rest.

What is the labor cost to hang drywall?

$1 to $3 per square foot to hang and finish: HomeGuide gives $1.00 to $2.70 and Fixr $1.15 to $3.00. Hanging alone, left unfinished, is $0.30 to $0.80 per square foot of labor according to Fixr.

How much does it cost to drywall a ceiling?

$1.50 to $3.80 per square foot, according to HomeGuide, a little more than walls because the board goes overhead. The calculator prices the ceiling at the wall rate, so allow a bit more for it.

How much do sheets of drywall cost?

$12 to $20 for a standard 1/2 in 4 × 8 sheet: HomeGuide puts Sheetrock at $12 to $20 a panel, Fixr gives $10 to $20 for 1/2 in sheets and Home Depot listed USG Sheetrock UltraLight at $16.68. Moisture- and mold-resistant board costs more.

How much does it cost to drywall a 12 × 12 room?

About $1,190 for the walls and ceiling: 528 sq ft with 8 ft walls, at $2.25 per square foot, within $790 to $1,850. The 19 sheets alone cost $230 to $380. HomeGuide puts a 12 × 12 bedroom at $580 to $1,800.

How much does drywall cost per sheet installed?

$30 to $70 per sheet hung and finished, according to HomeGuide, and $48 to $80 for a 4 × 8 sheet installed, according to Fixr. Larger sheets cost more each: Fixr gives $72 to $120 for a 4 × 12 sheet installed.

Does the price include removing old drywall?

No. Removing old drywall costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot according to Fixr and up to $2.50 according to HomeGuide. Patching, textures and tall walls add more, so ask for them in the quote.

Are these prices for my area?

No. They're national averages from cost guides. Labor rates vary by region, so check a couple of local quotes against them.

Sources

Figures checked October 2026.