Drywall Calculator
Estimate drywall from area, package coverage and price.
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Currency: Amounts are calculated in the currency you select; this site does not convert between currencies and does not use live exchange rates.
What this tool does
Estimate drywall from area, package coverage and price. Area-based count only; sheet orientation, seams and openings can increase the number required.
How to use the Drywall Calculator
- Enter or select length in ft.
- Enter or select width in ft.
- Enter or select waste allowance (%).
- Enter or select sheet area in sqft.
- Enter or select price per sheet.
- Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.
Formula
purchase area=length×width×(1+waste/100); packages=ceil(purchase area/coverage); cost=packages×price for sheets/packs, otherwise purchase area×price+net area×labor
- length
- Length (ft, before metric conversion)
- width
- Width (ft, before metric conversion)
- waste
- Waste allowance (%)
- coverage
- Sheet area (sqft, before metric conversion)
- price
- Price per sheet
Area-based count only; sheet orientation, seams and openings can increase the number required.
Worked example
For drywall calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Length: 20; Width: 10; Waste allowance (%): 10; Sheet area: 32; Price per sheet: 18.
Inputs
- Length20 ft
- Width10 ft
- Waste allowance (%)10
- Sheet area32 sq ft
- Price per sheet18
Result
- Sheets required7
- Area including waste220 sq ft
- Estimated cost$126.00
Results explained
- Sheets required
- Sheets required from the formula above. Area-based count only; sheet orientation, seams and openings can increase the number required.
- Area including waste
- Area including waste from the formula above, expressed in sqft before metric conversion. Area-based count only; sheet orientation, seams and openings can increase the number required.
- Estimated cost
- Estimated cost from the formula above. Area-based count only; sheet orientation, seams and openings can increase the number required.
Frequently asked questions
Multiply net area by the waste factor, then divide by package coverage and round up.
Measure total surface length/width and use package coverage and your actual price.
Use 5–10% for simple layouts and 10–15% for diagonal cuts or complicated outlines; the allowance is editable.
Split the outline into rectangles or triangles and calculate each section separately. Do not count overlapping sections twice.
This is a purchasing estimate, not a structural design. Confirm measurements and local requirements before buying or building.