Buildy Buddy

When to Use This Calculator

Use the Drywall Estimator before purchasing materials for hanging new walls or ceilings — during new construction, additions, renovations, or finishing a basement. Accurate material estimates prevent wasteful over-ordering of heavy, bulky sheets and ensure you have enough of every supply (tape, screws, mud) to complete the job without delays or extra trips to the store.

How It Works

Enter the room dimensions and ceiling height, and the calculator estimates the number of drywall sheets needed based on standard 4x8 or 4x12 sheet sizes. It also calculates the supporting materials that are easy to forget when placing an order — rolls of joint tape, pounds of screws, and buckets of joint compound — so your full material list is ready in one step.

Tips for Best Results

• Use 4x12 sheets wherever ceiling height and access allow — longer sheets reduce the number of butt joints, which are harder to finish flat and more likely to show through the final paint.
• Hang ceilings first, then walls, so the wall sheets support and push up against the ceiling sheet edges for a tighter fit at the corners.
• Order 10–15% extra sheets to account for cut waste around doors, windows, and outlets, plus any sheets damaged during transport or handling.
• For moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms, use moisture-resistant (green board) or cement backer board instead of standard white drywall.