How this cost calculator works
Installed drywall cost is simple arithmetic once you know three things: the area of board, your material rate, and your labor rate. The calculator takes your room size, works out the board area the way the drywall calculator does (walls and ceiling, minus openings), and multiplies by the rates you enter:
material = board area × your material rate per sq ft
labor = board area × your labor rate per sq ft
total = material + labor + add-ons + tax
Typical US ranges (a starting point, not a quote)
| Part | Typical per sq ft | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Material | $0.40–$0.65 | Board thickness, moisture-resistant or fire-rated board, mud and fasteners |
| Labor (hang + finish) | $1.00–$2.50 | Ceiling height, texture, finish level, access |
| Installed total | $1.50–$3.50 | All of the above, plus local rates |
These are published national ranges for planning. They are not a price for your job — a small, high-ceilinged room with a Level 5 finish can sit well above the top of the range, and a big open wall well below it. The honest number is the one you get from a contractor; this tool turns that quote into a full budget with tax and extras.
What the estimate does not include
Permits, structural or electrical work behind the wall, insulation, and priming or painting the finished board are separate. Add removal and haul-away of old drywall as a line item above. For the finish materials themselves, see drywall sizes and thickness and the drywall calculator.
How to estimate drywall installation cost
- Enter your room size (or a known board area) above.
- Enter the material cost per square foot you were quoted, or use the typical mid-range as a placeholder.
- Enter the labor cost per square foot for hanging and finishing.
- Add removal, repairs or delivery as separate line items if they apply.
- Enter your sales tax rate. Read the total as a budget from your inputs, then confirm with real contractor quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does drywall installation cost?
As a planning range, installed drywall runs about $1.50–$3.50 per square foot of board including materials and labor — roughly $0.40–$0.65/sq ft for board, mud, tape and screws, and $1.00–$2.50/sq ft to hang and finish. A single 12 × 12 ft room (around 575 sq ft of board) lands very roughly in the $900–$2,000 range. Your actual cost depends on ceiling height, texture, finish level and local labor, so enter your own quoted rates above.
Does this give me a price for my area?
No — and that is deliberate. It computes a total from the material and labor rates you enter. We show typical US ranges as a starting point, but prices vary too much by region and job to quote blindly. Put in a real quote and the number becomes meaningful.
What is included in drywall labor?
Hanging the board and finishing it — taping seams, applying joint compound in coats, and sanding to a smooth result. Texture, high or vaulted ceilings, and a higher finish level (Level 5) all push labor up. Removal of old drywall is a separate add-on.
How do I estimate the drywall area?
Enter your room size above and it works out the board area (walls plus ceiling, minus doors and windows), or enter a known area. For the number of sheets, use the drywall calculator; for mud, tape and screws, see estimating joint compound, tape and screws.
Should I add removal and repair costs?
Yes, if they apply. Tearing out and hauling away old drywall, and repairing framing or insulation, are separate line items — add them above so the total reflects the whole job, not just new board.