How many sheets of drywall do I need?

Sheet count comes from wall and ceiling area minus openings, divided by your chosen sheet size, plus a waste allowance for cuts and damage.

How much paint per coat?

Gallons are calculated from net paintable area at a normal spread rate, per coat. Porous or previously unpainted surfaces will use more.

Does it include mud and tape?

Yes. Joint compound, tape, corner bead and screws are estimated from joint length and sheet count, not guessed as a flat allowance.

All calculators

Free takeoff

Drywall and paint calculator: sheets, mud, tape and gallons

Drywall and paint are the trades where openings matter most. Estimate a room as four solid walls and you will buy sheets and gallons for square footage that is actually a window. Deducting openings is the difference between a tight estimate and a garage full of leftovers.

Enter room dimensions, ceiling height and each opening, and the takeoff returns sheet count by size, joint compound, tape, corner bead and screws, then primer and finish gallons per coat at real spread rates for the surface you are covering.

Estimates only — not a quote.

Open the drywall & paint calculator

What you get

Included in the takeoff

Sheet count by size with openings deducted
Joint compound, tape and corner bead
Screw counts by stud spacing
Primer and paint gallons per coat
Cost estimate by ZIP

What it asks for

Inputs

Room length, width and ceiling height
Door and window openings
Sheet size and thickness
Coat count and surface porosity

How to plan it

Plan it in 5 steps

1
Measure room by room
Estimate each room separately. Averaging a whole floor hides the ceilings and openings that change the count.
2
List every opening
Doors, windows and pass-throughs come out of both sheet area and paint area. Enter them all.
3
Choose sheet size deliberately
Longer sheets mean fewer butt joints and less finishing time, but they are harder to carry and hang solo.
4
Decide the coat schedule
Primer plus two finish coats is the common default. Dark-to-light changes usually need more.
5
Confirm and buy
Verify dimensions, then take the sheet and gallon counts to your supplier for current pricing.

Planning guidance only. Every quantity and price is an estimate — confirm dimensions and local requirements before you buy or build.

Run your own numbers

Enter your dimensions and get a material list, cut list and regional cost estimate in a couple of minutes. No account needed to see the takeoff.

Start estimating

Frequently asked questions

Keep planning

Related pricing and planning pages

Materials & cut list →How-to-build guide →Permit & setback lookup →Fence Calculator (free takeoff) →

Not sure where to start? Browse every calculator