Drywall Materials List: Sheets, Screws, Tape and Joint Compound
A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings needs 19 sheets of 4 × 8 ft drywall for the walls and ceiling (14 for the walls alone), about 608 screws, 1 roll of joint tape and 2 boxes of joint compound. This is the list for hanging and finishing the drywall, with a chart for other rooms.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall, 4 × 8 ft, ½ in | 19 sheets | Drywall calculator: 528 ft² of walls and ceiling, plus 10% for cuts. Doors and windows are not deducted, because the cutouts are offset by waste |
| Drywall screws (1¼ in) | About 608 | About one per square foot of board. Use coarse-thread screws for wood studs |
| Joint tape | 195 ft (1 roll of 250 ft) | Paper or mesh tape for every seam and inside corner |
| Joint compound | 5.3 gallons (2 boxes of 4.5 gal) | For taping, filling the screw dimples and two more coats. A setting-type compound (hot mud) helps on the first coat |
| Corner bead | 4 lengths, 8 ft | On outside corners, one per corner of the room. Metal or paper-faced |
| Sanding supplies | Pole sander or sponges, dust mask | Wear a mask: drywall dust is fine and gets everywhere |
| Primer | About 1 gallon | Drywall must be primed before painting. See the paint list below |
Studs are not in this list. If you are framing the walls too, see the stud calculator for a starting count.
Materials for other room sizes
Walls and ceiling, 8 ft ceilings, 4 × 8 ft sheets, 10% waste:
| Room | Sheets | Screws | Tape rolls | Compound boxes (4.5 gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 15 | 480 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 19 | 608 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 22 | 704 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 × 14 ft | 23 | 736 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 31 | 992 | 2 | 2 |
Before you hang anything
- Check the framing: studs at 16 inches on center, even and straight, with any plumbing and electrical inspected and signed off where required.
- ½ inch drywall suits most walls and ceilings under typical framing. Bathrooms need moisture-resistant board, and garages and areas next to furnaces may need fire-rated 5/8 inch Type X: check your code.
- A drywall lift or a helper is needed for the ceiling. Sheets weigh about 55 lb each.
- Plan the seams so they land on studs and are staggered, and avoid seams at the corners of doors and windows.
How the job goes
- Hang the ceiling first, then the walls, with the screws driven just below the surface of the paper without tearing it.
- Tape every seam, then apply a first coat of compound over the tape and the screw heads.
- Let it dry, then apply a second and a third coat, feathering each one wider than the last.
- Sand smooth between coats and after the last one, prime, and paint. See the painting materials list.
Estimates only. Supplies depend on the products you choose, and the amount of finishing depends on how smooth you want the wall.
Frequently asked questions
How many sheets of drywall for a 12x12 room?
19 sheets of 4 × 8 ft for the walls and ceiling with 10% waste, or 14 for the walls alone. The 8 ft ceiling and four plain walls are assumed.
How much joint compound do I need for a room?
About a gallon per 100 ft² of drywall, so 5.3 gallons here: 2 boxes of 4.5 gallons. Tape, three coats and sanding use it all.
How many screws for a sheet of drywall?
About 30 to 35 for a 4 × 8 sheet, which is roughly one screw per square foot. This room is about 608 screws.
Should I hang drywall horizontally or vertically?
Horizontally on walls is usual, because the seams are shorter and sit at a comfortable height. Hang the ceiling first, then the walls.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.