Drywall for an 8 × 8 ft room
With 8 ft ceilings, the walls are 256 ft² and the ceiling 64 ft². Sheet counts include 10% waste; supplies are rules of thumb.
| What you hang | Area | 4×8 sheets | 4×12 sheets | Joint compound | Joint tape |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walls only | 256 ft² | 9 | 6 | 2.6 gal | 95 ft |
| Walls and ceiling | 320 ft² | 11 | 8 | 3.2 gal | 118 ft |
| Ceiling only | 64 ft² | 3 | 2 | 0.6 gal | 24 ft |
Hanging tips
Hang the ceiling first, then the walls, running sheets horizontally. Stagger the joints, use about one screw per square foot, and tape and mud every seam in three coats. Use moisture-resistant board in bathrooms and fire-rated (5/8 in Type X) in garages and next to furnaces. See the drywall calculator to adjust for your ceilings.
Hauling, studs and screws
A ½ inch 4 × 8 sheet weighs about 55 lb, so the 11 sheets for the walls and ceiling weigh roughly 605 lb (0.30 tons). Most pickups can take a few sheets flat, but a full order is a delivery, or several trips. Carry them on edge, and use a helper.
The walls are 32 ft around, which is about 28 studs at 16 inch centers (the corners add a few). Plan on roughly one screw per square foot, which is 352 screws for this order.
An 8 × 8 room: every surface is a whole number of sheets
An 8 × 8 room with an 8 ft ceiling comes to 11 sheets of 4 × 8 drywall for the walls and ceiling with the 10% allowance, or 9 sheets for the walls only.
This is a room size where a 4 × 8 sheet fits everything without a cut to length: each wall is two sheets on their sides, one above the other, and the 64 sq ft ceiling is two sheets side by side. The allowance is there for the door and window cut-outs and a broken corner, so expect a whole sheet or so left over. The order weighs about 605 lb and has no butt joints to finish, only tapered edges and corners.
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Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How many sheets of drywall for an 8x8 room?
11 sheets of 4 × 8 ft for the walls and ceiling with 8 ft ceilings and 10% waste, or 9 for the walls only. With 4 × 12 ft sheets it is 8 for both.
How much joint compound for an 8x8 room?
About 3.2 gallons for the walls and ceiling as a rule of thumb (1 gallon per 100 ft²), so one 4.5 gallon box is enough.
Do I subtract windows and doors for drywall?
Not usually. The cut-outs are offset by the waste allowance, and you need the cutoffs for filling around openings.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.