Free drywall calculator: how many sheets, screws, joint compound and tape you need, plus metal studs and tracks. 2D/3D plan with openings. No sign-up.
How do I calculate how many drywall boards I need?
Divide your wall area by the board area (1.2m × 2.4m = 2.88m²), then add 10% for waste and cuts.
This free drywall / plasterboard calculator estimates how many sheets, profiles, screws (~12 per m²) and joint compound (~1.5 kg/m²) you need per square meter — for walls and ceilings, with waste included.
Accurate drywall calculation ensures you have the right amount of gypsum boards, profiles, screws, and finishing compounds for your project. This calculator accounts for waste, cut optimization, and all necessary accessories.
Boards per row = Surface width ÷ Board width (1.2m). Rows = Height ÷ Board height (2.4m). Total × waste factor.
C-studs spaced at 40 or 60cm centers. U-channels (runners) at top and bottom. Add corner studs for intersections.
Standard: 28 screws per board (12/m²). Use #6×1" for single layer, #6×1-5/8" for double layer. Space 15-20cm on studs.
Joint compound: ~1.5 kg/m² (3 coats). Paper tape for flat joints. Corner beads for external angles. Primer before painting.
| Material | Standard Size | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Board | 1.2×2.4m | 2.88 m² | Walls, general use |
| Moisture Resistant | 1.2×2.4m | 2.88 m² | Bathrooms, kitchens |
| Fire Resistant | 1.2×2.4m | 2.88 m² | Firewalls, kitchens, garages |
| C-Studs | 2.44-3.0m | 60cm o/c | Vertical framing members |
| U-Channels | 3.0m | — | Top & bottom runners |
| Joint Compound | 25 kg bag | ~16 m² | 3 coats: tape, fill, finish |
3 sheets of 4ft × 8ft (1.2m × 2.4m) per side. For double-sided partition: 6 sheets. Formula: Area ÷ 32 sq ft per sheet.
With 16-inch spacing: 13 studs. With 24-inch spacing: 9 studs. Formula: (Wall length ÷ spacing) + 1.
Approximately 28-32 screws per 4ft×8ft sheet (every 8 inches on edges, every 12 inches in field).
Take a single-sided partition 4.0 m wide x 2.5 m high = 10 m2. Boards are 1.2 x 2.4 m = 2.88 m2 each, so 10 / 2.88 = 3.47, round up to 4 boards (the 2.5 m height needs a short top strip, planned from offcuts).
Studs at 0.6 m spacing across 4.0 m: 4.0 / 0.6 + 1 = ~8 C-studs of 2.5 m, plus 2 U-tracks of 4.0 m (top and bottom). Screws at 12/m2: 10 x 12 = 120 screws. Joint compound at 0.5 kg/m2 for taped joints: 10 x 0.5 = 5 kg, plus roughly 11 m of joint tape for the three vertical seams.
Board type: standard 12.5 mm board suits most dry rooms. Use moisture-resistant board in bathrooms and kitchens, fire-rated (pink/Type X) board for garages, ceilings over boilers and party walls, and impact-resistant board in hallways or kids' rooms.
Stud spacing: 0.6 m centres are fine for 12.5 mm board on walls; drop to 0.4 m for ceilings, for tile backing, or where you want a more rigid, knock-free wall.
Thickness: single 12.5 mm layer for normal rooms; double-layer or 15 mm boards where you need better sound or fire performance. Buy a few extra boards — offcuts and breakage add up.
Divide your wall area by the board area (1.2m × 2.4m = 2.88m²), then add 10% for waste and cuts.
Approximately 28 screws per standard board (12 screws per m²). Place them every 15-20cm along the studs.
Standard spacing is 60cm (24") for walls and 40cm (16") for ceilings or high-load walls.
Approximately 1.5 kg/m² for 3 coats (taping, filling, finishing). A 25kg bag covers about 16m².
Use double layers for fire-rated walls, soundproofing, or high-impact areas like hallways.
Yes. This drywall calculator is 100% free and online, with no sign-up. It estimates sheets of drywall, metal frame studs and tracks, screws, tape and joint compound. It works for sheetrock, plasterboard and gypsum board.