Drywall Installation Cost |
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| How much does drywall installation cost? The drywall installation cost is largely determined by the size of the room you intend to have worked and the type of drywall you have. The average cost to install drywall at 1/2 inch thick (most common) is around $1.30 to $2.00 per sq. ft. installed. | |
| Low Cost | $0.30 to $0.37 per sq. ft. |
| Average Cost | $1.30 to $2.02 per sq. ft. |
| High Cost | $3.90 – $5.15 per sq. ft. |
What is the Likely Installation Cost of Drywall / Sheetrock?
How much does drywall installation cost? The cost of drywall installation is between $1.30 to $2.02 per sq. ft. on average, but you can expect to pay $3.90 – $5.15 per sq. ft. for more complex jobs or regions where labor costs are higher.
Our table below provides a quick overview, or jump to our drywall costs section for more detailed information, alternatively request free drywall quotes using our calculator.
A Cost Comparison of Sheetrock / Drywall Installation Costs
| Average Drywall Installation Cost | ||
| Element of Project | 3/8″ Thick Drywall | 1/2″ Thick Drywall |
| Drywall hanging costs | $0.27 – $0.32 per sq. ft. | $0.30 to $0.37 per sq. ft. |
| Drywall finishing costs | $1.00 to $1.65 per sq. ft. | $1.00 to $1.65 per sq. ft. |
| Total Drywall Cost | $1.27 to $1.97 per sq. ft. | $1.30 to $2.02 per sq. ft. |
| Total Project Cost (300 sq.ft.) | $381 to $591 | $585 to $606 |
Learn more information in this concise drywall installation price guide to inform yourself in the following key areas:
In this Guide
Drywall: Understanding this Popular Construction Material With A Clear Breakdown of Costs
Drywall is used in residences and commercial buildings to create interior wall and ceiling surfaces. It is typically fastened with drywall screws to the wood studs that form the wall structure.
Also known as wallboard, sheetrock or gypsum board, drywall has largely replaced traditional lath and plaster surfaces because drywall is easier and less costly to both install and repair.
Drywall is formed from a mixture of gypsum, which is a soft sulfate mineral, water and added materials that increase strength. Flame-resisting or mildew-retarding elements are included in some types of drywall.
Most often, the gypsum plaster is sandwiched between thick paper to create a smooth surface that is easy to paint or cover with wallpaper. The final step in the production is to cut the drywall into sheets of various sizes including 4’x8’, 4’x9’, 4’x10’, 4’x12, 4’x14’ and 4’x16’.
What are Your Main Drywall Options?
Drywall is made in various thicknesses. In the United States, these include 1/4″, 3/8”, 1/2″ and 5/8”. Each has its own purpose, and we’ve created a complete Guide to Drywall Types and Prices that covers this topic in detail. There, you’ll learn more about:
- Standard drywall: This is drywall that is not enhanced for resistance to moisture, fire or sound. It is suitable for use in all areas except rooms where high humidity levels are common or where fire-resistant drywall is required by the building code
- Moisture-resistant drywall: Called “green board” in the trade, it is the right choice for bathrooms, kitchens and other humid locations due to water-resistant additives in the paper facing; It is used in basements and sometimes installed throughout homes in very humid climates
- Paperless drywall: Rather than paper, the gypsum core of this product is sheathed with a thin layer of fiberglass that does not absorb moisture, so this material is more resistant to moisture (though not waterproof) and the mold it can cause
- Fire-resistant drywall: As the name implies, this material is not easily penetrated by heat and flames, so is often required by the building code for use in garage walls and utility rooms
- Sound-control drywall: Additives to the drywall or membranes attached to it reduce the transmission of sound through walls, and this material is used wherever noise reduction is important
Drywall Thickness Options
There are several choices for drywall thickness, and each one has specific applications.
- 1/4-inch: Ideal for use covering existing surfaces to create a smooth finish; Shouldn’t be used alone, as it offers little strength or stability
- 3/8-inch: Once the most common size, 3/8” drywall is now most used to replace or repair existing 3/8” panels or to cover existing walls to produce a clean, smooth surface; This thickness should not be used on ceilings because it is not strong enough to resist sagging
- 1/2-inch: This is the most common size used; Some manufactures produce a lighter-weight version of 1/2″ drywall to make it easier to install, though some strength is lost
- 5/8-inch: Drywall enhanced with fire-resistant chemicals or material used for sound-proofing a room is often made in this thickness
Factors that Determine Drywall Price Estimates
There are two distinct phases of drywall installation; hanging the sheets of drywall and finishing the screw holes and the joints where drywall sheets abut. In many jobs, the drywall hanging and the drywall finishing are done by separate crews since the skill sets required for each are quite different.
Here are drywall installation cost factors with examples of drywall prices for hanging and finishing the drywall. Keep in mind that drywall repair prices are quite different because of how time-consuming repairs are. See our guide Drywall Repair Prices and Costs for complete information on repairs.
Drywall Hanging Costs with Price Charts
The type of drywall you choose is the most significant factor in cost for this phase of installation.
Keep in mind that these estimates are based on the amount of wall space, not floor space. For example, a room 20’x15’ has 300 square feet of floor space. However, how much wall space it has is determined by the height of the walls. Here’s an example using standard 8’ walls in a room that is 20’x15’:
Table 1: How to alculate the square footage of your room for drywall installation
| Drywall Hanging Costs Price Chart | |
| Wall | Square Footage |
| Wall #1: 20’L x 8’H | 160 square feet |
| Wall #2: 15’L x 8’H | 120 square feet |
| Wall #3: 20’L x 8’H | 160 square feet |
| Wall #4: 15’L x 8’H | 120 square feet |
| Total wall space: | 560 square feet |
Now, here are the ranges for drywall installation price estimates you’ll receive from local contractors. These costs include the drywall material, the fasteners required to hang it and the cost of labor.
Table 2: Estimating drywall hanging cost by thickness and square footage, including materials and labor cost.
| Drywall Price Chart for Drywall Sheets Per Sq. Ft. | |
| Drywall Thickness | Cost Per Square Foot (Sq. Ft) |
| Standard 1/4″ | $0.24 to $0.32 per square foot |
| Standard 3/8” | $0.27 to $0.34 per square foot |
| Standard 1/2” | $0.30 to $0.37 per square foot |
| Standard 5/8” | $0.34 to $0.41 per square foot |
| Moisture-resistant drywall | $0.40 to $0.48 per square foot |
| Heat/Fire-resistant drywall | $0.34 to $0.42 per square foot |
| Sound-barrier drywall | $0.95 to $2.25 per square foot |
The longer the sheet of drywall is, the less it will cost per square foot for the material, hanging it and for finishing it. Make sure your drywall contractor is using the longest sheets possible in order to reduce costs and the number of seams.
Drywall Finishing Costs
Finishing drywall is a time-consuming process and requires quite a bit of skill to produce a professional appearance. For these reasons, the cost to finish drywall is higher than the cost to hang drywall.
The process includes using paper or mesh tape to cover the joints where sheets abut, covering the tape with joint compound (a.k.a. drywall mud) and then sanding the compound once it is dry. Typically, three coats of mud are used, and each coat requires about 24 hours drying time before sanding can be started. An overview of drywall finishing is included below.
Table 3: Estimating drywall finishing cost by square footage
| Price Chart for Drywall Finishing | |
| Cost Per Square Foot (Sq. Ft) | |
| Drywall finishing costs | $1.00 to $1.65 per square foot |
Total Drywall Installation Costs
When you add up the totals for hanging drywall and finishing it for most types of material, your total drywall installation costs should be in this range:
Table 4: Drywall installation cost by square footage, including material, hanging and finishing
| Price Chart for Drywall Installation Including Hanging and Finishing Costs | |
| Drywall Installation Costs | Cost Per Square Foot (Sq. Ft) |
| Drywall hanging costs (average) | $0.24 – $2.25 |
| Drywall finishing costs (average) | $1.00 to $1.65 |
| Total drywall installation cost | $1.30 to $4.00 |
- Total drywall installation costs: $1.30 to $2.10 per square foot.
Drywall that includes an advanced sound barrier will cost as much as $4.00 per square foot.
Drywall Costs by Project Or Location
How Much Does it Cost to Drywall an Entire House?
The cost to drywall a house is between $1.30 – $4.00 per square foot. Therefore for an average sized 2,000 sq. ft. home in the USA the cost to drywall would be $20,850. Our page on the cost to drywall a house has more information.
How Much Does it Cost to Drywall a Room in a House?
How much will it cost you to drywall a single room in your house? Depending on the room type, shape and size the cost will be between $1.30 to $4.00 per square foot. Therefore a 12ft x 20ft room will cost an average of $1280, with a low cost of $1,000 and a high cost of $1,500. Our page on having a room drywalled has more information.
How Much Does it Cost to Drywall a Basement?
The cost to frame and drywall a basement is $3.90 to $7.70 per square foot, with an average cost of $4,000 for the average sized US basement.
How Much Does it Cost to Drywall a Garage?
The average cost to drywall a garage is around $2,850, which works out at between $1.30 to $4.00 per square foot. Our page on completing garage drywall gives you more information including cost factors.
How Much Does it Cost to Drywall a Ceiling?
The average cost to drywall a ceiling per sq. ft. is $0.40 – $4.30. The price will vary by size but on average you will pay $290 for a bathroom ceiling, $650 for a bedroom ceiling, $975 for a kitchen ceiling and $2,100 for an open plan living area. See our page on drywall ceiling costs for a more detailed breakdown, including pricing factors.
| Summary of Drywall Installation Cost by Project Type | |
| Project | Average Cost Range |
| Cost to Drywall a House | $9,150 – $28,250 |
| Cost to Drywall a Garage | $1000 – $5000 |
| Cost to Drywall a Basement | $1850 – $5750 |
| Cost to Drywall a Ceiling | $0.90 – $1.50 per sq. ft. |
| Cost to Drywall a Room | $1.30 – $2.25 per sq. ft. |
Factors that Increase the Drywall Installation Cost
We’ve covered the basics of the costs of hanging drywall and drywall finishing prices, but the characteristics of some jobs increase the drywall installation estimates you receive from contractors. You’ll probably get higher drywall estimates if any of these situations apply to you.
Removing old material: If your project is remodeling existing space rather than new construction, the old drywall may need to be removed first. This is a labor-intensive and messy job. There are disposal fees too. You can save money by doing the work yourself and paying for disposal only. Here are drywall removal costs you can expect to pay depending on who does the work:
- DIY removal with disposal: $0.40 to $1.00 per square foot
- Removal by a handyman with disposal: $1.25 to $2.10 per square foot
- Removal by a drywall contractor with disposal: $2.00 to $3.25 per square foot
Due to the high cost of removing old drywall, many homeowners tackle this part of the job themselves. It requires nothing more than a hammer and perhaps a small saw, and a dust mask and eye protection should be worn. Roll-off containers (dumpsters) are often rented for discarding the material. Turn off the electricity in the area you’re working as a safety measure.
Need for scaffolding: If you have a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, or very high walls, it’s likely that the drywall installer and finishers will need scaffolding for the work. This can add $0.40 to $0.75 per square foot to those areas where height is a factor.
Large number of corners: Homes with complex designs are often very beautiful, but the architecture does increase the cost of construction. If your home has more than eight corners, including bow windows, breakfast nooks or entryways, expect to pay more per square foot for drywall installation.
Working around cabinets and countertops: In remodeling jobs, if you’re not replacing cabinets, countertops, built-in bookshelves and similar structures, the drywall hanging and finishing estimates will be higher.
Smooth Ceilings: Have you noticed that most drywalled ceilings are textured? You might think that this would cost more than smooth, but in reality, texturing a ceiling costs less. The reason is there is much more labor involved in applying the coats of mud and sanding necessary to create a smooth ceiling. A textured ceiling is done in one coat after joints are taped.
How Long Does it Take to Install Drywall?
A crew of four people can hang 1,500 to 2,500 square feet of drywall per day depending on the difficulty of the work. One or two people can complete the mudding and sanding job in three days:
- Day 1: Mud the joints, apply tape over the mud and add a layer of compound (coats 1 & 2)
- Day 2: Sand and mud (coat 3)
- Day 3: Sand and clean up
An alternate method is to use self-adhesive tape to cover the joints. The tape is more expensive than standard seam paper, but sometimes just two coats of compound, rather than three, are required. Talk with your drywall contractor about the best approach to your project.
Frequently Ask Questions for Drywall Installation & Prices
Q. How much does sheetrock installation cost?
A. Sheetrock, otherwise known as standard drywall, will vary in cost depending on the thickness of the sheet. Sheetrock will usually cost between $0.24 and $0.41 per square foot.
Q. How much does / should drywall installation cost?
A. Drywall will cost between $1.27 to $1.97 per sq. ft. for 3/8 inch thick drywall and will cost between $1.30 to $2.02 per sq. ft. for 1/2 inch thick drywall.
Q. How is drywall installation charged?
A. Drywall installation is usually brokwn down into hanging and finishing costs per square foot, these would usually include the material prices as part of that estimate.
Q. What is the difference in cost between drywall vs plater?
A. Drywall and plaster are not too disimilar in their cost to purchase, however, the labor involved in drywalling an area is cheaper than plaster. Check out our guide to drywall vs plaster for full pricing differences.
User Submitted Drywall Installation Costs & Prices
The following table provides a list of user submitted drywall installation costs from around the U.S. Help us build this list by providing your recent price quote through our contact form here.
| Type | Details | Where? | Sq. Ft. | Cost Per Sq .Ft | Total Cost |
| Install | 215 Sheets, hang, tape, mud , prime, and paint | Entire House | 6720 sq. ft. | $1.10 | $7500.00 |
| Install | 4 x 8 sheets of paper faced 1/2 inch thick gypsum board | Kitchen | 150 sq. ft. | $2.08 | $312.00 |
| Install | 1/2 inch moisture reistant sheetrock, 9 ft height ceiling | Various Rooms | 650 sq. ft. | $1.99 | $1,292.91 |
| Install | 1/2 inch standard drywall to kitchen and extension, 8 ft height ceiling | Kitchen and Dining Extension | 300 sq. ft. | $1.86 | $558.31 |
| Install | Installdrywall into garage conversion. | Garage | 144 sq. ft. | $5.20 | $748 |
| Install and Repair | Repair and install following water damage. | Various Rooms | 315 sq. ft. | $3.80 | $1200 |
| Install and Repair | Repair a ceiling following foot through ceiling accident | Upstairs Bedroom | 12 sq. ft. | $12.50 | $150 |
Learn More about Drywall Installation
We’ve gathered a list of helpful resources to provide you with additional information as you plan your drywall installation project.
Estimating Drywall Labor Costs: This article offers help for understanding how drywall jobs are estimated by contractors. It also discusses why drywall repair costs more per square foot than hanging fresh drywall.
How Much Does Drywall Cost?: If you want to know average prices for sheets of drywall in its various sizes, this page will help.
Drywall Sizes and Thicknesses – A Concise Guide: This guide covers the options for the thickness and sizes of drywall available. It will help you select the right drywall for your application. The site includes a good overview of types including standard, fire-resistant and moisture-resistant drywall.
What is Paperless Drywall?: The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors offers a good discussion of paperless drywall – what it is and where it is best used.
Removing Old Drywall: Removing old drywall is an expensive project, as this article points out. That’s why many homeowners seek to cut costs by doing this part of the job themselves.
How Do You Hang Drywall – A DIY Guide: A helpful article on the Home Depot site gives a solid overview of how to hang drywall.
How Do You Finish Drywall – A DIY Guide: If you’re planning to finish the drywall yourself, this 18-step guide from Popular Mechanics will help you get professional results.
Installing Drywall In A Wet Room – A Guide: If you are installing green board drywall, i.e. drywall that is manufactured to resist moisture, this guide from a contractor will help you achieve the water-resistant, mold-resistant results you want.
Mudding and Taping Drywall: Watch a professional as he mixes drywall compound and applies mud and tape to drywall joints and corners.
Gathering Your Tools – What You’ll Need for Drywalling: Here’s a video from a drywall manufacturer that shows you the tools required for drywall finishing and gives a demonstration of the complete finishing process.