How Much Drywall for 1,200 Square Feet?
Drywall sheets
42 sheets
1,200 square feet of board, 4 by 8 sheets, ten percent waste.
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How that number is worked out
These are the figures this page was built with and every line the calculator produces from them. Change anything above and all of it moves.
- Total area to cover1200 sq ft
- Sheet size4 x 8 ft, 32 sq ft
- Waste allowance10 %
Drywall sheets42 sheets
| Area with 10% waste | 1,320 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Sheets at 32 sq ft | 42 |
| Joint compound, 4.5 gal buckets | 3 |
| Joint tape | 502 lf |
| Screws | 1,344 (about 5 lb) |
| Corner bead, rough guess | 80 lf |
The material list this produces
| Drywall sheets | 42 |
|---|---|
| Joint compound, 4.5 gal buckets | 3 |
| Joint tape, linear ft | 502 |
| Drywall screws, lb | 5 |
Sheet size compared
Longer sheets mean fewer butt joints and less taping. Same area, three sheet sizes.
| Sheet size | Drywall sheets |
|---|---|
| 4 x 8 ft | 42 sheets |
| 4 x 10 ft | 33 sheets |
| 4 x 12 ft | 28 sheets |
What else matters here
Forty two sheets.
Five eighths type X is stiffer than half inch, which is why some builders use it on 24 inch on center ceilings regardless of the fire rating.
What this calculator assumes
- Joint compound is figured at one 4.5 gallon bucket per 475 sq ft of board for a full three coat finish. A level 5 finish uses more.
- Tape is figured at 380 linear feet per 1000 sq ft of board, screws at 32 per sheet for 16 inch on center framing.
- Longer sheets mean fewer butt joints, which is less taping and a flatter wall. Use 12 footers where they will fit through the door.
Questions people ask
How many sheets of drywall for 1,200 square feet?
Forty two sheets of 4 by 8 with a ten percent waste allowance.
The drywall calculator takes any dimensions you like and hands back the same list.