How Much Drywall for 600 Square Feet?
Drywall sheets
21 sheets
600 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 cover600 sq ft
- Sheet size4 x 8 ft, 32 sq ft
- Waste allowance10 %
Drywall sheets21 sheets
| Area with 10% waste | 660 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Sheets at 32 sq ft | 21 |
| Joint compound, 4.5 gal buckets | 2 |
| Joint tape | 251 lf |
| Screws | 672 (about 3 lb) |
| Corner bead, rough guess | 40 lf |
The material list this produces
| Drywall sheets | 21 |
|---|---|
| Joint compound, 4.5 gal buckets | 2 |
| Joint tape, linear ft | 251 |
| Drywall screws, lb | 3 |
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 | 21 sheets |
| 4 x 10 ft | 17 sheets |
| 4 x 12 ft | 14 sheets |
What else matters here
Twenty one sheets and two buckets of compound, figured at one four and a half gallon bucket per 475 square feet of board for a three coat finish.
Compound is not one product. All purpose is the heavy one that sticks and sands hard, and it is what the tape goes in. Lightweight or plus three sands easily and shrinks less, and it is what the second and third coats are for. Buying only one and using it for everything gives either tape that lifts or a wall that takes twice the sanding.
Setting compound, the powder that comes in bags marked 20, 45 or 90, is the third kind. It hardens by chemical reaction rather than by drying, so it goes off on schedule in a damp basement where a bucket coat would still be wet the next morning. It is also nearly impossible to sand once set, which is why it is for filling and for first coats rather than finishing.
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 600 square feet?
Twenty one sheets of 4 by 8 with a ten percent waste allowance, which covers 660 square feet of board.
How much joint compound do I need?
About one four and a half gallon bucket per 475 square feet of board for a standard three coat finish. A level 5 skim coat uses noticeably more.
What is the difference between all purpose and lightweight compound?
All purpose bonds harder and is what the tape is bedded in. Lightweight shrinks less and sands easily, which is what you want for the finish coats.
The drywall calculator takes any dimensions you like and hands back the same list.