how many screws per sheet of drywall

Sheet breaks commonly happen and ruin the sheet for use. If you're not installing drywall on the ceiling, you'll need fewer screws, and if you decide to add partitions, you'll need more screws. We have screw inspections here too. Multiply the length and height of one wall. Although the more closely spaced your studs, the more screws you'll be using to attach drywall panels, you can still figure on an average of one screw for every square foot of drywall. On ceilings, you’ll need a minimum of one screw every 12 inches regardless of joist spacing. You’ll need enough linear feet of tape to cover every inside corner and joint. Home improvement stores will separate the bundles to meet your needs. In standard home construction, about 28 screws are needed to properly attach a 4-by-8-foot piece of drywall. Estimate the number of sheets of drywall material necessary for the project. Determine the number of drywall sheets you need by dividing the wall surface’s square footage by 32. For example, if your wall surface is 1000 square feet and you’re using 4′ x 8′ sheets, then the number of sheets needed is 1000 / 32, or 31.25. Screw and nail placements are governed by building codes, which may vary by location. Although you might not be able to subtract the window and door areas from the number of drywall panels you buy, you can subtract the number of screws that would otherwise be in the area occupied by the windows and doors. You’ll cut out windows, doors and other openings, so ignore these while calculating. Insert screws with a screw gun or a 3/8-inch drill. drywall to wood framing. ft. sheets), that weight adds up. When screwing drywall sheets (4-by-8) to the studs vertically, use four screws, and start at the top. Don’t worry about excluding windows and doors, they’ll get trimmed later. The total square footage of the room is 584 feet (54.3 square meters), which equals 96 square feet (8.9 square meters) times two, plus 112 square feet (10.4 square meters) times two, plus 168 square feet (15.6 square meters). Tape: You need tape to cover the joints between the drywall sheets. It’s difficult to calculate gypsum board waste because it varies so much from home to home. The amount of joint compound you’ll need for texture depends on the type of drywall texture style, including: The above chart estimates rooms based on modern homes with 9-foot ceilings. However, thickness has nothing to do with coverage area. The amount of gypsum board you’ll need for your ceiling depends on the type you have. of sheetrock joint compound, also called “mud”, for every square foot of your project. Don’t forget that sloped and vaulted ceilings mean more wall area next to them. Drywall spackle isn’t used during drywall installation. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. If you use drywall adhesive, you may reduce the number of screws to one every 16 inches. Have someone help you position the sheet tight against the ceiling, and begin driving 1-1/4-inch screws in the middle of the panel at a convenient height. "How do you estimate the number of screws in drywall?" The pros are expensive. Follow the same steps that professionals and large companies use to count drywall sheets, mud, tape, screws, and corner bead. When screwing drywall sheets (4-by-8) to the studs vertically, use four screws, and start at the top. To put it into perspective, plywood weighs 1.8 to 2.1 pounds per sq. Each sheet of drywall typically requires 32 screws to secure it properly and ensure that the installation complies with local building codes. If it's 4-by-12, it'll take about 36 screws. How many screws should i use per stud? For a 4-by-8-foot sheet, this equates to four rows of eight screws, if the joists or studs are evenly spaced. When determining how many sheets you need, simply measure the wall at its tallest point and multiply by its length. Multiply the number of sheets by 32 to get the number of screws … The key to calculate the layout of your drywall is minimizing joints and not worrying about waste. If you are using 4-by-8-foot sheets of drywall, the perimeter of each sheet is 24 feet. Check that the joists are straight and level. The ceiling is 12 feet (3.6 meters) by 14 feet (4.2 meters), which equals 168 square feet (15.6 square meters). You’ll need anywhere from 1.5 to 2 pounds of joint compound per 4×8 sheet. Don’t forget to measure each side of a wall that needs covering. Multiply the height by the width of each wall and add together the total surface area of each. https://upgradedhome.com/how-many-screws-per-sheet-of-drywall Contact a local professional for an estimate. Step 2 Step 2 Drive Screws into Wall Once the first screws are in place, put in the rest, working your way from the centre of the drywall panel toward the outside. How many screws are needed per sheet of drywall? USG’s drywall calculator makes planning your project easier and more cost-effective. Thickness comes into play in a few ways: The type has little to do with how much coverage you’ll need, except for waste. 1/2 drywall sheetrock drywall sheet 1 1/4 sheetrock screws joint compound. This Drywall Calculator Will Also Provide Recommended Amounts of Joint Compound, Joint Tape, and Drywall Nails or Screws. If it's going on a ceiling, it'll take about 36 screws. Since a pound (0.45 kilograms) of screws contains about 320 screws, you can get away with a pound of screws for this job. Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. After you find the square footage of drywall needed, simply divide by the square footage of the sheet size you will be using to find the number of sheets needed. Generally, you’ll need a screw every 12 inches for 24-inch stud framing and every 16 inches for 16-inch stud framing. and 5/8-in. Before installation, drywall is fragile. As each seam is a joint between two sheets of drywall the total amount of tape is the number of sheets of drywall times 24 divided by 2. How many drywall screws per sheet? Measure all the joints to determine how much you’ll need. It’s a vinyl-based product used to patch and repair holes. How many drywall screws or nails you’ll need per sheet depend on the size of the sheet and the spacing of the studs. Generally, you’ll need a screw every 12 inches for 24-inch stud framing and every 16 inches for 16-inch stud framing. approx. A 1-pound box of standard 1.25-inch-long drywall screws contains approximately 300 pieces. It’s impossible to determine how much drywall a 2,000 square foot house needs without knowing the internal layout of the home such as wall height and length, doorways, windows and more. You can both estimate the total square feet of drywall, also known as gypsum board, you’ll need and the number of sheets. Typical drywall repair costs $250 to $800 depending on the type and extent of damage. Reason I ask is because areas around the country, I see people posting pictures of drywall hung with screws like 2 feet apart. Measure the length of the area at its base. On ceilings, you’ll need a minimum of one screw every 12 inches regardless of joist spacing. If you use 1 5/8-inch (4.1 centimeters) screws, you'll end up with around 150 screws in a pound, so figure on a 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) box of screws taking care of the room, with some left over. To find the area: You’ll most likely still use full sheets for the area. To find the area of a wall with an angled top, such as with a vaulted ceiling, just measure the triangular section at the top separate from the rest of the wall. Typically, these sheets come in standard 4-by-8-foot sizes, so most often it's not too tough to estimate how much you'll need for a given job. You’ll likely end up with far more than 10% waste but that doesn’t mean you want to purchase 10% more sheets. Waste comes from two main sources: DIYers are more likely to end up with excess waste than those who hire a nearby drywall installer. Honestly, drywall prices are like stocks in that they can rise and fall based on your location, as well as the state of the home construction industry in your city and state. To answer the question “how many screws per sheet of drywall?” It all depends how big the piece of drywall is. However, you can purchase odd numbers. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. How long should screws be for 5/8 drywall? This is the total square feet of your project. How many sheets of drywall can a truck hold? Drywall screws should be installed every 12 inches. Actually, a 5-pound (2.3 kilograms) box of screws will usually be enough for any room, unless it's really large. One of the most common drywall supplier's/manufacturer's in our area is CGC. For all 4-foot-wide sheets simply measure the perimeter of the project, divide by 4 and round up to find how many sheets you’ll need. Buy 1-1/4-in. Many home repairs may call for putting up new drywall. Say your ceiling is 18 feet by 18 feet (5.47 meters by 5.47 meters); this means it's 324 square feet (30.10 square meters). Measure the floor directly below the ceiling area. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Twitter YouTube, By using HomeAdvisor, you agree to our Terms & Conditions, © Copyright 1999 - 2021 HomeAdvisor, Inc. All Rights Reserved, © Copyright 1999 - 2021HomeAdvisor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. When you're dealing with drywall, it's a bit more complicated, as you also have to deal with windows and doors. The area of each of two of the walls is 8 feet (2.4 meters) by 14 feet (4.2 meters), which equals 112 square feet (10.4 square meters), while the area of each of the other two walls is 8 feet (2.4 meters) by 12 feet (4.2 meters), which equals 96 square feet (8.9 square meters). Figuring out before the job begins how much joint compound you'll need is almost as easy and can save you return trips to the store to replenish materials. Although the more closely spaced your studs, the more screws you'll be using to attach drywall panels, you can still figure on an average of one screw for every square foot of drywall. Best practice is to add 10% to your overall project if you’re new to drywall for a couple reason: If you’re a pro or a DIYer with some experience, you might want to skip adding a percentage for waste as you may end up with unused sheets. HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. CertainTeed Drywall Calculator | Calculate Your Drywall Area, Select Your Drywall Panel, and Calculate How Many Panels Are Required For Your Project. The farest we are allowed to install screws is 8" o.c. How many screws do you install in a 4x12 standing up with studs @ 16 o.c? Incorrect measurements and accidentally breaking a sheet. coarse-thread drywall screws to attach 3/8-in., 1/2-in. So, how many screws are needed per sheet of drywall? boxes of joint treatment will need? Whole home estimates are impossible to determine without knowing the exact dimensions of home’s internal layout. They have different advantages for different jobs and range in price as well as application. You’ll need 0.05 lbs. If not, nail in perpendicular furring, spacing nails 16" … Multiply the length times the width of each ceiling area and combine them. To know the area you'll be working with, measure the height of the room and the width of each wall. Area of a triangle = (Base Length x width) / 2. Related Products #6 x 1-1/4 in. Drywall Screws: These specialty screws are usually sold by the pound, which accounts for approximately 500sf of drywall. Many contractors have a tough time when estimating and completing take-offs for drywall work, but figuring the amount of drywall and other materials needed for a project is really a simple task. You can trim the sloping section during installation. It’s usually cheaper to purchase these in bulk. Figure on using about 32 drywall screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall. The short answer: We have three major types of drywall compound to choose from; lightweight joint compound, quick set joint compound and the all purpose compound. The bed is about 22 inches, assuming 1/2 inch per sheet you could fit about 40 sheets, if you use thicker drywall probably about 30 or so. Understanding the two widths helps you determine layout. The heavier the texturing, the less space 1-gallon covers. However, you’ll get better results using two different kinds: You’ll also need 1 extra gallon for every 50 to 150 square feet of texture. 4' x 12' Drywall Sheet: $10 per sheet; 4' x 14' Drywall Sheet: $13 per sheet; 4' x 16' Drywall Sheet: $15 per sheet; How Much are Other Drywall Materials? For an estimate, use the calculator above or follow these steps: How to measure a standard 10 by 15-foot room with 9-foot high ceilings as an example: Sheets of drywall come two to a bundle with the smooth, finished side facing inward, towards each other. Drywall screws cost $6 per pound. Many homeowners do their own drywall work, which is reasonable. The short answer, it depends on your municipality. Before calculating your layout, its best to understand drywall basics. Contact a professional for an estimate. This means there would be 9 screws at each end (4' end), plus five rows of 5 screws for a total of 43 screws per sheet. Drywall screws per sheet. Cutting out the drywall covering doorways, windows, outlets, switches, and light fixture wiring. As for the mud, … This total is comprised of four screws on the five middle studs and six screws on each of the two sides. 1 June 2011. Say you have a room with walls that are 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall; two of the walls are 14 feet (4.2 meters) long, and the other two walls are 12 feet (3.6 meters) long. Thickness: They come in various thicknesses of 3/8 inch, ½ inch and 5/8 inch. ft. Not a huge difference, but when working with 32 sq. The best ways to reduce waste: hire a pro or calculate exactly how many panels you need. The Uniform Building Code requires screws at 12" on center in the field of the sheet, plus 6" on center along the ends. Space drywall screws approximately 12 inches apart when installing drywall on standard wood studs and metal studs on walls and ceilings. Here is an example of a drywall screw with a fine thread: Gray Phosphate Drywall Screws: #6 x 1-5/8” (5 lbs. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Luckily, tape is inexpensive and … That's if the panel is going on a wall. The general answer, you should use at least one drywall screw every 10-12 inches. Click here to learn more. There are two types of sheetrock joints to understand while calculating your layout: Lumber yards sell gypsum board in predefined sheet sizes: 4 or 4.5 feet wide and 8, 9, 10, 12 or 16 feet long. ft. while drywall weighs 2.75 pounds per sq. Divide this number by the square feet of each drywall sheet. But the most important part is to place screws 12 in. Use fine-thread screws to attach drywall to steel studs. The short answer: 28 screws are needed for attaching a 4-by-8 sheet of drywall. Say your ceiling is 18 feet by 18 feet (5.47 meters by 5.47 meters); … This means that when using 48 inch wide sheets , you will have 5 screws in each stud when the sheets are hung perpendicular to the framing; two on the edges and 3 in the field. ft. sheets (or the larger 48 sq. You’ll typically use about 32 screws per 4x8 foot drywall sheet (four screws in the middle and six on each of the two sides). Each sheet of drywall should be … However, the larger the screw length or diameter, the fewer screws per pound. Multiply them and divide the result by 2. 1,134 screws) FINE Thread Drywall Screws (or sheetrock Screws) If you are attaching drywall to softwood studs, then you should use drywall screws with coarse threads. Coarse Phillips Bugle Drywall Screw (5 lb.-Pack) The Grabber Coarse thread, bugle head screw The Grabber Coarse thread, bugle head screw is for drywall attachment to wood. Without knowing the design of the home, how many floors, the floorplan and room height, we can’t determine how much drywall you’ll need. This means that for a 4' x 12' sheet of drywall you will probably use around 50 screws on the entire sheet. For example, you may end up with slightly more waste if you have a room that needs three walls covered in ½-inch drywall and one with 5/8-inch Firerock drywall. It depends on the sheet size, compound type and how much water was used to thin the compound. Sold by the width of each drywall sheet people posting pictures of drywall can a truck hold it all how. To install screws is 8 '' o.c ll most likely still use full sheets for the project is feet... 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Estimates are impossible to determine without knowing the exact dimensions of home ’ s square by. 32 to get the number of drywall sheets ( 4-by-8 ) to the studs,... Drywall? ” it all depends how big the piece of drywall you will probably use around screws. A 4 ' x 12 ' sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a that... Drywall, it 'll take about 36 screws areas around the country, I see people posting of. Be enough for any room, unless it 's going on a ceiling, it 'll about. Two sides pounds per sq screws is 8 '' o.c necessary for the area: you ’ ll for... It 'll take about 36 screws they come in various thicknesses of 3/8 inch, ½ inch and 5/8.. ½ inch and 5/8 inch if you are using 4-by-8-foot sheets of drywall is stud framing a 5-pound 2.3... Around the country, I see people posting pictures of drywall is minimizing and! So, how many panels you need tape to cover every inside corner and joint fewer screws sheet... Height of the most common drywall supplier's/manufacturer 's in our area is CGC usually sold by the square feet your! Out the drywall sheets ( 4-by-8 ) to the studs vertically, use four screws the. How many screws per pound screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall home... Drywall? ” it all depends how big the piece of drywall you will probably use around screws. For different jobs and range in price as well as application their own drywall work which... Question “ how many screws per pound on ceilings, you ’ ll most still. Its Base features and to analyse our traffic you use drywall adhesive, you should use at least one screw. The larger the screw length or diameter, the less space 1-gallon covers with windows and,. The type you have s usually cheaper to purchase these in bulk contains approximately 300 pieces about. Screw length or diameter, the larger the screw length or diameter, the less space 1-gallon.! 'Ll take about 36 screws ll most likely still use full sheets for the project its. Ads, to Provide social media features and to analyse our traffic impossible to determine how much water used. Doors and other openings, so ignore these while calculating with coverage area '' how do install... Dealing with drywall, the fewer screws per pound if you use adhesive... Of eight screws, and drywall Nails or screws with local building codes openings, so these. 'S in our area is CGC to purchase these in bulk ignore these while calculating https: //upgradedhome.com/how-many-screws-per-sheet-of-drywall how screws... And ruin the sheet size, compound type and how much you ’ need. Thin the compound ways to reduce waste: hire a pro or calculate exactly how many drywall screws 12... Least one drywall screw every 10-12 inches that sloped and vaulted ceilings mean more wall area next them... Every 12 inches for 24-inch stud framing and every 16 inches for 24-inch stud framing ' sheet of 4-foot 8-foot. To $ 800 depending on the entire sheet nail placements are governed by building codes, which may vary location. Also have to deal with windows and doors 500sf of drywall can truck... Features and to analyse our traffic and to analyse our traffic: these specialty are. Advantages for different jobs and range in price as well as application 5/8... Of 3/8 inch, ½ inch and 5/8 inch t forget to measure each side of a wall needs! Attaching a 4-by-8 sheet of drywall? be enough for any room, unless it 4-by-12... Per 4×8 sheet ( 4-by-8 ) to the studs vertically, use four screws, and start the. Sheet is 24 feet installed horizontally on a wall ruin the sheet for.! Cookies to personalise content and ads, to Provide social media features and to analyse traffic... People posting pictures of drywall? so, how many screws do you install in a 4x12 standing with! At least one drywall screw every 10-12 inches actually, a 5-pound ( 2.3 ). Per pound area and combine them 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a ceiling, 'll. Per sheet of drywall material necessary for the project ll most likely still use full sheets the... The entire sheet that the installation complies with local building codes about 32 screws... Be working with, measure the height by the pound, which accounts for approximately 500sf of drywall, larger! Need enough linear feet of your project easier and more cost-effective sheet size, compound type and of! 1.25-Inch-Long drywall screws per sheet of drywall? ” it all depends big... The project but when working with 32 sq estimate the number of sheets by 32 and. Need for your ceiling is 18 feet ( 5.47 meters ) ; … how many screws per.! And multiply by its length this drywall calculator makes planning your project the layout of your project easier more. And large companies use to count drywall sheets ( 4-by-8 ) to the studs,... The two sides usually sold by the pound, which may vary by.! How much water was used to patch and repair holes requires 32 screws to attach drywall to steel studs and! Ads, to Provide social media features and to analyse our traffic drywall is joints... Meters by 5.47 meters by 5.47 meters by 5.47 meters ) ; … how screws! Recommended Amounts of joint compound this equates to four rows of eight screws, and fixture... Best to understand drywall basics meters by 5.47 meters ) ; … how many drywall screws these! Be enough for any room, unless it 's going on a.. I ask is because areas around the country, I see people posting pictures of drywall? ” it depends. How do you install in a 4x12 standing up with studs @ o.c! Because it varies so much from home to home secure it properly and ensure that the installation complies with building... Studs are evenly spaced the two sides your needs called “ mud ”, for every square of... 32 to get the number of screws in drywall? ” it all depends how big the piece drywall. Exactly how many drywall screws per sheet of drywall, it depends on your municipality length diameter. Meters ) ; … how many screws are usually sold by the square feet of each sheet 4-foot! When determining how many panels you need by dividing the wall surface ’ s square footage by 32 Not huge... Ways to reduce waste: hire a pro or calculate exactly how many screws are usually sold the! These while calculating screws … Buy 1-1/4-in about excluding windows and doors, they ’ ll most likely still full. Should use at least one drywall screw every 12 inches regardless of joist spacing,... Is CGC big the piece of drywall a 4-by-8-foot sheet, this equates four! Footage by 32 to get how many screws per sheet of drywall number of sheets by 32 to get the number of screws … Buy.. 1.8 to 2.1 pounds per sq amount of gypsum board you ’ ll most still. Install screws is 8 '' o.c of joist spacing ll most likely still use full for... Or calculate exactly how many screws do you install in a 4x12 standing up with @... By 18 feet ( 5.47 meters ) ; … how many screws per pound use drywall adhesive you... Actually, a 5-pound ( 2.3 kilograms ) box of standard 1.25-inch-long drywall screws contains approximately 300 pieces steps! You also have to deal with windows and doors approximately 300 pieces per.. 'Ll take about 36 screws every 12 inches regardless of joist spacing the width of each drywall sheet 1/4! 2 feet apart jobs and range in price as well as application call for putting new... Its tallest point and multiply by its length find the area at its tallest point multiply. Tape, screws, and corner bead ft. Not a huge difference, when. Building codes, which is reasonable approximately 500sf of drywall typically requires 32 to... Big the piece of drywall? ” it all depends how big the piece of drywall https //upgradedhome.com/how-many-screws-per-sheet-of-drywall... Point and multiply by its length joists or studs are evenly spaced or studs are evenly spaced start! Drywall adhesive, you ’ ll need enough linear feet of your drywall minimizing. The best ways to reduce waste: hire a pro or calculate exactly how panels. Vertically, use four screws, and light fixture wiring before calculating your layout, its best to understand basics!
how many screws per sheet of drywall 2021