Choosing Drywall
Thickness
Drywall comes in two common thicknesses for residential use:
| Thickness |
Common Uses |
| 1/2 inch |
Standard walls, most rooms, attached to studs 16" apart |
| 5/8 inch |
Ceilings (less sag), garage walls (fire code), soundproofing |
💡 For Ceilings
5/8" drywall is recommended for ceilings, especially if your joists are 24" apart. It's heavier but won't sag over time like 1/2" can.
Sheet Sizes
Drywall sheets are 4 feet wide and come in several lengths:
| Size |
Square Feet |
Best For |
| 4' × 8' |
32 SF |
Standard rooms, easier to handle |
| 4' × 12' |
48 SF |
Fewer seams, needs 2+ people |
Special Types
- Moisture-resistant (green board) - For bathrooms, but not for direct water contact (use cement board behind showers)
- Mold-resistant (purple board) - Better moisture protection, good for basements
- Fire-rated (Type X) - Required in garages, around furnaces, between units
Supplies You'll Need
🛒 Basic Drywall Shopping List
- Drywall sheets (use our calculator)
- Drywall screws (1-1/4" for 1/2", 1-5/8" for 5/8")
- Joint compound (ready-mix is easiest)
- Paper tape (or mesh tape for beginners)
- Corner bead (if you have outside corners)
🔧 Tools Needed
- Drill with drywall bit
- Utility knife
- T-square or 4' level
- Drywall saw (for outlets/cutouts)
- Taping knives (6", 10", 12")
- Mud pan
- Sanding sponge or pole sander
Estimating Materials
Drywall Sheets
Our calculator does this for you, but here's the basic formula:
- Calculate total square footage (wall length × height)
- Subtract doors (21 SF each) and windows (15 SF each)
- Divide by sheet size (32 or 48 SF)
- Add 10-15% for waste and cuts
Joint Compound
For a standard "Level 4" finish (smooth enough for flat or eggshell paint):
- About 0.07 gallons per square foot
- A 4.5-gallon bucket covers about 65 SF of drywall
- You'll go through 3 coats minimum
Paper Tape
- About 0.7 feet of tape per square foot of drywall
- A 500-foot roll covers about 700 SF of drywall
Screws
- About 1 screw per square foot
- That's roughly 32 screws per 4×8 sheet
- 1 pound of 1-1/4" screws ≈ 150 screws
💡 Buy Extra Joint Compound
It's better to have leftover compound than to run out mid-project. Unopened buckets can be returned, and opened ones last for months if sealed properly.
Finishing Tips
The Three-Coat Method
- First coat (tape coat): Embed the tape in a thin layer of compound
- Second coat (fill coat): Fill in seams, let edges feather out
- Third coat (finish coat): Thin coat, wide feathering for smooth finish
⚠️ Let It Dry
Don't rush between coats. Joint compound needs to be completely dry (white, not gray) before the next coat. This usually takes 24 hours, or longer in humid conditions.
Sanding
- Light sanding between coats (120-150 grit)
- Final sanding before paint (150-180 grit)
- Use a bright work light to spot imperfections
- Wear a dust mask - drywall dust gets everywhere