What drywall installation costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Hung, taped and finished Paint-ready, typical Level 4 finish | $1.50–$3.50 / sq ft |
| Materials only Board, compound, tape and screws | $0.50–$0.80 / sq ft |
| Labor to hang and finish | $1.00–$2.70 / sq ft |
| One 4×8 sheet, installed 32 sq ft at the rates above | About $50–$110 |
| 12×12 room, walls and ceiling About 530 sq ft, before paint | About $800–$1,850 |
Per-square-foot prices assume a reasonable amount of work. A single wall, a patched section or a closet still needs the same trips, setup and drying time between coats, so small jobs are usually priced as a flat job rather than by the foot. For patching and damage, see drywall repair cost.
Finish levels: what you are actually paying for
Hanging the board is quick. Finishing it is where the time goes, and the industry grades finishing in levels from 0 to 5. Most painted walls in homes are finished to Level 4. Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the entire surface, which matters under glossy paint or where a window throws light across the wall.
| Job | Installed |
|---|---|
| Level 1 Tape bedded only. Attics, spaces behind other finishes | $1.15–$2.15 / sq ft |
| Level 2 One thin coat over tape. Garages, behind tile | $1.30–$2.60 / sq ft |
| Level 3 Under medium or heavy texture | $1.50–$2.75 / sq ft |
| Level 4 Standard for painted walls in most homes | $1.70–$3.20 / sq ft |
| Level 5 Skim coat over everything. Glossy paint or strong side light | $1.75–$3.50 / sq ft |
Drywall thickness and types
- ½ inch is the standard for interior walls in most homes.
- ⅝ inch is stiffer and used on ceilings, and in fire-rated Type X board, which codes often require on garage walls and ceilings shared with living space.
- ¼ and ⅜ inch are for curves, or for laminating over old plaster or damaged walls.
- Moisture- and mold-resistant board is for bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. It is not waterproof: inside a shower, tile needs a cement board or a waterproofed backer instead.
- Soundproof board costs several times more and is used between bedrooms, media rooms and shared walls.
What moves the price
- Ceilings take longer than walls, and high or vaulted ceilings need scaffolding.
- Corners, windows and openings add cutting and finishing time.
- Texture is an extra step; see drywall textures.
- Demolition and disposal of old drywall or plaster, which in older homes should start with an asbestos test.
- Access, such as carrying sheets up stairs or into a basement through a narrow door.
How it is done
- Check the framing is flat and add blocking where the board needs support, such as at corners and for future shelves or grab bars.
- Hang the ceiling first, then the walls, with sheets running horizontally and joints staggered. Screw into framing at the spacing the board requires.
- Tape all seams and inside corners, and install corner bead on outside corners.
- Apply joint compound in three coats with drying time between them, each wider and thinner than the last.
- Sand, check under raking light, and prime before any texture or paint.
The finishing steps are covered in detail in how to tape and mud drywall.
Common questions
What thickness of drywall should I use?
½ inch for most interior walls, ⅝ inch for ceilings and anywhere fire-rated Type X is required, such as between a garage and the house. Match the existing thickness when replacing a section.
How long does it take to drywall a room?
Hanging a typical room takes a day or less. Finishing takes several more days, because each coat of compound has to dry before the next, so plan on about a week from bare studs to paint-ready.
How much does a sheet of drywall cost to install?
At typical 2026 rates, a standard 4×8 sheet works out to roughly $50–$110 hung and finished. That only holds on larger jobs; a single sheet on its own carries a minimum charge.
Related guides
Compiled from published 2026 national cost data (Homewyse, HomeGuide, Thumbtack). We update these figures as we complete jobs.