Calculators / Drywall Installation Cost
Drywall Installation Cost
Drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot installed in 2026, with a national average around $2.25–$2.70. That covers materials plus the labor to hang, tape, and finish. Materials alone run $0.40–$0.80 per square foot; labor makes up 50–70% of the total. A single room typically runs $580 to $1,500, and a full house $4,000–$15,000+.
Real ranges, not AI guesses.
Drywall Installation cost breakdown
per square foot installed (hang, tape & finish).
National-average ranges (as of 2026-06); estimates, not quotes. Get a few local estimates for your project, and use the calculator below for exact quantities.
What drives the cost
- Finish level — a Level 5 smooth finish adds finishing labor over a standard Level 3
- Ceiling height and the number of corners, cutouts, and openings
- Moisture- or fire-resistant board costs more than standard ½″ sheets
- Demolition and haul-away of old drywall, if any
- Your region (see below)
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Hanging drywall yourself saves the labor — 50–70% of the cost — bringing a room close to the $0.40–$0.80/sq ft material price. The hard part is taping and finishing to a smooth, paint-ready surface; uneven mud and visible seams are the usual DIY giveaway. A common middle ground is to hang the board yourself and hire out only the finishing.
Cost by region
Southeast and Midwest full installs often run $1.25–$1.75 per sq ft. Coastal metros — San Francisco, New York, Boston, Seattle — run $2.50–$4.00 per sq ft for the same hang-tape-finish work.
Know exactly how much you need
Cost ranges get you a budget. For the actual quantity to buy — with editable prices — use the free drywall calculator.
Open the Drywall Calculator →Drywall Installation cost FAQ
How much does it cost to drywall a 12×12 room?+
A 12×12 room has roughly 400–500 sq ft of wall and ceiling surface, so at $1.50–$3.00 per sq ft installed you're looking at about $600–$1,500. Hanging it yourself and hiring out the finish lowers that meaningfully.
Is it cheaper to hang drywall yourself?+
Yes — labor is 50–70% of the cost, so doing the hanging yourself can roughly halve the price. Just budget for the finishing learning curve, or hire a finisher for the taping and sanding.
What's the difference between hanging and finishing cost?+
Hanging averages $0.85–$1.25/sq ft; taping and finishing $1.00–$1.50/sq ft. Finishing is more expensive because it's slow, multi-coat work that determines how the wall looks under paint.