Drywall Mud, Tape and Screws Calculator
Enter the area to board and get sheets, mud, tape and screws.
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Drywall Mud, Tape and Screws Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Drywall Mud, Tape and Screws Calculator works
Enter the total area of wall and ceiling to cover and pick the sheet size.
Sheets are area plus waste, divided by sheet area. Screws are a fixed number per sheet.
Joint compound uses a coverage rate for tape, fill and finish coats, and tape is about 0.37 ft per sq ft.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Area to cover (sq ft) | 800 |
|---|---|
| Sheet size | 4 × 8 ft (32 sq ft) |
| Waste | 10 % |
| Joint compound coverage (sq ft per gallon) | 100 |
| Screws per sheet | 32 |
| Pail size (gallons) | 4.5 |
- 800 sq ft + 10% waste ÷ 32 = 28 sheets of 4 × 8.
- Mud 8.0 gal (2 pails), tape 296 ft, 896 screws.
Result:
| Drywall sheets | 28 |
|---|---|
| Joint compound (gallons) | 8.0 |
| Pails to buy | 2 |
| Paper tape (feet) | 296 |
| Screws | 896 |
| Screws (lb at about 300 per lb) | 3.0 |
Frequently asked questions
How much joint compound for 1,000 sq ft?
About 10 gallons at 100 sq ft per gallon, which is a little over two 4.5 gallon pails.
How many screws per sheet?
About 32 on a 4 × 8 sheet at 12 inch spacing in the field and 8 inches on the edges.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.