How much drywall do you need for a 12×12 room?

A 12×12 ft room with 8 ft walls needs 17 sheets of 4×8 drywall for the walls and ceiling (one door, one window, 10% waste), or 12 sheets of 4×12. Walls alone take 12 sheets of 4×8.

Change the numbers

The calculator below is pre-filled for this project. Adjust any value — including feet and inches — and the results update instantly.

Your results

Drywall sheets17

Total area to cover492 sq ft

Walls / ceiling348 / 144 sq ft

Drywall screws (≈1 per sq ft)544

How much drywall do you need for a 12×12 room — diagram

Drywall sheets for a 12×12 room by wall height

Walls plus ceiling, one door and one window subtracted, 10% waste.

Wall height	Area to cover	4×8 sheets	4×12 sheets
8 ft	492 sq ft	17	12
9 ft	540 sq ft	19	13
10 ft	588 sq ft	21	14

Breakdown

Walls: 348 sq ft after openings
Ceiling: 144 sq ft — consider 4×12 sheets or a drywall lift for the ceiling
Screws: about 544 (≈1 per sq ft of board)

The math

Walls 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 − 21 − 15 = 348 sq ft Ceiling 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft (348 + 144) × 1.10 ÷ 32 = 17 sheets (rounded up)

Common questions

How many sheets of drywall for a 12x12 room?

17 sheets of 4×8 for walls and ceiling with 8 ft walls, or 12 sheets for the walls only.

How many 4x12 drywall sheets for a 12x12 room?

12 sheets for walls and ceiling with 8 ft walls and 10% waste.

Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the drywall calculator guide.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026. Results are estimates — confirm with your supplier.

Related calculators

Paint CalculatorGallons and quarts for walls and ceilings, minus doors and windows.Square Footage CalculatorArea of rectangles, triangles and circles in sq ft, sq yd, m² and acres.Flooring CalculatorSquare feet and boxes of laminate, vinyl plank or hardwood with waste.