Drywall
Walls & framing

Hang and finish drywall

DIY OK
Sheets, screws, tape, compound and corner bead for walls and ceilings, finished to the level you want.
Sheet A-1 · Drywall

12′ × 10′ room

DIY OK
Sheets
16
4×8
Board
421
sq ft to cover
Compound
1
pail
Finish
L4
3 coats
23–34 h of work
Spread over about 5 days: premixed compound dries overnight between coats.
Draft
The rules behind this Sheet are waiting for a licensed pro’s sign-off.

Drawing

Sheet layout
1
Butt joint Sheet ends meet on a stud — staggered from the next row, never in line with a door or window edge.
2
Tapered seam Long factory edges meet across the wall: the easiest joint to tape.
3
Screws Every 16″ up each stud, ⅜″ in from the edges; every 12″ on the ceiling joists.
4
Door Hang the sheet over the opening and cut it out: no joint lands on its edges.
5
Gap at the floor The bottom row is held ½″ off the floor; the baseboard covers it.
6
Ceiling first Sheets across the joists (dashed), ends staggered; screws every 12″.
7
Paper tape Bedded in compound over the seam, wiped tight.
8
Coats Each coat wider and thinner than the last: tape coat, fill coat, finish coat.
Red dashes are butt joints (sheet ends): staggered, and always on a stud or joist. Dots are screws.

What to buy

9 items · 2 if needed
Save to your jobs to check things off in the store.
Fasteners
Drywall screws, coarse thread
1¼″ coarse thread
≈524 screws (3 lb)
Coarse thread bites wood studs.
Drywall
Walls
Drywall ½″ · 4×8 sheets
12 sheets
Standard gypsum board for walls.
Ceiling
Lightweight drywall ½″ · 4×8 sheets
4 sheets
About a quarter lighter than regular board and sag-resistant on ceilings — the usual pick overhead.
All-purpose joint compound
4.5-gal pail (≈62 lb)
1 pail
Premixed “mud” for taping and finish coats.
Setting-type compound (20–45 min)
If needed
18 lb bag, 45-minute
1 bag
Keep the receipt — return it if you don’t use it.
Hardens by chemistry, not drying — for cracks and bigger holes.
Paper joint tape
250 ft roll
1 roll
Bedded in mud over seams and inside corners.
Drywall sanding screens
120–150 grit, 10-pack
1 pack
Open-mesh sheets for a pole or hand sander. They don’t clog like paper.
Paint
Drywall primer (PVA)
1 coat
2 gallons
Seals new drywall so the paint dries evenly.
Plastic sheeting 9×12
If needed
for doorways and vents
1 sheet
Keep the receipt — return it if you don’t use it.
Covers furniture.

Tools

You own 0 of 20 must-haves
Tap the ones you already own. That builds your Tool Shed as you go — no setup.

Must have

The job stalls without it.

Rent it

Costly to buy for one job. Rent it for a day.

Nice to have

Faster or cleaner, not required.

Order of work

23–34 h of work
01
Before you hang: framing straight and flush (plane or shim high and low studs), blocking at every inside corner and ceiling edge, insulation in, and any framing, wiring, plumbing and insulation inspections signed off.
Check first
Run a straightedge across the studs: one that sticks out shows as a bump through every coat. Plane it or shim its neighbors now.
02
Mark every joist on the top of the walls and every stud on the floor, and measure the outlet boxes and pipes you’ll cut around.
03
Hang drywall on the ceiling first: sheets across the joists, ends staggered and on a joist, screws 12″ apart — a rented drywall lift or a helper holds the sheet.
Check first
Joist lines marked on the walls at the ceiling, and a helper or a drywall lift for every sheet overhead.
04
Hang drywall on the walls across the studs: top row tight to the ceiling, bottom row ½″ off the floor; end joints on a stud, staggered row to row and never in line with a door or window edge; screws 16″ apart.
Check first
Stud centers marked on the floor and top plate; outlet boxes measured from the corner and the floor before the sheet goes up.
05
Cut out the boxes and the doors and windows you hung over (jab saw or spiral saw), and add a screw wherever an edge isn’t held.
06
Tape coat: fill gaps over ⅛″ with setting-type compound first, then bed paper tape in compound on every seam and inside corner, wipe it tight, and cover the screw heads.
Check first
Popped or deep screws fixed (a new screw beside each), torn paper cut away, and gaps over ⅛″ filled before any tape goes on.
Wait 12–24 h — tape coat dries
Premixed compound: overnight between coats (12–24 h; longer when it’s cool or humid). Dark or soft spots mean it isn’t dry.
07
Fill coat: a wider coat of premixed compound over the flat seams, the butt joints and the screw heads.
Wait 12–24 h — fill coat dries
Premixed compound: overnight between coats (12–24 h; longer when it’s cool or humid). Dark or soft spots mean it isn’t dry.
08
Finish coat: a thin coat, feathered wider than the last, on the same seams and screws, plus one coat on the inside corners.
Wait 12–24 h — finish coat dries before sanding
Premixed compound: overnight between coats (12–24 h; longer when it’s cool or humid). Dark or soft spots mean it isn’t dry.
09
Sand: a light pass with a 120–150 grit screen or sponge — never into the paper — then check every joint with a work light held flat to the wall.
Check first
Doorways and return vents sealed with plastic, a dust mask on, and a work light held flat to the wall.
10
Prime: one coat of PVA drywall primer before paint.
Check first
Dust wiped off. Skipping primer makes the taped joints show through the paint (flashing).
Wait 2–4 h — primer dries before paint
Latex: usually 2–4 h before the next coat (longer when it’s cool or humid) — see the can.

Mistakes that ruin the job

5 mistakes
1
End joints lined up
Butt joints stacked in a line, or on the jamb line of a door or window, crack. Stagger them at least a stud apart and lap sheets over the corners of openings.
2
Screws too deep or proud
Torn paper loses its hold; a proud head shows through the compound. A dimpler bit sets them just below the surface.
3
Thick coats of premixed compound
They shrink, crack and take days to dry. Thin coats, feathered wide; fill deep gaps with setting-type compound first.
4
Drywall touching the floor
It wicks water. Hold the bottom row ½″ up; the baseboard covers the gap.
5
Sanding through the paper
Fuzzy paper shows through paint. Sand lightly with 120–150 grit and prime before you judge the finish.

Plan it

The load

To haul
870 lb
from the store to the room
Helpers
1
for some steps
Heaviest
Drywall ½″ · 12 sheets · 624 lb
Lightweight drywall ½″ · 4 sheets · 156 lb
All-purpose joint compound · 1 pail · 62 lb
Bring a helper: drywall on the ceiling
One holds the sheet overhead while the other screws it off — or use a rented drywall lift.
Rent: Drywall lift

When you’ll finish

Pick when you can start and how many hours you have.
Hours you can work
Each weekday evening
0
h
Each weekend day
8
h
Saved for every Sheet. Waits run overnight and on days off; work only fills the hours you have.

DIY vs hiring it out

Estimate
Typical US store prices and labor rates, not a quote. A real price can differ a lot.

Do it yourself

Materials
$310–$420
Tools to buy
20 must-haves you don’t own
Tape measure (25 ft), Carpenter's pencil, Stud finder, Chalk line, …
Rentals
1
About $40–$90 a day each
Your time
23–34 h
Total
$310–$420 + tools

Hire a pro

Materials + 15%
$360–$490
Pros mark up what they buy
Labor
12.5 h × $65–$95
$810–$1,200
Their time
12.5 hours
Permits
ask your town
Total
$1,150–$1,650

Before you go

0 of 7 checked
The small stuff that causes a second trip to the store.

Rules used

8 rules · Draft
Every number on this Sheet comes from these rules. A licensed pro reviews each one before a Sheet is marked verified.

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Project
Drywall
Sheet
A-1
Date
Scale
Not to scale
DIY time
23–34 h
Rules
Draft — pending pro review
Other common sizes
10×10
12×12
12×14
14×16
12×22 garage
20×20 garage
24×24 garage