How Many Sheets of Drywall for a Room? (All Room Sizes)

A 12×12 bedroom needs about 12 sheets for walls and 5 for the ceiling — 17 sheets total. Here is the exact count for every common room size.

Sheets needed by room size (4×8 sheets, 8 ft ceiling, 12% waste, 1 door + 2 windows)

Room size	Sheets (walls)	Sheets (ceiling)	Total
8 × 10 ft	10	3	13
10 × 10 ft	11	4	15
10 × 12 ft	11	4	15
12 × 12 ft	12	5	17
12 × 14 ft	13	6	19
12 × 16 ft	14	6	20
14 × 18 ft	16	8	24
16 × 20 ft	18	10	28

Supplies per room

Room size	Joint compound	Tape rolls (75 ft)	Screws (lbs)
10 × 12 ft	3–4 gallons	4 rolls	3 lbs
12 × 12 ft	4–5 gallons	5 rolls	4 lbs
12 × 16 ft	5–6 gallons	6 rolls	5 lbs

Joint compound: 1 gallon per 100 sq ft for 3 coats. Tape: ~1 roll per 3 sheets.

4×12 vs. 4×8 sheets

Sheet size	Sheets per room (12×12)	Benefit
4 × 8 ft	17 sheets	Easier to handle, most common
4 × 12 ft	12 sheets	Fewer seams, less finishing work

4×12 sheets are harder to maneuver (especially on ceilings) but result in a smoother finish with fewer seams to tape.

Use the Drywall Calculator with your exact room dimensions, ceiling option, and openings for a precise sheet count.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sheets of drywall for a 12×12 room?

A 12×12 room with 8-foot ceilings has 384 sq ft of wall area. After subtracting 1 door and 2 windows (57 sq ft), net area is 327 sq ft. With 12% waste: 366 sq ft ÷ 32 (per 4×8 sheet) = 12 sheets for walls. Add 5 sheets for the ceiling (144 sq ft ÷ 32 = 4.5, round up to 5). Total: 17 sheets.

How many sheets of drywall for a 10×12 room?

A 10×12 room has 352 sq ft of walls. After 1 door and 2 windows: net 301 sq ft × 1.12 waste = 337 sq ft ÷ 32 = 11 sheets for walls. Ceiling (120 sq ft): 4 sheets. Total: 15 sheets.

How many drywall sheets for a bedroom?

A typical 12×12 bedroom needs 12–14 sheets for walls and 5 sheets for the ceiling, totaling 17–19 sheets of 4×8 drywall. Larger bedrooms (12×16) need 20–24 sheets.

Should I include the ceiling in my drywall estimate?

Yes, if you are drywalling the ceiling too. A 10×12 ceiling = 120 sq ft ÷ 32 sq ft per sheet = 4 sheets. A 12×12 ceiling = 144 sq ft ÷ 32 = 5 sheets. Add this to your wall count.

How many joints of drywall compound do I need for a room?

Plan on 1 gallon of all-purpose joint compound per 100 sq ft of drywall for 3 coats. A 5-gallon bucket covers about 500 sq ft — enough for most average rooms.