Cost to Drywall a New House: 7 Jobs, Hang and Finish (2026 Baseline)
Seven new-construction drywall jobs priced line by line, from a 1,200 sq ft ranch to a 3,500 sq ft custom home with a vault and Level 5, plus a textured house, a two-story foyer, a garage and a basement. Every line itemized, with crew hours.
Seven builds, side by side
Seven jobs on the same researched rates: four houses from a 1,200 sq ft ranch to a 3,500 sq ft custom home, a textured house, an attached garage two ways and a basement.
| Build | Job cost | Labor | Crew hours | Materials | Illustrative selling price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. 1,200 sq ft ranch, Level 4 | $7,014 | $3,786 | 77 to 118 h | $2,853 | $9,118 to $14,028 |
| B. 2,000 sq ft ranch, textured | $15,064 | $9,097 | 193 to 274 h | $5,592 | $19,584 to $30,129 |
| C. 2,600 sq ft two-story | $17,171 | $9,180 | 187 to 284 h | $6,786 | $22,322 to $34,342 |
| D. 3,500 sq ft custom home | $25,776 | $14,341 | 297 to 440 h | $10,330 | $33,509 to $51,552 |
| E. Garage, fire-taped | $2,209 | $947 | 19 to 29 h | $887 | $2,872 to $4,419 |
| F. Garage, finished | $2,728 | $1,394 | 28 to 43 h | $959 | $3,546 to $5,456 |
| G. 1,000 sq ft basement | $5,160 | $2,585 | 53 to 80 h | $2,100 | $6,707 to $10,319 |
Materials include allowances. Illustrative selling price is the job cost at a 30% to 100% markup; your price depends on your own overhead and profit. Labor hours are a planning range and include setup, daily cleanup and material runs; they are never a charge to the customer. Permit and inspection fees are not included; requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Which price is closer to yours?
- Low-Overhead, +30%: A handyman or owner-operator who does the work with a small crew and no office. Usually the lowest quote. The owner handles scheduling, questions and callbacks around the work itself.
- Established, +50%: A remodeling company with a crew, an office, insurance and someone to answer the phone. Close to the average remodeler's overhead in the National Association of Home Builders cost-of-doing-business survey.
- Full-Service, +100%: A design-build firm with designers, a salesperson and a project manager who runs the job. The extra pays for planning, coordination and one point of contact from design to final inspection.
Higher markup means more business behind the job, not by itself better work, and a lower markup is not by itself a better deal. For contractors: how each markup splits into overhead and profit is in the overhead categories guide.
Each build in detail
A. 1,200 sq ft ranch, Level 4: $7,014
8 ft ceilings, 4,200 sq ft of board hung and finished smooth, one bath of moisture-resistant board. Labor is $3,786 of the $7,014 job cost, or 54.0%. It is about 77 to 118 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 65 to 104 h | $3,786 | $4,922 | $5,679 | $7,572 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 6 to 20 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 77 to 118 h | $3,786 | $4,922 | $5,679 | $7,572 |
Every line item
Labor $3,786 + materials and allowances $2,853 + dump fees and other $375 = $7,014 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 4400 | sf | $0 | $2,288 | $2,288 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $2,288 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $2,288 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 4200 | sf | $0 | $420 | $420 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 4200 | sf | 30 to 63 h | $2,058 | $0 | $2,058 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 1200 | sf | 9 to 20 h | $648 | $0 | $648 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 3000 | sf | 15 to 33 h | $1,080 | $0 | $1,080 |
| Mold-Resistant Drywall Board, 1/2 in 4x12 (per sf) | 220 | sf | $0 | $145 | $145 | |
| Drywall subtotal | 65 to 104 h | $4,501 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 65 to 104 h | $4,501 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 77 to 118 h | $7,014 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 77 to 118 h | $7,014 | ||||
B. 2,000 sq ft ranch, textured: $15,064
9 ft ceilings, Level 4 under knockdown ceilings and orange-peel walls. Labor is $9,097 of the $15,064 job cost, or 60.4%. It is about 193 to 274 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 166 to 240 h | $9,097 | $11,826 | $13,646 | $18,194 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 15 to 46 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 193 to 274 h | $9,097 | $11,826 | $13,646 | $18,194 |
Every line item
Labor $9,097 + materials and allowances $5,592 + dump fees and other $375 = $15,064 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 8404 | sf | $0 | $4,370 | $4,370 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $4,370 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $4,370 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 7640 | sf | $0 | $764 | $764 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 7640 | sf | 54 to 114 h | $3,744 | $0 | $3,744 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 2000 | sf | 15 to 33 h | $1,080 | $0 | $1,080 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 5640 | sf | 29 to 61 h | $2,030 | $0 | $2,030 |
| Knockdown Texture (per sf) | 2000 | sf | 10 to 22 h | $720 | $0 | $720 |
| Drywall Texture Material (per sf) | 7640 | sf | $0 | $458 | $458 | |
| Orange Peel Texture (per sf) | 5640 | sf | 22 to 46 h | $1,523 | $0 | $1,523 |
| Drywall subtotal | 166 to 240 h | $10,469 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 166 to 240 h | $10,469 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 193 to 274 h | $15,064 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 193 to 274 h | $15,064 | ||||
C. 2,600 sq ft two-story: $17,171
Two floors, an 18 ft foyer and open stairwell with a lift, boomed upstairs, Level 4. Labor is $9,180 of the $17,171 job cost, or 53.5%. It is about 187 to 284 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 159 to 251 h | $9,180 | $11,934 | $13,770 | $18,360 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 15 to 47 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 187 to 284 h | $9,180 | $11,934 | $13,770 | $18,360 |
Every line item
Labor $9,180 + materials and allowances $6,786 + dump fees and other $1,205 = $17,171 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 2 | ea | $0 | $0 | $450 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $450 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $450 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 11107.8 | sf | $0 | $5,776 | $5,776 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $5,776 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $5,776 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 10098 | sf | $0 | $1,010 | $1,010 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 10098 | sf | 72 to 150 h | $4,948 | $0 | $4,948 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 2600 | sf | 20 to 43 h | $1,404 | $0 | $1,404 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 7498 | sf | 38 to 81 h | $2,699 | $0 | $2,699 |
| High Work Premium, Over 10 ft (per sf of affected board) | 678 | sf | 1 to 4 h | $129 | $0 | $129 |
| Drywall subtotal | 159 to 251 h | $10,340 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 159 to 251 h | $10,340 | ||||
| Flooring | ||||||
| Drywall Stocking, Upper Floor or Basement (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $100 | |
| Flooring subtotal | $100 | |||||
| Flooring subtotal | $100 | |||||
| Equipment | ||||||
| Scissor Lift and Scaffold Rental (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $505 | |
| Equipment subtotal | $505 | |||||
| Equipment subtotal | $505 | |||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 187 to 284 h | $17,171 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 187 to 284 h | $17,171 | ||||
D. 3,500 sq ft custom home: $25,776
10 ft ceilings, an 18 ft vault, two trays and three arches, Level 5 in the main rooms. Labor is $14,341 of the $25,776 job cost, or 55.6%. It is about 297 to 440 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 253 to 388 h | $14,341 | $18,643 | $21,512 | $28,682 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 24 to 73 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 297 to 440 h | $14,341 | $18,643 | $21,512 | $28,682 |
Every line item
Labor $14,341 + materials and allowances $10,330 + dump fees and other $1,105 = $25,776 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 2 | ea | $0 | $0 | $450 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $450 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $450 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 16566 | sf | $0 | $8,614 | $8,614 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $8,614 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $8,614 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 15060 | sf | $0 | $1,506 | $1,506 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 14785 | sf | 105 to 220 h | $7,245 | $0 | $7,245 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 3635 | sf | 28 to 59 h | $1,963 | $0 | $1,963 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 11150 | sf | 57 to 121 h | $4,014 | $0 | $4,014 |
| High Work Premium, Over 10 ft (per sf of affected board) | 775 | sf | 2 to 5 h | $147 | $0 | $147 |
| Level 5 Skim Coat or Spray Surfacer (per sf of affected board) | 3000 | sf | 7 to 17 h | $540 | $0 | $540 |
| Drywall Level 5 Surfacer or Skim Compound (per sf of affected board) | 3000 | sf | $0 | $210 | $210 | |
| Arches, Trays and Soffits, Hung and Finished (per sf of surface) | 275 | sf | 6 to 13 h | $432 | $0 | $432 |
| Drywall subtotal | 253 to 388 h | $16,207 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 253 to 388 h | $16,207 | ||||
| Equipment | ||||||
| Scissor Lift and Scaffold Rental (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $505 | |
| Equipment subtotal | $505 | |||||
| Equipment subtotal | $505 | |||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 297 to 440 h | $25,776 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 297 to 440 h | $25,776 | ||||
E. Garage, fire-taped: $2,209
24 by 24, Type X ceiling and house wall under a bonus room, fire-taped only. Labor is $947 of the $2,209 job cost, or 42.9%. It is about 19 to 29 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 17 to 26 h | $947 | $1,231 | $1,421 | $1,894 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 1 to 5 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 19 to 29 h | $947 | $1,231 | $1,421 | $1,894 |
Every line item
Labor $947 + materials and allowances $887 + dump fees and other $375 = $2,209 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 712.8 | sf | $0 | $371 | $371 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $371 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $371 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 1440 | sf | $0 | $72 | $72 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Fire-Taping (per sf of board) | 1440 | sf | 3 to 8 h | $259 | $0 | $259 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 648 | sf | 3 to 7 h | $233 | $0 | $233 |
| Type X Drywall Board, 5/8 in 4x12 (per sf) | 871.2 | sf | $0 | $444 | $444 | |
| Type X Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 576 | sf | 5 to 12 h | $369 | $0 | $369 |
| Type X Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 216 | sf | 1 to 3 h | $86 | $0 | $86 |
| Drywall subtotal | 17 to 26 h | $1,613 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 17 to 26 h | $1,613 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 19 to 29 h | $2,209 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 19 to 29 h | $2,209 | ||||
F. Garage, finished: $2,728
The same garage finished smooth to Level 4. Labor is $1,394 of the $2,728 job cost, or 51.1%. It is about 28 to 43 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 24 to 38 h | $1,394 | $1,812 | $2,091 | $2,788 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 2 to 8 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 28 to 43 h | $1,394 | $1,812 | $2,091 | $2,788 |
Every line item
Labor $1,394 + materials and allowances $959 + dump fees and other $375 = $2,728 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 712.8 | sf | $0 | $371 | $371 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $371 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $371 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 1440 | sf | $0 | $144 | $144 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 1440 | sf | 10 to 22 h | $706 | $0 | $706 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 648 | sf | 3 to 7 h | $233 | $0 | $233 |
| Type X Drywall Board, 5/8 in 4x12 (per sf) | 871.2 | sf | $0 | $444 | $444 | |
| Type X Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 576 | sf | 5 to 12 h | $369 | $0 | $369 |
| Type X Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 216 | sf | 1 to 3 h | $86 | $0 | $86 |
| Drywall subtotal | 24 to 38 h | $2,132 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 24 to 38 h | $2,132 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 28 to 43 h | $2,728 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 28 to 43 h | $2,728 | ||||
G. 1,000 sq ft basement: $5,160
Mold-resistant walls, 40 ft of partitions, a beam soffit, Level 4. Labor is $2,585 of the $5,160 job cost, or 50.1%. It is about 53 to 80 hours of work, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall | 45 to 70 h | $2,585 | $3,361 | $3,878 | $5,170 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 4 to 13 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 53 to 80 h | $2,585 | $3,361 | $3,878 | $5,170 |
Every line item
Labor $2,585 + materials and allowances $2,100 + dump fees and other $475 = $5,160 direct job cost. Hours are person-hours at typical production, on labor rows only, and the direct-cost row adds about 15% for setup, daily cleanup and material runs; an allowance or material row names the labor line that installs it, and a subcontract row has none, because the sub’s price includes their own time. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor, so they can exceed the measured area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
| Item | Qty | Unit | Hours | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | ||||||
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 | |
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Demo & Prep subtotal | $225 | |||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Drywall Board, 1/2 in Lightweight 4x12 (per sf) | 1166 | sf | $0 | $606 | $606 | |
| Electrical subtotal | $606 | |||||
| Electrical subtotal | $606 | |||||
| Drywall | ||||||
| Drywall Compound, Tape, Screws and Bead (per sf of board) | 2740 | sf | $0 | $274 | $274 | |
| Drywall Delivery and Stocking (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $150 | |
| Drywall Taping and Finishing, Level 4 (per sf of board) | 2620 | sf | 18 to 39 h | $1,284 | $0 | $1,284 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Ceilings (per sf of board) | 940 | sf | 7 to 16 h | $508 | $0 | $508 |
| New-Construction Drywall Hang, Walls (per sf of board) | 1680 | sf | 8 to 19 h | $605 | $0 | $605 |
| Mold-Resistant Drywall Board, 1/2 in 4x12 (per sf) | 1848 | sf | $0 | $1,220 | $1,220 | |
| Arches, Trays and Soffits, Hung and Finished (per sf of surface) | 120 | sf | 2 to 6 h | $188 | $0 | $188 |
| Drywall subtotal | 45 to 70 h | $4,229 | ||||
| Drywall subtotal | 45 to 70 h | $4,229 | ||||
| Flooring | ||||||
| Drywall Stocking, Upper Floor or Basement (per house) | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $100 | |
| Flooring subtotal | $100 | |||||
| Flooring subtotal | $100 | |||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 53 to 80 h | $5,160 | ||||
| DIRECT JOB COST | 53 to 80 h | $5,160 | ||||
Methodology & reproducibility
7 snapshots, one per build. Each build is frozen from its own estimate run with the same old work, system type and takeoff pinned, so the builds differ only in what is being built.
Direct cost equals the sum of each row’s rounded quantity × (labor + material + other). Amounts are shown in whole dollars; every column adds to its total.
Scope selection, prose accuracy, arithmetic and provenance mapping reviewed; not independent market-rate verification.
- drywall-ranch-1200/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-textured-2000/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-two-story-2600/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-custom-3500/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-garage-fire-taped/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-garage-finished/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- drywall-basement-1000/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
Questions
How much does it cost to drywall a new house?
Hung, taped and finished smooth to Level 4, a 1,200 sq ft ranch is $7,014 in job cost, $9,118 to $14,028 from a contractor, about $5.85 per sq ft of house before markup. A 3,500 sq ft custom home with a vault, trays and Level 5 in the main rooms is $25,776. NAHB's 2024 builder survey puts drywall at $13,962 on an average 2,647 sq ft house, about $5.27 per sq ft of floor.
How much drywall does a house need?
About 3.5 sq ft of board per sq ft of floor with 8 ft ceilings and 3.82 with 9 ft ceilings, figured story by story; 10 ft ceilings run about 4.14. A 1,200 sq ft ranch takes about 4,200 sq ft of board, roughly 88 sheets of 4x12 before the cut allowance. Vaults, two-story foyers and the garage are measured on top.
How much extra is a smooth wall finish?
On a new house smooth is the cheaper choice. A Level 4 smooth finish, ready for flat paint, is the base in every build here. Texture is added work: knockdown ceilings and orange-peel walls add $2,701 in job cost to the 2,000 sq ft ranch ($15,064 in all), about $0.35 per sq ft of board. Level 3 under heavy texture saves only about $0.06 per sq ft.
How much extra is a Level 5 finish?
Level 5 is a skim coat or sprayed surfacer over Level 4, for gloss paint or rooms with raking light. It adds about $0.25 per sq ft of board in job cost. On the custom home's great room and kitchen (3,000 sq ft of board) that is $750; across a whole 2,000 sq ft house (7,640 sq ft of board) it would be about $1,910, or $2,483 to $3,820 from a contractor.
How much extra is a Venetian plaster finish?
Venetian plaster is a decorative finish troweled over finished drywall, so it is on top of the drywall, not instead of it. Angi puts it at $10 to $25 per sq ft of wall installed: about $12 to $15 undyed and about $25 colored. The four walls of a 12 by 14 room with 8 ft ceilings, about 416 sq ft, would be roughly $4,200 to $10,400. Most houses use it on one accent wall or room.
What does a two-story foyer or a vaulted ceiling add?
Work more than 10 ft up is slower and needs a scissor lift and scaffold. The 2,600 sq ft two-story with an 18 ft foyer and open stairwell is $17,171 in job cost, including about $129 of high-work labor and $505 for a week of lift and scaffold.
What does it cost to drywall a garage?
For the 24 by 24 attached garage with a bonus room above: 5/8 in Type X on the ceiling and the house wall, fire-taped only, is $2,209 in job cost; finished smooth to Level 4 it is $2,728. The code requires 5/8 in Type X on a garage ceiling under a room (screwed at 6 in), and at least 1/2 in board on the wall shared with the house.
What about a basement in a new house?
The 1,000 sq ft basement with mold-resistant board on the foundation walls and partitions, a beam soffit and a Level 4 finish is $5,160 in job cost. Mold-resistant board resists mold; it does not make a wet basement dry.
Is hanging or finishing the bigger cost?
Finishing. On the 1,200 sq ft ranch, hanging the walls and ceilings is about $1,728 and taping and finishing to Level 4 about $2,058. Board and supplies are about $2,850.
Is the markup on top of these numbers?
Yes. Direct job cost is what the work costs a drywall crew to do. The markup table shows what it sells for at illustrative markups of 30% to 100%, from a low-overhead owner-operator to a full-service firm.
Sources & provenance
- Cost of Constructing a Home, 2024 NAHB (research)
- How Much Does Drywall Installation Cost? HomeGuide (research)
- Estimating Materials (drywall) Fine Homebuilding (research)
- National Home Improvement Estimator 2018 (preview) Craftsman Book Company (book)
- Gypsum Board Finish Levels National Gypsum (research)
- 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 3 International Code Council (official source)
- How Much Does It Cost to Apply Venetian Plaster? Angi (research)
- 1,200 sq ft ranch, Level 4 reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 2,000 sq ft ranch, textured reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 2,600 sq ft two-story reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 3,500 sq ft custom home reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Garage, fire-taped reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Garage, finished reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- 1,000 sq ft basement reviewed snapshot Clamp Research