Drywall calculator
Estimate materials for ceilings, partition walls, wall linings and plasterboard finishing
How the calculation works
Choose the type of work (ceiling, partition wall, wall lining or finishing), enter the area, waste allowance and board width, then select the substructure, number of layers, tape type and compound pack size. The calculator lists boards, profiles, connectors, screws, tapes, joint compound and sandpaper with the number of packages.
Formula and assumptions
Boards = area ÷ (board width × 2 m) × (1 + allowance), rounded up; for a partition wall multiply by 2 sides and the number of layers. Profiles, connectors, screws, tapes and compound use a per-m² consumption norm (e.g. ceiling: CD 3 m/m², UD 0.5 m/m², screws 17 pcs/m²); profiles and boards include the allowance. Packages = quantity ÷ pack size, rounded up. The norms are approximate values.
Worked example
Ceiling of 50 m², 1200 mm boards (2.4 m²), 10 % allowance: boards 50 ÷ 2.4 × 1.1 = 22.9 → 23 boards; CD profile 50 × 3 × 1.1 = 165 m → 55 profiles of 3 m; TN screws 50 × 17 = 850 pcs → 2 boxes of 500.
What affects real consumption
- System and profile spacing (ceiling, wall, lining).
- Number of board layers and board width.
- Openings, corners and cuts that increase waste.
Frequently asked questions
Does the calculator count boards for both sides of a partition wall?
Yes, for a partition wall you enter the area of one side and boards and screws are counted for both sides.
What waste allowance is usual?
Typically 5–15 %; choose a higher value for many openings and corners.