One component of a successful remodelling or repair job in your home is proper budgeting for materials. You'll be more likely to get a job done with the money you have available if you're able to plan your work accordingly. If you're repairing walls, finishing a basement or adding an addition, one major cost will be drywall. Figuring out the cost of the drywall you'll need for your job only requires a little work and some simple math.
Check the price of drywall at your local home-improvement or builder's supply store. Drywall comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets, so ask for the price per sheet. Unless you can haul the drywall yourself, inquire as to the delivery price as well.
Measure the height and width, in feet, of each wall you'll be putting drywall onto. Multiply these together to get the square footage for each wall. Add the square footage of all the walls together to get the total square footage for the project.
Divide this number by 36 (each sheet of drywall is 36 square feet). The result is the number of drywall sheets you'll need. Multiply this number by the cost per sheet, then add delivery cost if necessary. This is the cost of the drywall you'll need for your project.
Tip
You'll want to make allowance for irregular spaces and wastage, so add some extra drywall sheets to your estimate; how many depends on how large your project.