Drywall estimates are measured in square feet of installed board. Hang-and-tape labor typically runs $1.75–$3.00/sq ft; Level 5 finish for high-gloss environments adds $1.00–$2.50/sq ft. Drywall material costs are relatively low but board count must be accurate — a missed sheet count creates project delays. This template comes pre-filled with 7 common drywall contractor line items — edit any value, add your client info, and print or download as PDF.
Build a professional estimate with line items, markup, and tax — instantly, for free.
Step 1 — Project Details
Step 2 — Line Items
| Description | Unit | Qty | Unit Price | Subtotal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$ | $2,700.00 | ||||
$ | $900.00 | ||||
$ | $120.00 | ||||
$ | $16.00 | ||||
$ | $148.00 | ||||
$ | $85.00 | ||||
$ | $80.00 |
Step 3 — Markup & Tax
Project
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Date
April 14, 2026
Client
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Address
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| Description | Unit | Qty | Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor — hang, tape, and finish drywall | Sq Ft | 1200 | $2.25 | $2,700.00 |
| Drywall sheets — 4×8 (per sheet) | Each | 45 | $20.00 | $900.00 |
| Joint compound — all-purpose (5-gal) | Each | 5 | $24.00 | $120.00 |
| Drywall tape — paper | Each | 2 | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| Metal corner bead | Linear Ft | 80 | $1.85 | $148.00 |
| Drywall screws, clips, and fasteners | Lot | 1 | $85.00 | $85.00 |
| PVA primer coat | Each | 2 | $40.00 | $80.00 |
Point your camera at the job. Suparate reads the scope, applies your rates, and builds the estimate — no typing required.
Specify the finish level in your estimate
Always write 'Level 4 finish' or 'Level 5 finish' in your estimate. If the painter is from a different company, the finish level directly affects their quality and your dispute risk if the wall looks bad under paint.
Include board delivery as a separate line
Drywall delivery and staging is labor-intensive and often overlooked. A separate delivery line ($150–$400 depending on quantity and floors) makes the cost visible and prevents you from absorbing it.
Check framing spacing before estimating
Non-standard framing (over 16 OC or irregular spacing) requires extra backing and screws. A quick framing inspection before estimating prevents the margin erosion of installing drywall in a non-standard bay spacing.
Measure total square footage of walls and ceilings, divide by 32 (the area of one 4×8 sheet), and add 10–15% waste. For complicated rooms with many cuts (around windows, doors, HVAC), use 15–20% waste. Round up to the nearest sheet. Most drywall contractors also charge for board delivery and staging separately.
Level 3: tape embedded, two coats of compound, lightly sanded — acceptable under heavy textures. Level 4: three coats of compound, properly sanded — standard for paint-grade walls. Level 5: Level 4 plus a skim coat of compound across the entire surface — required for high-gloss paint or critical lighting environments. Each level costs more; specify the level in your estimate.
A complete estimate includes: delivery and staging of drywall, corner bead (metal or vinyl), tape, joint compound (base, all-purpose, and topping), screws/fasteners, primer (PVA for new drywall), and labor. Exclusions: painting, texture application (list as optional add-on), and patching pre-existing damage not in scope.
Measure the actual ceiling surface area, not the floor plan area. A vaulted ceiling slopes — a room with 18 ft ridgeline and 9 ft knee walls has significantly more ceiling area than the footprint. Use trigonometry or a measuring wheel on site. Always add 15–20% waste on ceilings — the cuts and angles are harder than flat walls.