Drywall installation cost: hung, taped and finished, by size and state
A small basement, 1,500 sq ft: about $4,700 to $6,900, typically $5,700. That's 1/2 inch drywall hung on open framing, taped and finished ready for paint, with the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. Everything in, it runs $3.00 to $4.75 a sq ft of drywall.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| One 12 by 12 room, walls and ceiling, 528 sq ft | $1,650 to $2,450 |
| A small basement, 1,500 sq ft | $4,700 to $6,900 |
| A large finish, 3,000 sq ft | $9,400 to $13,800 |
About $3.00 to $4.75 a sq ft of drywall, everything in.
Totals include the contractor's overhead and profit (20%) and the state's average sales tax. Prices as of November 2026.
What’s in these numbers
Each total is a typical job, priced the way a contractor’s estimate is priced:
- 1/2 inch drywall, the standard board for walls and ceilings in a house.
- Hung on open framing (studs and joists with nothing on them yet), taped and finished with joint compound, sanded and ready for paint.
- Overhead and profit: 20%, the standard markup on a contractor’s estimate.
- Sales tax on the materials, at the state’s average rate.
The sizes are square feet of drywall, not of floor: a 12 by 12 room with 8 foot ceilings has 384 square feet of wall and 144 of ceiling, 528 in all. The drywall calculator works it out for any room.
Not in them: tearing out old drywall, insulation, texture, paint, and fire-rated or moisture-resistant board.
What moves the price
- Ceilings. Board overhead is slower to hang than on walls, and high or vaulted ceilings need scaffolding.
- The finish. The figures are a smooth finish ready for paint. A level 5 finish (a skim coat over everything) or a texture adds to it.
- The board. Garages need 5/8 inch Type X board on the wall and ceiling they share with the house (IRC R302.6), and bathrooms often get moisture-resistant board; both cost more than standard 1/2 inch.
- Small jobs. A crew has a minimum it charges for a day, so a single patch or a closet costs far more per square foot than a whole room.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Working out your own job
- Work out the board. Walls are the distance around the room times the ceiling height; ceilings are length times width. The drywall calculator does both and counts the sheets.
- Type the square feet into the box above for the range at that size.
Common questions
How much does it cost to drywall a 12 by 12 room?
Walls and ceiling, 528 square feet of board, come to about $1,650 to $2,450, hung, taped and finished ready for paint.
What does drywall cost per square foot installed?
$3.00 to $4.75 a sq ft of drywall, hung, taped and finished, with overhead, profit and sales tax included.
How much to drywall a basement?
A small basement finish with 1,500 square feet of board runs about $4,700 to $6,900; a larger one with 3,000 square feet, about $9,400 to $13,800.
Is it 1/2 or 5/8 inch drywall?
1/2 inch on most walls and ceilings in a house. 5/8 inch Type X where the code calls for fire-rated board, such as between a garage and the house, and often on ceilings with wide framing.
Why are small drywall jobs so expensive?
A drywall crew charges a minimum for showing up, hanging, coming back to tape, and coming back to finish. A patch takes nearly the same trips as a room.