United States calculator
Drywall Installation Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost to hang and finish drywall. Enter the drywall surface area (walls plus ceiling), pick a finish level, and toggle specialty board, sprayed texture, or old-drywall removal to see an itemized low-high range for your project.
How this calculator is built
Unit costs with sources
This model cites 5 sources across line-item unit costs, regional labor data, and tax references.
Regional labor adjustment
The state table applies local labor indexes only to labor-heavy line items.
Published methodology
The methodology page lists the formula, size drivers, labor model, and source links.
Estimate your project
Change the default inputs to match your scope. The breakdown updates by line item.
Drywall Installation Cost by state: typical ranges
Each range applies that state's labor index to the labor-share line items of the default project; materials stay at national prices. Select a state for its full local breakdown and calculator.
| State | Typical range | Labor index | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $707–$1,313 | 75% | Usually none |
| Alaska | $962–$1,787 | 123% | Usually none |
| Arizona | $787–$1,461 | 90% | Usually none |
| Arkansas | $723–$1,343 | 78% | Usually none |
| California | $946–$1,758 | 120% | Usually none |
| Colorado | $845–$1,570 | 101% | Usually none |
| Connecticut | $867–$1,609 | 105% | Usually none |
| Delaware | $819–$1,520 | 96% | Usually none |
| Florida | $734–$1,362 | 80% | Usually none |
| Georgia | $718–$1,333 | 77% | Usually none |
| Hawaii | $1,016–$1,886 | 133% | Usually none |
| Idaho | $760–$1,412 | 85% | Usually none |
| Illinois | $957–$1,777 | 122% | Usually none |
| Indiana | $835–$1,550 | 99% | Usually none |
| Iowa | $776–$1,441 | 88% | Usually none |
| Kansas | $792–$1,471 | 91% | Usually none |
| Kentucky | $755–$1,402 | 84% | Usually none |
| Louisiana | $728–$1,353 | 79% | Usually none |
| Maine | $819–$1,520 | 96% | Usually none |
| Maryland | $867–$1,609 | 105% | Usually none |
| Massachusetts | $952–$1,767 | 121% | Usually none |
| Michigan | $813–$1,511 | 95% | Usually none |
| Minnesota | $877–$1,629 | 107% | Usually none |
| Mississippi | $707–$1,313 | 75% | Usually none |
| Missouri | $835–$1,550 | 99% | Usually none |
| Montana | $792–$1,471 | 91% | Usually none |
| Nebraska | $755–$1,402 | 84% | Usually none |
| Nevada | $872–$1,619 | 106% | Usually none |
| New Hampshire | $829–$1,540 | 98% | Usually none |
| New Jersey | $893–$1,659 | 110% | Usually none |
| New Mexico | $776–$1,441 | 88% | Usually none |
| New York | $925–$1,718 | 116% | Usually none |
| North Carolina | $718–$1,333 | 77% | Usually none |
| North Dakota | $776–$1,441 | 88% | Usually none |
| Ohio | $813–$1,511 | 95% | Usually none |
| Oklahoma | $712–$1,323 | 76% | Usually none |
| Oregon | $883–$1,639 | 108% | Usually none |
| Pennsylvania | $819–$1,520 | 96% | Usually none |
| Rhode Island | $829–$1,540 | 98% | Usually none |
| South Carolina | $755–$1,402 | 84% | Usually none |
| South Dakota | $723–$1,343 | 78% | Usually none |
| Tennessee | $744–$1,382 | 82% | Usually none |
| Texas | $723–$1,343 | 78% | Usually none |
| Utah | $755–$1,402 | 84% | Usually none |
| Vermont | $808–$1,501 | 94% | Usually none |
| Virginia | $755–$1,402 | 84% | Usually none |
| Washington | $952–$1,767 | 121% | Usually none |
| West Virginia | $718–$1,333 | 77% | Usually none |
| Wisconsin | $835–$1,550 | 99% | Usually none |
| Wyoming | $787–$1,461 | 90% | Usually none |
Common questions
How much does drywall installation cost?
Hanging and finishing drywall runs about $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot of surface installed, so a typical 12x12 room (roughly 530 sq ft of walls and ceiling) lands near $580 to $1,800. Materials are about a quarter of that and labor the rest. Use the calculator above for a range matched to your surface area.
How do I measure drywall square footage?
Drywall is billed by surface area, not floor area: add up the wall area (perimeter x ceiling height) plus the ceiling. A 12x12 room with 8-foot walls is about 384 sq ft of wall plus 144 sq ft of ceiling, roughly 530 sq ft of drywall. Enter that surface area above.
What is a Level 4 vs Level 5 finish?
Finish levels describe how smooth the surface is. Level 3 suits walls that will get a heavy texture; Level 4 (the standard) is a smooth finish ready for flat or eggshell paint; Level 5 adds a skim coat for the smoothest result under gloss paint or raking light. Choose the finish level above to scale the estimate.