Installed drywall — hung, taped, finished and sanded — runs $2.00 to $4.00 per square foot of board in most of the US. On a 12 × 14 ft room with 8 ft ceilings that is around 700 ft² of board, so $1,400 to $2,800.
Typical US figures. Metro labor sits at the top of the range and beyond.
Per sheet, and what is in it
A 4 × 8 sheet is 32 ft². At $2–$4 per ft² installed, that is $64 to $128 per sheet in place.
| Line | Share |
|---|---|
| Board | 15–20% |
| Hanging labor | 20–25% |
| Taping and finishing labor | 35–45% |
| Compound, tape, screws, corner bead | 8–12% |
| Sanding and cleanup | 10–15% |
Finishing is the biggest line, not hanging. Which is why the specification that moves the price is the finish level, and why "I found cheaper board" changes almost nothing.
Board prices
| Board | Per 4 × 8 sheet |
|---|---|
| ½″ standard | $12–$18 |
| ⅝″ Type X (fire-rated) | $16–$24 |
| ½″ moisture-resistant | $18–$26 |
| ½″ sag-resistant (ceilings) | $16–$22 |
| Cement board (wet areas) | $14–$20 per 3 × 5 |
| Sound-damping board | $45–$70 |
The whole board range is a few dollars a sheet. On a 22-sheet room, upgrading everything to the best board costs less than one hour of a finisher's time.
Finish level is the real price lever
| Level | Coats | Cost multiplier | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 | 2 | 0.85× | Under heavy texture |
| Level 4 | 3 | 1.0× (standard) | Flat and eggshell paint |
| Level 5 | 3 + full skim | 1.4–1.6× | Gloss paint, raking light |
Level 5 skims the entire surface and sands the entire surface. On a 700 ft² room that is $500–$1,000 more, and it is the right call on a long wall beside a big window — where Level 4 shows every joint in afternoon light and no paint hides it.
Decide this before the walls go up. Changing your mind afterwards costs a second visit and another day of dust. What each level actually means is worth reading once.
The lines that get left off
- Removal and disposal of existing drywall: $0.50–$1.50 per ft², and it is heavy, dusty work
- Ceilings: 15–25% more than walls — overhead work, tighter screw spacing, higher waste
- Corner bead: priced per linear foot, and a room with many corners costs more than its square footage suggests
- High ceilings: above 10 ft needs staging, and the rate steps up
- Texture: knockdown or orange peel is a separate operation, $0.50–$1.50 per ft²
- Priming: not always included. Ask.
Where DIY saves and where it does not
Hanging is achievable — heavy, awkward, but learnable. A panel lift rental is $40 a day and worth every dollar for ceilings.
Finishing is a trade. The difference between a competent taper and a first-timer is not visible until the paint goes on, and then it is visible forever under every light in the room. It is also the biggest labor line, which makes it the tempting one to attempt.
The honest split for most people: hang it yourself, pay someone to finish it. That saves the 20–25% hanging line and buys the part that shows.
Getting a comparable quote
Ask every contractor for three things: the finish level, whether disposal is included, and the sheet count they measured.
Two quotes that differ by 40% usually differ on finish level rather than on rate. Work out your own sheet count first — board counts by room size, sheet length and ceiling height settle the material half before anyone arrives.