calcanvil

Drywall Finishing Cost Calculator

1,000 sq ft · each tile ≈ 50 sf
✓

9-10 gal compound

Plus ≈ 350 lf tape and ≈ 1,250 screws for 1,000 sf of board.

Typical crew rate for this trade: $34-$56/hr (modeled from BLS median wage × published burden/markup band). How we model costs.

  • Per 1000 sf of hung board: ~9-10 gal joint compound (USG anchors ~10), ~350 lf tape, ~1,250 screws; banded trade conventions, labeled as such.
  • Level-5 finishes and heavy texture push compound above the band.

Want quotes from local pros for this project? We’re gauging demand for a pro-matching service. No contractor network exists yet: this is a get-notified list, not a quote request.

Why This One Is Different

Moving from a Level 4 finish to a Level 5 finish doesn't change the compound quantity by much on paper, but it adds a full skim coat over the entire surface instead of just the seams, a labor step, not a material one, which is exactly why finish level is the real cost driver behind a drywall finishing bid. This calculator starts from the same per-1,000-sq-ft compound, tape, and screw quantities the quantity-side tool uses, then adds a modeled labor band built from a published construction-laborer wage run through burden and markup, rather than a flat per-square-foot number that hides which finish level you're actually paying for. The full assumption chain is documented at /methodology/.

Where the Numbers Come From

  • Gypsum Association GA-214 defines six finish levels, 0 through 5, from unfinished board to a full skim coat: the labor difference between adjacent levels is what a finishing bid is actually pricing, not the compound quantity. Source: Gypsum Association, GA-214, Recommended Levels of Gypsum Board Finish (trade standard)
  • The published BLS wage for construction laborers is straight-time gross pay only, excluding overtime, bonuses, and benefits, the starting input for a burden chain, not a chargeable rate on its own. Source: BLS, OEWS FAQ / methodology
  • Fully burdened labor cost stacks statutory adders (FICA 7.65%, FUTA/SUTA) plus workers' comp and benefits onto the base wage, typically landing near 1.2-1.4× for open-shop crews. Source: IRS Topic 751; BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (see /methodology/)
  • The materials themselves cost about the same no matter who's swinging the trowel: quantities feeding the labor estimate follow the same per-1,000-sq-ft baseline as the quantity-only tool, roughly 9-10 gallons of compound, ~350 lf of tape, and ~1,250 screws. Source: USG, Sheetrock All-Purpose Joint Compound submittal J1969 (2022)

More Questions

Does this calculator's price include material cost?

It shows the compound, tape, and screw quantities from the same per-1,000-sq-ft baseline the quantity tool uses, alongside a separately modeled labor band: the two aren't blended into one number, since one is measured and the other is a wage-based estimate.

Related Calculators

Formulas, waste factors, and cost models on this page follow the sourced conventions on our methodology page. Estimates only; verify with your supplier and local code.