Whether you are framing a brand-new custom home or refreshing a single room, sheetrock (also known as drywall or gypsum board) is a core line item on the budget. For residential contractors, homeowners, and design-build teams alike, understanding sheetrock cost is the first step toward an accurate project estimate and a profitable job. At CountBricks, we turn that first step into a voice-driven, AI-powered calculation that delivers real-time pricing, labor hours, and production rates—no spreadsheets required.
National Average: $1.50 – $3.50 per square foot installed
High-End Residential (tight urban labor markets): $4.00 – $6.00 per square foot installed
Material-only price: $0.40 – $0.75 per square foot, depending on thickness, moisture resistance, and sound-dampening additives
These numbers provide a helpful baseline, but the real-world figure swings based on region, home design complexity, and the availability of skilled hangers and tapers. CountBricks AI captures that variability by pulling current supplier pricing and applying local labor rates the instant you speak the room dimensions.
1. Panel Type and Thickness
• 1/2-inch regular board for interior walls is standard
• 5/8-inch fire-rated or Type X board raises the material portion by 20-35%
• Moisture-resistant green board or purple board adds 10-15%
2. Project Scale
• Full-house installs gain bulk pricing on sheets and screws
• Small bathroom remodels pay a premium for set-up and minimum labor hours
3. Ceiling Height and Architectural Details
• Vaulted ceilings, radius walls, and tray ceilings lengthen install times
• Waste factors rise beyond the typical 10% allowance for off-cuts
4. Site Access and Material Handling
• Multi-story urban infill builds may need manual hoisting through windows
• Limited driveway space can trigger extra delivery fees
5. Finish Level Specification
• Level 4 finish is standard for paint; Level 5 (skim coat) can add $0.50-$1.00 per square foot
6. Scheduling and Trade Coordination
• Overtime or weekend hangs to maintain schedule increase labor cost
• Tighter sequencing with electricians and plumbers reduces costly return trips
On a typical California single-family residence, CountBricks cost data shows:
• 35% of installed sheetrock cost is board, screws, and joint compound
• 50% covers hanging, taping, and texture labor
• 15% accounts for equipment, waste, and project overhead
Because labor dominates, real-time crew productivity has an outsized impact on your bottom line. CountBricks tracking tools benchmark square footage installed per day against regional averages so project managers can spot inefficiencies before they balloon.
1. Voice-Capture Dimensions
Simply walk the site and speak room lengths, widths, and ceiling heights into the CountBricks mobile app. Our natural-language engine converts speech to structured data within seconds.
2. Instant Blueprint Takeoffs
Upload digital plans and let the platform auto-detect wall types, openings, and required board counts. You can review, adjust, or approve the takeoff before one-click syncing to the estimate.
3. Live Material Pricing Feed
CountBricks connects to local suppliers’ APIs to insert today’s sheetrock cost per panel, screw, or bucket of compound—no more outdated price books.
4. Region-Specific Labor Tables
Our algorithm references verified production rates and wage tables by ZIP code, updating whenever market conditions shift.
5. Automated Quote Generation
Once variables are confirmed, CountBricks outputs a branded PDF proposal, complete with scope, exclusions, and payment schedule—ready to email from your phone.
DIY Homeowners:
• Material savings are possible, but tool rental, waste, and slower install speed often offset cost reductions.
• Heavy 12-foot sheets and overhead ceiling work present safety risks.
• Finish quality determines resale value; visible seams can devalue the project.
Professional Crews:
• Higher up-front sheetrock cost, but faster turnaround and guaranteed finish levels.
• CountBricks production analytics help subcontractors quote competitively and still hit margin targets.
• Warranty and liability coverage protect homeowners long term.
Value-Engineering Strategies:
• Swap non-rated interior ceilings from 5/8-inch to 1/2-inch where code permits.
• Order precut 54-inch-wide boards for 9-foot walls to minimize horizontal seams and labor.
• Combine delivery loads with other materials to avoid multiple freight charges.
• Schedule CountBricks real-time inspections to catch framing misalignments before sheetrock arrives.
1. High-Humidity Areas
Bathrooms and laundry rooms benefit from moisture-resistant board to deter mold growth.
2. Home Theaters
Acoustic drywall dampens sound transfer and improves viewing experience.
3. Wildfire Zones
Type X or glass-fiber-reinforced board can buy critical escape time and meet insurance requirements.
Ready to see sheetrock cost calculated in real time, right in the field? Visit CountBricks.com/services or schedule a live demo to experience voice-driven estimating, AI blueprint takeoffs, and instant invoicing for your next residential project.
• Confirm wall framing is plumb and in plane
• Verify insulation inspection sign-off
• Measure door and window rough openings twice
• Add 10% waste factor for standard layouts or 15-20% for complex angles
• Lock in supplier delivery date to keep crews productive
When Coastal Craftsman Builders partnered with CountBricks on a 2,700 sq ft ranch renovation, the initial sheetrock cost penciled in at $28,350. By running a CountBricks value-engineering session, the team achieved meaningful savings without sacrificing quality.
• Switched non-rated hallway ceilings from 5/8-inch Type X to 1/2-inch regular board, saving $1,250 in material.
• Combined drywall delivery with the millwork shipment, eliminating a $425 freight fee.
• Used CountBricks productivity data to resize the hanging crew from five installers to four, shaving two labor days—$2,100 saved.
• Specified 54-inch-wide boards for 9-foot great-room walls, reducing finishing time by one crew day, worth $1,050.
The final invoice landed at $23,550—a 17% reduction. Schedule adherence improved, finishing began three days earlier, and client satisfaction scores hit 10/10. All data, documentation, and invoices were generated via CountBricks.com, demonstrating the power of AI-driven decision-making on everyday residential projects.
• Engage CountBricks during design development, not after demolition, to unlock the widest range of material substitutions.
• Use the platform’s crew benchmark dashboard daily; even small drops in square-foot-per-hour output signal rising labor cost.
• Bundle inspections—CountBricks integrates photo verification with the estimate, keeping trades accountable and reducing rework.
See additional project profiles at CountBricks.com/portfolio and schedule your personalized walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation. Take the guesswork—and the hidden markups—out of your next sheetrock package.
