Plasterboard Quantity Calculator
Sheets, screws and joint tape from area, sheet size and layers.
Quick answer
With the default inputs: Length 6 · Height 3 · Sheet length 2400 etc.Sheets 7 sheets
Edit the inputs below to recalculate.Inputs
Result
Sheets
7sheets
| Area per face | 18.00m² |
| Board area | 18.00m² |
| Area per sheet | 2.880m² |
| Purchased area | 20.16m² |
| Screws (25 per m²) | 504pcs |
| Joint tape | 32.3m |
| Jointing compound | 8.1kg |
| Runner spacing | 1200mm |
Screws are estimated at 25 per m² (150 mm at edges, 300 mm in the field) and double for a second layer. Waste includes cutting and openings; irregular areas need more.
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Enter a target result; the other inputs stay fixed and this one is worked out.
Formula
| Area | A = length × height |
| Per sheet | a = length × width ÷ 10⁶ |
| Sheets | n = ceil(A × layers × (1 + waste) ÷ a) |
| Screws | N = board area × 25 |
| Tape | L = board area × 1.6 |
An 18 m² wall in 2400 × 1200 sheets, single layer, 8% waste: 7 sheets, about 525 screws, 32.3 m of tape and 8.1 kg of compound.
How to work it out
- Establish the facing area (length × height; openings under 0.3 m² are normally not deducted).
- Divide by the sheet area (2400 × 1200 = 2.88 m²), but do the setting-out first: sheets go up vertically — a 2.4 m sheet on a 2.4-3 m wall — and running them horizontally wastes heavily.
- Add for joint layout: joints must be staggered, never four corners meeting in a cross, and staggered setting-out runs 5-8% above a pure area division.
- For two layers, the second layer must be offset at least 300 mm and no joint may coincide; double the sheets and add 5%.
- Count accessories: screws at 150-170 mm on edges and 200-300 mm in the field, about 25-30 per m² per layer; tape by total joint length; joint compound about 0.4 kg/m².
Where it goes wrong
- Ordering from an area division — a 3 m wall in 2.4 m sheets needs a full sheet plus 0.6 m per column, so waste approaches 20%, far above the usual 8%.
- Letting four sheet corners meet — the commonest cause of partition cracking; joints must be staggered by at least 300 mm.
- Driving screws too close to the edge — stay 10-15 mm in; closer crumbles the core, further in and the head will not hold the board.
- Standard board in wet rooms — moisture-resistant board is mandatory; ordinary board loses half its strength when wet and sags within a year.
Material and cost
9.5 mm standard 20-35 CNY per sheet, 12 mm 25-45, moisture resistant 30-55, fire rated 40-70. Labour including framing 45-80 CNY/m² for partitions, 40-70 for ceilings.
On site
- 9.5 mm for ceilings, 12 mm for partitions; a double layer of 12 mm gives fire resistance beyond one hour where required.
- Sink screw heads 1 mm without breaking the paper face — a broken face rusts and blows within months.
- Leave a 3-5 mm gap between sheets and fill it with tape and compound; butting them tight pushes the joints apart.
Basis
- GB 50210-2018 Code for acceptance of building decoration, Chapters 7 and 8
- GB/T 9775-2008 Gypsum plasterboard
- GB 50327-2001 Code for construction of residential decoration, Chapter 6
FAQ
Why 8% waste?
A sheet is 2.88 m² and offcuts are rarely reusable. A 3 m wall with 2.4 m sheets needs a 0.6 m strip per column cut from another sheet, of which 1.8 m is only just usable. Add openings, corners and services and 8% is conservative; walls with many penetrations need 10-15%.
Why must joints be staggered?
Four sheet corners meeting produce a cross joint, the point most likely to crack. Joints on adjacent sheets must be offset by at least 400 mm and never form a cross. At openings, cut an L-shaped sheet from a single board rather than building the corner from two pieces.
Single versus double layer?
A second layer adds 3-5 dB of sound insulation and roughly doubles fire resistance, but nearly doubles material and labour and adds 12 mm to thickness, affecting door linings and clear dimensions. Single layer suits most partitions; plant rooms, home cinemas and quiet bedrooms warrant two layers with staggered joints.
Cite this page
Use this format in reports, method statements or coursework. The link is permanent.
Building Calculator. Plasterboard Quantity Calculator. 2026-10-25. https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/gypsum-board
Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.