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Drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot in 2026, hung and finished. The average is about $2.50. Drywall is the surface behind almost every painted wall and ceiling, so it comes up in almost any addition, basement finish or repair.
What you pay for
The drywall sheets don’t cost much. About 70% of the price is labor. Workers hang the sheets, tape the seams and spread several coats of joint compound (called “mud”). Then they sand it flat so it’s ready for paint. The finish level, and whether the work is on walls or ceilings, set the rest of the price.
What changes the price
Ceilings cost 15% to 30% more than walls, because working overhead is harder and slower.
The finish level matters too. A standard taped finish is fine under most paint. A Level 5 finish adds a skim coat, a thin layer of mud over the whole surface. It’s the smoothest finish, and it adds $2 to $4 per square foot. It’s worth it in rooms where the walls need to look their best, or where raking light (light that hits the wall at a low angle) shows every flaw.
Removing old drywall adds $0.50 to $1 per square foot.
Hang it yourself, hire out the finish
Many homeowners save money by hanging the drywall themselves. It’s simple work, but the sheets are heavy. Then they hire a pro to tape, mud and sand. Finishing is the skilled part, and bad mudding shows through paint for good. That’s the half worth paying for.
How to spend less
- Hang it yourself and hire out the finishing, if you’re handy.
- Choose a standard finish unless low-angle light on the wall calls for Level 5.
- Do whole rooms at once to spread out setup and sanding cleanup.
- Ask whether painting is included. It usually isn’t.
If money is tight
- Cheapest safe way
- If you're handy, hang the drywall yourself and hire a pro to tape, mud and sand. Doing whole rooms at once spreads out the setup and sanding cleanup.
- What can wait
- A Level 5 finish is optional. It adds $2 to $4 per square foot, and a standard taped finish looks fine under most paint.
- Don't skimp on
- The finishing. Taping and mudding take skill, and bad mudding shows through paint for good.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall sheets and materials | $0.50 – $0.90 / sq ft | – |
| Labor to hang and finish | $1.00 – $2.60 / sq ft | Hang, tape, mud and sand |
| Extra for ceilings | +15–30% | – |
| Level 5 (smoothest) finish | +$2 – $4 / sq ft | – |
| Removing old drywall | $0.50 – $1 / sq ft | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walls (standard finish) | $1.50 – $2.75 / sq ft | – |
| Ceilings | $2.00 – $3.50 / sq ft | – |
| Level 5 (smoothest) finish | +$2 – $4 / sq ft | – |
| A typical room | $580 – $1,800 | – |
What affects the price
- Size and layout More square feet, and more corners, closets and openings, mean more labor.
- Walls or ceilings Ceilings are harder to hang and finish, so they cost 15% to 30% more.
- Finish level A basic taped finish costs least. A Level 5 finish, the smoothest kind, adds $2 to $4 per square foot.
- Removal and prep Tearing out old drywall and getting the framing ready add to the cost.
- Hard-to-reach spots High ceilings, tight spaces and curved walls slow the work down.
Drywall installation cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical drywall installation job costs about $1.75 to $4.10 per sq ft in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $1.30 to $3 per sq ft (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1.30 – $3.05/sq ft |
| Alaska | $1.75 – $4/sq ft |
| Arizona | $1.40 – $3.35/sq ft |
| Arkansas | $1.30 – $3/sq ft |
| California | $1.70 – $3.90/sq ft |
| Colorado | $1.50 – $3.50/sq ft |
| Connecticut | $1.60 – $3.75/sq ft |
| Delaware | $1.45 – $3.45/sq ft |
| District of Columbia | $1.60 – $3.80/sq ft |
| Florida | $1.35 – $3.20/sq ft |
| Georgia | $1.40 – $3.20/sq ft |
| Hawaii | $1.75 – $4.10/sq ft |
| Idaho | $1.40 – $3.30/sq ft |
| Illinois | $1.75 – $4/sq ft |
| Indiana | $1.50 – $3.55/sq ft |
| Iowa | $1.45 – $3.40/sq ft |
| Kansas | $1.40 – $3.35/sq ft |
| Kentucky | $1.40 – $3.25/sq ft |
| Louisiana | $1.35 – $3.15/sq ft |
| Maine | $1.45 – $3.45/sq ft |
| Maryland | $1.50 – $3.50/sq ft |
| Massachusetts | $1.75 – $4/sq ft |
| Michigan | $1.50 – $3.50/sq ft |
| Minnesota | $1.65 – $3.80/sq ft |
| Mississippi | $1.30 – $3.05/sq ft |
| Missouri | $1.55 – $3.55/sq ft |
| Montana | $1.45 – $3.45/sq ft |
| Nebraska | $1.40 – $3.30/sq ft |
| Nevada | $1.55 – $3.60/sq ft |
| New Hampshire | $1.50 – $3.45/sq ft |
| New Jersey | $1.70 – $4/sq ft |
| New Mexico | $1.40 – $3.20/sq ft |
| New York | $1.65 – $3.85/sq ft |
| North Carolina | $1.35 – $3.15/sq ft |
| North Dakota | $1.50 – $3.55/sq ft |
| Ohio | $1.50 – $3.50/sq ft |
| Oklahoma | $1.35 – $3.20/sq ft |
| Oregon | $1.65 – $3.85/sq ft |
| Pennsylvania | $1.50 – $3.55/sq ft |
| Rhode Island | $1.55 – $3.65/sq ft |
| South Carolina | $1.35 – $3.20/sq ft |
| South Dakota | $1.35 – $3.15/sq ft |
| Tennessee | $1.40 – $3.20/sq ft |
| Texas | $1.35 – $3.20/sq ft |
| Utah | $1.40 – $3.30/sq ft |
| Vermont | $1.45 – $3.40/sq ft |
| Virginia | $1.40 – $3.35/sq ft |
| Washington | $1.75 – $4.05/sq ft |
| West Virginia | $1.40 – $3.35/sq ft |
| Wisconsin | $1.55 – $3.65/sq ft |
| Wyoming | $1.50 – $3.45/sq ft |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- How much does drywall cost per square foot?
- Drywall costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot installed. That includes hanging, taping, mudding and sanding. Most jobs come in around $2.20 to $2.65. Ceilings cost 15% to 30% more than walls.
- How much does it cost to drywall a room?
- A typical room costs about $580 to $1,800 installed. The price depends on the room's size, any ceiling work and the finish level.
- Why is labor most of the cost?
- The sheets are cheap. You're paying for skilled finishing: hanging the sheets, taping the seams, putting on several coats of mud and sanding it flat and ready for paint. Labor is about 70% of the total.
- What is a Level 5 finish?
- It's the smoothest drywall finish, with a skim coat (a thin layer of mud) over the whole surface. It's used on walls that need to look their best and where low-angle light would show every flaw. It adds $2 to $4 per square foot.
- Can I install drywall myself?
- You can hang it yourself, but finishing takes skill. Taping and mudding to a smooth surface that's ready for paint is hard to do well. Many homeowners hang the drywall and hire out the finishing.
- Does drywall installation include painting?
- Usually not. Drywall installation leaves you with a sanded surface that's ready for paint. Priming and painting are usually a separate line on the bid, or a separate trade.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources: