Drywall calculator
Quick answer: A 50 m² suspended ceiling needs about 23 plasterboards (1200 mm), 55 CD profiles of 3 m and about 850 screws (2 boxes of 500).
Estimate materials for ceilings, partition walls, wall linings and plasterboard finishing
How the calculation works
Choose the type of work (ceiling, partition wall, wall lining or finishing), enter the area, waste allowance and board width, then select the substructure, number of layers, tape type and compound pack size. The calculator lists boards, profiles, connectors, screws, tapes, joint compound and sandpaper with the number of packages.
Formula and assumptions
Boards = area ÷ (board width × 2 m) × (1 + allowance), rounded up; for a partition wall multiply by 2 sides and the number of layers. Profiles, connectors, screws, tapes and compound use a per-m² consumption norm (e.g. ceiling: CD 3 m/m², UD 0.5 m/m², screws 17 pcs/m²); profiles and boards include the allowance. Packages = quantity ÷ pack size, rounded up. The norms are approximate values.
Worked example
Ceiling of 50 m², 1200 mm boards (2.4 m²), 10 % allowance: boards 50 ÷ 2.4 × 1.1 = 22.9 → 23 boards; CD profile 50 × 3 × 1.1 = 165 m → 55 profiles of 3 m; TN screws 50 × 17 = 850 pcs → 2 boxes of 500.
More worked examples
- Partition wall, 10.8 m² on one side, 1200 mm boards (2.4 m²), 1 layer, 10 % allowance: 10.8 ÷ 2.4 × 1.1 = 4.95 → 5 boards per side, so 10 boards for both sides.
- Ceiling of 18 m², 5 % allowance: boards 18 ÷ 2.4 × 1.05 = 7.88 → 8; CD profile 18 × 3 × 1.05 = 56.7 m → 19 profiles of 3 m; UD profile 18 × 0.5 × 1.05 = 9.45 m → 4 profiles of 3 m; TN screws 18 × 17 = 306 pcs → 1 box of 500.
Ceiling, 1200 mm boards, 10 % allowance
| Area (m²) | Boards | CD profiles of 3 m | TN screws (pcs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 5 | 11 | 170 |
| 20 | 10 | 22 | 340 |
| 30 | 14 | 33 | 510 |
| 50 | 23 | 55 | 850 |
| 100 | 46 | 110 | 1700 |
What affects real consumption
- System and profile spacing (ceiling, wall, lining).
- Number of board layers and board width.
- Openings, corners and cuts that increase waste.
Common mistakes
- Entering both sides of a partition wall as the area, although the calculator doubles it itself.
- Too low a waste allowance when there are many openings, corners and cuts.
- Treating the consumption norms as exact; they are approximate and the system manufacturer's data decide.
- Ordering the exact quantity without rounding up to whole packs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the calculator count boards for both sides of a partition wall?
Yes, for a partition wall you enter the area of one side and boards and screws are counted for both sides.
What waste allowance is usual?
Typically 5–15 %; choose a higher value for many openings and corners.
How many square metres does one board cover?
A board 1200 mm wide and 2 m long covers 2.4 m²; the calculator uses the width you select and rounds boards up.
How many screws are needed per m² of ceiling?
The norm is about 17 TN screws per m²; they are sold in boxes of 500 and rounded up to whole boxes.
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Publisher: Art-Visum d.o.o. · Content reviewed:
Calculations use common consumption rates and manufacturers' technical data sheets; results are estimates. Methodology · Standards · About