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USG's submittal sheet for Sheetrock Brand All Purpose ready-mixed joint compound gives its coverage as approximately 10 gallons per 1,000 sq ft of gypsum panels, which is 1 gallon per 100 sq ft for embedding the tape and the finishing coats over joints, fasteners and corner bead. The Drywall Mud Calculator multiplies your square footage, or your number of 4 × 8 sheets at 32 sq ft each, by that rate, adds any extra you choose for a skim coat or texture, and divides by the package: a 4.5 gallon pail or a 3.5 gallon carton, the two sizes USG lists. Tape uses USG's paper joint tape submittal: approximately 370 ft per 1,000 sq ft, sold in 75, 250 and 500 ft rolls. A 4 × 8 sheet takes about 0.32 gallon of compound, so one pail finishes roughly 14 sheets. A 12 × 12 ft room with its ceiling, 528 sq ft, takes about 5.3 gallons, two 4.5 gallon pails, and 195 ft of tape, one 250 ft roll.
| Drywall | Gallons | 4.5 gal pails | 3.5 gal cartons | Tape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 1 | 1 | 1 | 37 ft |
| 250 sq ft | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 93 ft |
| 500 sq ft | 5 | 2 | 2 | 185 ft |
| 528 sq ft | 5.3 | 2 | 2 | 195 ft |
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 | 3 | 3 | 370 ft |
| 2,000 sq ft | 20 | 5 | 6 | 740 ft |
| 4,000 sq ft | 40 | 9 | 12 | 1,480 ft |
Android: Smart Drywall Calculator on Google Play. iPhone: the drywall calculators are inside Roofing Calculator & Estimator on the App Store.
USG's submittal sheet for Sheetrock All Purpose ready-mixed joint compound gives coverage of approximately 10 gallons per 1,000 sq ft of gypsum panels — 1 gallon per 100 sq ft for taping and finishing. A 12 × 12 ft room with its ceiling is 528 sq ft: about 5.3 gallons, which is two 4.5 gallon pails.
About 0.32 gallon per 4 × 8 sheet (32 sq ft × 10 gal ÷ 1,000 sq ft) at USG's coverage for All Purpose compound, so one 4.5 gallon pail finishes roughly 14 sheets and a 3.5 gallon carton about 11.
The standard USG pail holds 4.5 gallons, not 5. At approximately 10 gallons per 1,000 sq ft it covers about 450 sq ft of board, taped and finished. A 3.5 gallon carton covers about 350 sq ft.
USG's paper joint tape submittal gives approximately 370 ft of tape per 1,000 sq ft of panels. A 528 sq ft room takes about 195 ft — one 250 ft roll. Rolls come in 75, 250 and 500 ft.
No. The USG figure covers taping and the usual finishing coats. A Level 5 skim coat over the whole surface, heavy texture or a rough job uses more, so add 10–15% or buy one extra carton and return it unopened.
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