Drywall labour calculator
Hang and finish to level four, taped and sanded ready for primer.
Drywall
Hang and finish to level four, taped and sanded ready for primer.
Default 35 sq ft an hour covers hanging and finishing together. Piece rate runs $1.10 a foot. Price excludes sales tax.
$3,884
$3.24 / sq ftPrice excludes sales tax.
How this calculator prices a job
Hanging and finishing are two different rates most estimators blend into one. The default here covers both together to a level-four finish, ready for primer.
The formula
hours = quantity ÷ production rate base = hours × labour rate (or quantity × per-unit rate) burden = base × burden % cost = base + burden price = cost ÷ (1 − margin)
Assumptions and defaults
| Production | 35 sq ft/hr hang and finish |
| Per-unit rate | $1.10 per sq ft |
| Labour rate | $65/hr default |
| Payroll burden | 22% of base labour |
| Crew | 3 people, eight-hour days |
| Target margin | 30% |
Pro tips
Ceilings are roughly double the labour of walls. If the job is ceiling-heavy, drop the production rate rather than adding a fudge at the end.
Level five costs about 25 per cent more than level four, and it only matters under raking light or gloss paint. Say which level you priced, in writing.
Burden is not optional. Payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability and paid time run 20 to 35 per cent on top of the wage you quote — a crew at $65 an hour costs you nearer $80 before a single overhead dollar.
Margin divides, it does not multiply. A 30 per cent margin on $1,000 of cost is $1,429, not $1,300 — the second number is a 30 per cent markup and only a 23 per cent margin.
Common questions
What is a fair drywall labour rate?
Piece rate runs about $1.10 a square foot hung and finished. By the hour, 35 sq ft an hour at $65 works out close to the same number once burden is on.
How long does drywall take?
About 35 square feet an hour for hang and finish together. Hanging alone is much faster; finishing eats the days, especially with dry time between coats.
How do I price labour to hit a target margin?
Divide, never multiply: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). An all-in labour cost of $2,000 at a 30 per cent margin is $2,857. Multiplying by 1.30 gives $2,600, which is only a 23 per cent margin.
What is payroll burden?
Everything you pay on top of the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, holiday and any benefits. Twenty-two per cent is a reasonable starting point for a small crew — check yours against last year's numbers and change the field.
Does this include materials?
No. This tool prices labour only, so the number stays honest when material prices move. Work the quantities out in the material calculator and add them as their own line.