Professional Plasterboard Calculator
Estimate the number of sheets, screws, and compound needed for your project.
Project Estimate
How to Calculate Plasterboard Accurately
Planning a renovation or drylining a new stud wall requires precise measurements to minimize waste and ensure you have enough materials on site. Our plasterboard calculator simplifies this process by accounting for wall dimensions, ceilings, and typical wastage factors.
Step 1: Measure Your Surface Area
Measure the length of every wall you intend to board and multiply it by the height. If you are boarding a ceiling, calculate its area separately (Length x Width). Add these together to get your gross surface area.
Step 2: Subtract Openings
Don't forget to subtract the area of doors and windows. A standard UK internal door is approximately 2 square meters. Subtracting these ensures you don't over-order materials.
Step 3: Account for Wastage
Even professional installers have waste. For a standard rectangular room, 10% extra is recommended. If your room has many alcoves, sloping ceilings, or odd angles, increase this to 15%.
Required Accessories
- Screws: Typically, you need about 25-30 screws per standard 2.4m sheet (spaced every 300mm).
- Joint Compound: You'll need roughly 0.7kg to 1kg of jointing compound per square meter of board for a full finish.
- Scrim Tape: Estimate roughly 1.5 meters of tape for every square meter of plasterboard to cover all joints and internal corners.
Typical Plasterboard Sizes
The most common sheet size used in the UK and Europe is 2400mm x 1200mm (8ft x 4ft), which covers 2.88 square meters. If you are working in tight spaces like lofts or hallways, you might prefer 1800mm or "handy" boards which are easier to maneuver through narrow doors.