How drywall is priced: square footage, finish levels and what is included

Almost every drywall quote comes down to a price per square foot of board, hung and finished, plus a few line items for the things that are not board. Here is how RBS Services builds a number so a builder can compare quotes fairly.

The base number

For a typical new home with 8- or 9-foot ceilings, 1/2-inch board, and a Level 4 finish, hang, tape and finish runs in the range of $2.00 to $3.50 per square foot of board, material and labor. That covers delivery and stocking, hanging and screwing off, corner bead, tape, three coats of compound, sanding, and cleanup of our debris.

Finish levels, briefly

Level 4 is the standard for painted walls and ceilings: taped, three coats, sanded smooth.
Level 5 adds a skim coat over the whole surface. Specify it for critical lighting (long walls washed by windows or sconces), dark or glossy paint, and high-end work. It adds a coat of compound and another day of sanding, so it is priced higher.
Texture (orange peel, knockdown) is quoted separately and is common in some regions and rare in others.

What moves the price

Ceiling height and access. Vaulted ceilings, stairwells and two-story foyers need stilts, scaffold or lifts, and slow the crew down.
Board type. 5/8-inch fire-rated, moisture-resistant (green or purple) board in baths, and sound board cost more per sheet.
Curves and details. Arches, radius walls, bulkheads, soffits and niches are hand work.
Site readiness. Insulation inspected, mechanicals complete, a clear floor and power on site. A crew that arrives to an unready house bills the lost time as labor.
Repairs and remodels. Patch work is priced on a minimum service charge plus hourly, because matching existing texture and finish is slower than new work.

How it is billed

Builders on account are invoiced by stage (hang complete, finish complete) on Net 30 terms with an early-payment discount stated on the invoice. Homeowners pay a deposit and stage payments. Invoices come from RBS Services LLC with a secure link to pay by card, ACH or bank transfer; see billing and payments. Want a number for your plans? Send them over.

Published 2026-08-22 by RBS Build Works, an operating group of Radd Payment Solutions. More insights