The complete guide to choosing the correct drywall size and thickness
It takes strong arms, as well as a sturdy back to complete any drywall installation from beginning to end. Drywall is the primary material used for internal walls and ceilings in all types of homes and buildings in the country. Whether you’ve been a contractor for decades or are preparing for your first DIY project, it’s important to always choose the right drywall panels for your specific application. Even though drywall is by far the most common interior wall and ceiling material in use today, many people still don’t realize the sheer number of different options that are readily available.
While many manufacturers and home improvement stores only offer the most standard options to make the selection process easier, you still don’t want to show up at the job site with the wrong product. To help you avoid this potential embarrassment, we’ve put together this complete guide, so you’ll have no trouble choosing the exact drywall size and thickness you need.
Shop taping and finishing tools
Drywall sizes
One of the most important factors to consider before purchasing drywall is the size of the sheets you’ll need. In order to make drywall last for many years, make sure to choose the right type of drywall for the project. There are no specific building code requirements when it comes to the length and width to use, so ultimately the decision comes down to the needs of the client, installer, or particular space of the building.
Drywall sheets typically come in multiples of four feet, with the three most common sizes listed below. Choosing the correct size for your application will help minimize the number of joints and make the entire installation that much easier.
- 4 x 8 foot: Drywall that measures 4 feet wide by 8 feet long is by far the most common size you’ll find at hardware stores. The average 1/2-inch sheet in this size weighs in at around 57 pounds, making it popular amongst installers for its ability to be transported easily or solo.
- 4 x 12/16 foot: These two sizes are ideal for especially tall or long walls, as they cut down on the number of joints and therefore produce a much smoother, unbroken surface. Due to their added weight and unwieldy size though, these sheets will require a partner to carry. This problem has been mitigated nowadays with ultra lightweight drywall which we cover later on. Just be cautious before buying, as they can be rather difficult to get around certain corners or up tight stairwells.
- Cut sizes: While not an official size in its own right, many home improvement stores have smaller sizes readily available, such as a 2 x 2-foot option. Whether they’re pre-cut from larger, damaged sheets, or cut to your specifications on-site, these pieces are especially useful for smaller patch jobs or for filling in nooks and alcoves.
Drywall thickness
Unlike with drywall sizes, building codes do have strict requirements when it comes to the thickness of the drywall panels. Most suppliers offer the following four options, with each one having its own ideal applications.
1/4 inch (6.35mm)
The thinnest and most economical of the options available, 1/4-inch drywall is great for creating curved walls or for placing over an existing surface, such as plaster or brick. It only weighs 38 pounds, so be extra careful while handling it, because its fragile nature makes it very easy to accidentally bend or break.
3/8 inch (9.52mm)
This option, while much less common, is great for remodeling partitions or for patching existing drywall that has been worn or damaged.
1/2 inch (12.7mm)
By far the most readily available option, 1/2-inch sheets are considered by most to be the industry standard for interior residential walls. They are easy to carry and hang and can be used with almost any kind of frame.
5/8 inch (15.9mm)
5/8-inch drywall is generally reserved for use on ceilings and in commercial construction jobs. While significantly heavier and more expensive than the others, its thickness makes it a preferred choice for soundproofing spaces that expect plenty of noise. It is also far less likely to sag when used on a ceiling, especially with the added weight of a surface texture. We go into more detail about the soundproofing below.
Goldblatt Saws are the perfect choice for almost any user. These saws have been designed to outperform most other saws on the market. When tested in the field, it's triple ground tooth design cut 50% faster than a traditional saw. Pick one up today!
Specialty drywall
If your particular application requires special properties, such as added insulation, moisture resistance, fire retardation, or soundproofing most suppliers offer these additional qualities in some of their thicker drywall panels (usually but not always 5/8-inch).
- Insulated: Insulated panels are typically ½” and contain a silver foil-back and a polyfoam core. They are great for cold spaces like attics or basements that don’t retain heat well. These should be avoided in more hot and humid climates.
- Soundproof: Soundproof drywall is designed to help reduce noise from traveling between walls. It’s thicker than standard drywall sheets and usually has two gypsum layers glued together with a special noise-reduction adhesive. It can be as thin as 1/2-inch and as thick as 5/8-inch. It can also be created by adhering two drywall sheets together yourself.
Pro Tip: Note that two sheets of drywall will be thicker and take up more space than a single sheet of soundproof drywall. For best soundproofing, combine soundproof drywall with fiberglass insulation. - Moisture/Mold resistant: This type of drywall contains waterproofing materials, which makes it ideal for use in rooms that typically get a lot of moisture, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
- Fire resistant: As the name suggests, these panels have greater fireproofing qualities. For example they help prevent the spread and speed of fire and generate less smoke than traditional drywall. They are required by code to be used in high-risk areas such as garage ceilings, stairwells, and furnace rooms. They are available in ⅝” panels.
- Ultra LightWeight: Ultra Lightweight is the latest and greatest thing in drywall since drywall itself. Essentially it is very similar to normal drywall except that it is up to 25% lighter than normal drywall. The panels look just like normal drywall and have the same paper face. They cut the same, they score the same, and there is no difference when you’re setting screws or sanding. The difference in weight is due to a slight proprietary change in the compounds used and how it is constructed. It is slightly higher in cost but this cost is nearly non-existent in small jobs and is eaten up by higher efficiency in larger jobs. On average it is about 20¢ per sq inch whereas normal drywall is around 18¢ per square inch. There are some, albeit minor, complaints about ultra lightweight drywall being a bit more brittle but this is not the norm. Most contractors are finding the lighter weight and minimal cost difference being a huge advantage, especially if you are doing a lot of the lifting yourself.
Finish your next job with help from the experts at Al’s
Al’s Taping Tools has been providing contractors with an extensive selection of high-quality tools, parts, and accessories for over 30 years. Shop our products today or give us a call for a helpful hand in finishing your next job.