Hanging is fast. Finishing is slow, and it takes several trips because each coat has to dry. That is why drywall prices that only count square footage end up short. Count the trips, then the footage.
- Price hang and finish separately, and count the drying trips.
- Fixr lists drywall installation at $1,600 to $3,500, about $2,000 for 1,000 square feet hung and finished.
- Material and installation average $1.50 to $3.50 a square foot in Fixr's guide.
- Repairs run $200 to $550 for most jobs, with $70 to $80 an hour common for repair work.
Setting your labor rate
Start with the wage. The closest group the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes is drywall and ceiling tile installers. In its May 2025 wage survey, that group's national mean wage was $30.58 an hour and the median was $28.33 (BLS OEWS 47-2081).
Add your labor burden on top: payroll taxes, workers' comp and any paid time off. If burden in your state comes to 15% of wages, a $30 an hour tech costs you $34.50 an hour. That loaded number is what goes into the job cost.
Fixr puts drywall labor at $1.15 to $3 a square foot for most standard and moisture-resistant board (Fixr).
Published drywall prices
| Job | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New work | ||
| Drywall installation, typical | $1,600 to $3,500 | Fixr |
| 1,000 sq ft hung and finished | About $2,000 | Fixr |
| Material and installation | $1.50 to $3.50 a sq ft | Fixr |
| Labor only | $1.15 to $3 a sq ft | Fixr |
| Remove old drywall | About $0.50 a sq ft more | Fixr |
| Repairs | ||
| Drywall repair, typical | $200 to $550 | Fixr |
| Holes and cracks in one room | About $350 | Fixr |
| A few small nail holes | About $75 | Fixr |
| Repair labor | $70 to $80 an hour | Fixr |
A worked example: hang and finish 1,000 square feet
A basement room, standard 1/2 inch board, level 4 finish. Every input is an assumption.
- Board, mud, tape, screws and corner bead: 1,000 sq ft x $0.65 = $650
- Hanging labor: 2 people x 8 hours x $34.50 = $552
- Taping and finishing labor: 1 person x 3 days x 8 hours x $34.50 = $828
- Debris and dump: $90
- Drive: 4 trips x 20 miles x $0.76 = $60.80
- Direct cost: $650 + $552 + $828 + $90 + $60.80 = $2,180.80
- Overhead plus profit: 20% + 15% = 35% of the price
- Price: $2,180.80 / (1 - 0.35) = $2,180.80 / 0.65 = $3,355
Check it: 35% of $3,355 is about $1,174, and $3,355 minus $1,174 is about $2,181, the direct cost of $2,180.80. The profit and overhead are inside the price, not added on top of a cost you guessed.
That is about $3.35 a square foot. Fixr's material and installation range is $1.50 to $3.50, and its 1,000 square foot example is about $2,000, so this lands at the top of the band because finishing labor and four trips are counted honestly. A crew that finishes faster, or a level 3 finish in a garage, will come in lower.
Price repairs by the visit
Repairs are mostly trips and drying time. Set a minimum that covers two visits, then price by the patch size. Bundle all the patches in a house into one quote and offer painting as the better option, since the customer will need it anyway.
Estimates from photos, invoices on done
Snap the damage and Koira's estimates draft the job from your price list, with up to three options. The customer signs and pays the deposit on one page. Multi-trip jobs can bill in stages with progress invoices: deposit, midpoint and final.
Common drywall pricing mistakes
- One trip in the price. Finishing takes several.
- Ceilings at the wall rate. Overhead work is slower.
- No minimum on repairs. A small patch is still two visits.
Questions contractors ask
How much should I charge per square foot for drywall?
Build it from board, mud, hanging and finishing time and trips. Fixr lists $1.50 to $3.50 a square foot for material and installation.
What does drywall repair cost?
Fixr puts most repair jobs at $200 to $550, about $350 for several holes and cracks in one room.
How many trips does finishing take?
Usually several, one per coat plus sanding. Price every trip.
Should I charge by the hour for repairs?
Many contractors do. Fixr lists $70 to $80 an hour for most drywall repair.
