What a drywall estimate is for
Drywall customers rarely know what a finish level is until they see a wall under raking light. An estimate that names the board type, the finish level for each area, the texture and who paints sets the standard the customer will judge you by. It also says how nail pops and settling cracks are treated, which comes up on every job.
What to put on a drywall estimate
- Wall and ceiling area, separated.
- Board thickness and type by area.
- Finish level for each area.
- Texture or smooth.
- Corner bead and trim details.
- Dust protection and cleanup.
- Whether priming and painting are included.
A worked example
A basement being finished: about 1,400 sq ft of walls and 800 sq ft of ceiling, moisture resistant board in the bathroom, smooth finish, painted by others.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hang drywall, walls | 1,400 | sq ft | Your price |
| Hang drywall, ceiling | 800 | sq ft | Your price |
| Moisture resistant board, bathroom | 220 | sq ft | Your price |
| Tape and finish, smooth | 2,420 | sq ft | Your price |
| Corner bead | 160 | ft | Your price |
| Haul away scrap | 1 | load | Your price |
Write the finish level in the notes and whether painting is by others. Customers who expect paint-ready walls and get primed ones, or the reverse, call back.
Line items drywall contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Hang drywall | sq ft | Board thickness and type: regular, moisture resistant, fire rated. |
| Tape and finish | sq ft | Level of finish; say which surfaces get a higher level. |
| Hang, tape and finish, combined | sq ft | For smaller jobs priced as one. |
| Ceiling drywall | sq ft | Ceilings take more labor than walls. |
| Corner bead | ft | Metal or paper-faced, outside corners. |
| Texture, knockdown or orange peel | sq ft | Match existing where patching. |
| Skim coat | sq ft | Over damaged or textured walls for a smooth finish. |
| Drywall patch, small | each | Holes up to a size you set. |
| Drywall patch, large or water damage | each | Cut out and replace a section. |
| Popcorn ceiling removal | sq ft | Test older ceilings for asbestos before disturbing them. |
| Prime for paint | sq ft | If painting is not by others. |
| Protect floors and furniture, cleanup | room | Dust control matters on occupied jobs. |
| Haul away scrap | load | Offcuts and old board. |
Terms and deposit language for drywall
- Deposit. A deposit at signing covers board and mud and holds the crew. Rules on how much you may collect up front differ by state, so look yours up.
- Payment. Larger jobs split at hang complete and finish complete; small repairs are due on completion.
- Warranty. Say how long you cover cracks and nail pops from your workmanship, and that settling, framing movement and water damage are not covered.
- Finish level and texture are agreed in writing before work starts.
- Painting is by others unless listed; primer is included only if listed.
- Ceilings in older homes may contain asbestos; testing is required before disturbing them, and abatement is by licensed others.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for drywall
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.