Drywall size kept me up at night.
Yeah, I'm a big basement nerd and I know it.
Here's what happened. I was thinking of drywalling my basement (which I don't recommend btw) and so I started looking at drywall sheet prices.
The drywall size, lengths and thicknesses, absolutely affect the price, but not necessarily in the way you would think.
I was also obsessed with preventing noise from upstairs from creeping into my basement sanctuary. So I was reading everything about different drywall thickness and how they performed in terms of noise abatement.
I was swimming in drywall fears! In the end. I hired a company to do the installation. Even though I didn't do the work I still needed to answer some important questions.
- I was wondering if I could even carry a sheet of drywall by myself?
- How much does a sheet of drywall weigh?
- Would a 12 foot sheet of drywall fit down the steps?
Drywall Size - Basement Drywall Thickness
Drywall boards come in 3 common thicknesses. There's 1/4 inch drywall, 1/2 inch drywall, 5/8ths of an inch drywall and 3/4 inch drywall.
The most commonly installed thickness, per my extensive Google searching, is 1/2 inch. This is what I had installed in my basement. I considered 3/4 of an inch, especially for the ceiling and some of the walls where I wanted to cut down on noise transfer.
But when I was talking with my contractor he said that it would be a lot more expensive to use 3/4 inch and that I could get better value for my money by just putting in R11 insulation to reduce noise instead. Just another reason it's critical to get a great contractor.
Okay, so 1/2 inch. That's what you want. Don't even make me laugh by going with 1/4 inch. Please. Get that junk out of my face!
TIP: If your ceiling joist are 24" on center instead of 16" then you need to use 3/8th's for the ceiling instead of 1/2 inch. The 1/2 inch drywall is too heavy and may sag if the joist are to far apart.
How Heavy is a Sheet of Drywall
Let's say you did want to install all of your drywall yourself. Hey, I'm all for it! This is a blog about finishing your own basement after all.
How heavy is a single sheet? If you had a stack of drywall delivered to your driveway, could you carry them in by yourself?
A 4' x 8' x 1/2" thick sheet of drywall weighs 54 lbs.
A 4' x 12' x 1/2" thick sheet of drywall weighs 82 lbs.
Sooooo… I'm in pretty good shape. I'm not bragging or anything but 50 pounds ain't no thing for me to lift. 82 lbs… no problem. I can toss around two 45 pound weights all day long.
Here's the thing though. It's awkward to carry. Crazy awkward. You need long rubbery arms to reach all the way around.
So I suggest that you either bring a friend or buy one of these little yellow jobbies to help carry the drywall.
Now I'm sure there are some dudes out there with T-Rex arms that will chime in to say that they carry drywall every single day with no little helper thing. Well... props to you guys, that's why you're a drywall pro.
Drywall Size - What's the Right Sheet Length
So 8 feet is probably the "standard" size. Each sheet being 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
But…. It also comes in 12 foot lengths (still 4 feet high). Drywall guys prefer to work with the 12 foot lengths because there are fewer drywall seems to deal with.
The installation cost can be considerably cheaper if they can use 12 foot drywall size boards. Like 30% cheaper, according my drywall guy, which is good enough for me.
So why wouldn't everyone use 12 foot drywall boards when finishing their basements?
It's all in the angles. A 12 foot drywall board cannot be carried into the basement through the inside stairwell. There usually isn't enough room to make the turn.
If you have a walk-in basement or a walk-down basement without too many steps then they can easily carry in 12 foot boards. Otherwise they need to use 8 foot boards.
So consider yourself lucky if you have the option of getting the drywall boards into the basement through a walk-in door. You just saved yourself a couple hundred bucks!
Quiet Rock, Gypsum Board, Green Board and Jibber-Jabber
I wanted to wrap up this post with a bit of advice that might save you some days and nights of thinking about drywall. There are all kinds of different drywall products and names that claim to solve one problem or another. And many of them work great. But, most of them require a lot of extra budget and special installation techniques.
Take QuietRock for example, which I love and wish I had the cash to use. It's a new sheet rock product that claims to cut down on noise. But you have to install it correctly, with the correct techniques, correct glues, etc. So you would need to find a drywall contractor that specialized in installing that product. And that means paying more money.
In the end, none of the benefits or customization was worth it for me to pay extra and do extra work. Standard 1/2 inch drywall all the way around turned out to be the best middle ground. (Plus the R11 insulation that I put in).
So by all means research and noodle what you really want to get out of your drywall. And you've got some cash or you absolutely must have the best sound insulation , well then contact me when you're done. I really want to know how well it works!
Cheers - Jason
More Drywall Stuff:
- Thinking of doing it yourself? That's cool, just read this first 5 Reasons Not to Install Your Own Drywall
- 4 Critical Things to Do Before Your Basement Drywall Is Installed
- Need some basement stuff? Check out the store
- Need tools? Save up to 40% at CPO (my favorite - J)
TIP: If your ceiling joist are 24″ on center instead of 16″ then you need to use 5/8th’s for the ceiling instead of 1/2 inch. The 1/2 inch drywall is too heavy and will sag if the joist are to far apart.
Hey Jason, love the site. Trying to take it all in before I get started later in the year! Question: Wouldn't the 5/8 be heavier since it's thicker?
Brandon - You're right, typo, I meant to say 3/8ths. I've updated the post. Thanks. Good luck with your project this year, let us know how it goes! - Jason
Jason
3/8" drywall on the ceiling needs to be rated for ceilings. On the drywall sheet it will say for wall or ceiling, or walls and ceilings. They have started making 1/2" that can go on ceilings but most drywall contractors use 5/8" to help with sound transfer, fire rating, and it is stiffer. The thinner the drywall the more flex it has to it. If 3/8th isn't screwed off properly it will sag in the future. Bottom line is the drywall must be rated for the ceiling as long as it is rated for ceilings it can be used. Also you can get drywall in 8', 9', 10', 12', 14', and 16' lengths. If you have wall height at 9' you can by 54" wide sheets but it cost more and usually are special order unless you go to a drywall supplier. Just thought I would give some advice as I work in construction but like reading blogs. You do a very good job.
Thanks David - Great insight, I'm may add this info to the bottom of the post.
If 24” on center is too far you could always place some strapping to give you more anchor points on the drywall. Also it allows for easy witing in the future do to the gap, just fish a wire between and add a light or a switch.
When installing drywall in a basement less than 8 feet is it recommended to run the 8 foot edge horizontally or can you cut to height and run vertical? If it's recommended to run horizontally please explain why. Thanks.
Hi Doug - No, you can run it vertically, shouldn't be a problem. For standard ceilings a horizontal run works best for avoid waster and seams but for lower ceiling height - up to you. - Jason
Thanks for mentioning how to find out the right sheet length for drywall. You made a good point about how the angles of my basement affect the sheet size that I would need. Making sure that I have enough room to fit drywall boards in my basement seems important to take into consideration before deciding what size I would need.
On a loud Main Street. I stripped my plaster insulated with foam board now want to some 1/4 then some 1/2 " drywall layers with green glue for soundproofing. Would I get better soundproofing if the 1/4 was put on first or second?
Hi Phil - Sorry, but I'm not really a soundproofing expert. I just teach average people how to finish their basements. My "guess" is that the order does not matter. It's all about the mass you're creating between the noise and your room. You also want to try and seperate the drywall from the studs using a quiet glue or channels. Sorry I couldn't give a more detailed answer - perhaps "isoundproofedmybasement" is my next project! - Jason
Use sound channel and sound board
Really great post, loved the information you provided. Thank you for sharing.
I would not recommend running sheetrock vertically, ever. You will have terrible looking seams. Running horizontally allows for you stager seams and the fit and finish will be significantly better. You will not have more waste running horizontally.
I have been a hanger for over 20 years and know a thing or two about drywall. On two foot center ceilings, never ever use anything other than 5/8 sheetrock, with 3 screws in the field, or eventually it WILL swag! I know that it is heavy, but you really should man up and do it. Too often nowadays, builders try the cheap and easy way out because they are building houses instead of homes, and there is a big difference there... So don't fall victim to their trickery, most of them only care if your home lasts until they are not liable for repairs anymore. We should all take pride in our work and build things to last!
100% correct. I've been a drywallers for 27 years.
Never EVER use 3/8 on a ceiling. Let alone 2ft. On center. Just a cheap and lazy way out. 5/8 is more ridgid (yes heavier) and will not sag.
Where would you use 1/4 sheetrock ?
II am in a trailer,had a leak in ceiling,need 1/4 ceiling board will 1/4 drywall work,can;t seem to find the other,where I live
As noted by the comments above, a thicker drywall is stiffer, so to avoid sagging ceiling panels, you want to go with a thicker drywall, not the other way around, although it is indeed heavier. You will need a friend or two (or a drywall hoist) to help you with it.
Great tips and things to consider - shows just how nuanced drywall is and how important a proper plan is!
can I use 1/4 inch dry wall on the existing ceiling to cover light textured ceiling in my basement?
Found some very interesting comments here. Even though ther are may DIY'ers...I'm always surprised how many homeowners prefer to call a contractor for this tyoe of work. But it all still keeps the world going around....nice blog.
I'm with Charles on this. A lot of interesting comments on this post. Personally, ( and not because I own a drywall company) I encourage professional services on bigger projects. Not only can they help you with the overall cost and give you some time back. They already know what is needed when the job is being scoped and not having to spend hours researching and using opinions in blog posts. If it's a hole or minor damage I encourage you to do it yourself. Bigger projects leave it to the pros.
Hello!! I am finishing my own basement, and just stumbled across this really helpful site; wish I had known about it when starting! Anyway, almost finished with running electrical, and am starting to contemplate ordering drywall. My plan is to hang the board myself (with a lift and a fabulous brother-in-law), but pay for a pro to tape, mud and sand. I have a split staircase down to the basement, with a 90-degree left turn about halfway down. We are also planning on doing the labor to get the sheets into the basement. From everyone’s experience, is it possible to get individual, single 12-foot sheets (1/2” thick) down such a set of stairs horizontally, with a slight bend or flex to navigate the turn at the landing?Would buy one sheet as a test case, but figure someone has already tried it elsewhere. Thanks for any tips!! And thanks again for the super helpful site!
Good idea, if the 12 don’t go you can try 10’ if that goes do your ceiling in 10
I’ve got 25 plus yrs hanging sheet rock. If your hanging your basement and your ceiling height is under 8’ always hang vertically, leaves no but joints on walls. unless the wall is 8’ or shorter.always put 3 screws in the field on ceilings and exterior walls, 2 In the field in all others or 16”Floor Joyces are either 12” or 16” on center so half in is perfect on the ceiling. I like to go through with a can of Marker paint and mark all electrical outlets so there’s less of a chance covering one. If your hanging by yourself tack sheets with a couple nails and use 99% screws, nails do eventually work loose. Hang 5/8 under the rake under the stairs for code.
I discovered some pretty intriguing remarks here. Despite the fact that there are many do-it-yourselfers, I'm always astonished at how many homes prefer to hire a professional for this type of work. But it all keeps the globe turning....nice blog.
Thank you for mentioning how to determine the proper sheet length for drywall. You brought up an excellent point about how the angles of my basement affect the sheet size that I would require. awesome blog again thank you.