Drywall Weight Calculator
How much does drywall weigh? A standard 4 x 8 ft sheet of 1/2 inch drywall weighs about 51 lbs, roughly 1.6 lbs per square foot. Lightweight 1/2 inch board is about 38 lbs a sheet and 5/8 inch Type X is about 70 lbs. Enter your sheets or square feet below for your total weight and the right dumpster size.
Drywall Weight Calculator
Enter sheets or square feet; results update as you type.
How much does each sheet of drywall weigh?
Approximate weight per sheet, calculated from published per-square-foot weights. Real boards vary by brand and moisture.
| Type | Per sq ft | 4 x 8 ft | 4 x 10 ft | 4 x 12 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4" regular | 1.2 lbs | 38 lbs | 48 lbs | 58 lbs |
| 3/8" regular | 1.4 lbs | 45 lbs | 56 lbs | 67 lbs |
| 1/2" regular | 1.6 lbs | 51 lbs | 64 lbs | 77 lbs |
| 1/2" lightweight | 1.2 lbs | 38 lbs | 48 lbs | 58 lbs |
| 5/8" Type X | 2.2 lbs | 70 lbs | 88 lbs | 106 lbs |
Worked example: one 12 x 12 room
A 12 x 12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has 384 sq ft of wall and 144 sq ft of ceiling, 528 sq ft in all. In 1/2 inch regular drywall at 1.6 lbs per sq ft, that is about 845 lbs (0.42 tons), or 17 sheets of 4 x 8. Broken up, it takes about 2.4 cubic yards, so a 10 yard dumpster holds it with room for studs and trim, well under its 1 ton included weight.
How the calculator works
- Weight = square feet x the per-square-foot weight for your thickness (sheets are converted at 32, 40 or 48 sq ft each).
- Loose volume assumes broken, tossed drywall takes about 3 times the space of the same sheets stacked flat. This is a planning assumption, not a measured figure.
- The recommendation is the smallest dumpster that covers both the loose volume and the weight included with that size.
Common mistakes
- Sizing for drywall only. Studs, flooring, cabinets and trim usually take more room than the board.
- Forgetting the ceiling. On a full gut it adds a third or more to a room's square footage.
- Using dry weights for a water-damaged tear-out. Wet gypsum is heavier.
- Mixing in paint cans, adhesives or other prohibited items that a landfill will reject.
Drywall Weight Questions
A standard 4 x 8 ft sheet of 1/2 inch drywall weighs about 51 lbs. The same sheet in a lightweight 1/2 inch board is about 38 lbs, and 5/8 inch Type X fire-rated board is about 70 lbs. Longer 4 x 12 sheets weigh 50 percent more than a 4 x 8 of the same type.
Answered by Michael V., Head of Operations
For one or two rooms of drywall, a 10 yard dumpster is usually enough by both space and weight. A whole-house gut with studs, flooring and trim usually needs a 20 yard. Drywall is rarely the item that sets the weight; the rest of the debris is.
Answered by Joe Woods, Commercial & National Accounts Specialist
Yes. Clean drywall scraps and tear-out go in a standard construction dumpster. Keep out drywall that is wet with chemicals or mixed with hazardous material, and ask about recycling if your area accepts clean gypsum.
Answered by Michael V., Head of Operations
Yes. Gypsum board soaks up water, so water-damaged drywall can weigh noticeably more than the dry figures on this page. Leave extra room in the weight allowance for flood or leak tear-outs.
Answered by Joe Woods, Commercial & National Accounts Specialist
Sources
- Per-square-foot weights are approximate figures from USG Sheetrock product data (regular, UltraLight and Firecode X panels). USG
- Gypsum from construction debris can be recycled where facilities accept it, per the U.S. EPA. EPA, C&D debris
- Dumpster sizes and included weights match the Ultimate Dumpsters size pages.
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