From this site

One project, every trade

Each calculator adds its lines to a single estimate — consolidated BOM, schedule and cash-flow included.

Open My Project →

Drywall Ceiling Fastening Schedule Screw Count Calculator

Calculate total screws needed for a ceiling drywall installation at its (typically tighter) code-required fastening spacing.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax

Total screws needed

223 screws

High confidence

At the values currently entered, the total screws needed works out to 223. Figures are shown for United States, where IRC 2024 is the governing residential reference; switch the market above if you are building elsewhere.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Screw count = ceil(ceiling area ÷ (screw spacing)²), applying a uniform grid spacing — ceiling fastening schedules are typically tighter (commonly 12 in o.c. both ways) than wall fastening

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Why is ceiling fastening spacing tighter than wall fastening?
Ceiling drywall works against gravity and is more prone to sagging at the joints, so building codes and gypsum association fastening schedules commonly require tighter screw spacing on ceilings (often 12 in o.c. both ways) than on walls.
What screw spacing should I actually use?
Confirm the exact fastening schedule required by your local code or gypsum board manufacturer for your specific board thickness, framing spacing, and framing material — this calculator applies whatever grid spacing you enter uniformly in both directions.
Does this treat every point on the grid as needing a screw, even at panel edges?
This is a uniform area-over-grid-cell approximation, not a screw-by-screw layout — actual screw placement also follows panel edge and field fastening patterns specified in the fastening schedule, which can shift the real count slightly from this estimate.