How much per square foot to hang and finish drywall?

Market quotes commonly run $1.50–$3.50+ at Level 4, more for L5, textures, and high work — but the number that defends itself is built from your crew's production and loaded costs.

How many boards can a crew hang per day?

A two-person crew commonly hangs 25–40+ sheets a day in open rooms, far fewer in chopped layouts and stairwells. Track your own three jobs; that's your rate.

How long does finishing take?

Three coats plus sanding across multiple days — commonly 800–1,200 sq ft per finisher-day averaged over the sequence at L4. L5 adds the skim pass on top.

Field guide

How Much to Charge for Hang and Finish — the Build, Worked

The per-foot folklore range for drywall is wide enough to hide a failed business at one end. Build the number instead — it takes four inputs you already have, and it prices weird jobs (stairwells, L5, remodel patches into old plaster) that folklore can't see.

Worked example: 3,200 sq ft basement, L4, knockdown ceilings

Board: 100 sheets 4x8 delivered ≈ $1,450 (MR in bath, regular elsewhere).
Hang: crew at 32 sheets/day → 3.1 days × 2 × 8 hrs = 50 hrs × $58 loaded = $2,900.
Finish: L4 at ~1,000 sq ft/finisher-day → 3.2 days ≈ 26 hrs × $58 = $1,508 + mud/tape $260.
Texture: knockdown on 1,100 sq ft ceiling — 9 hrs + material ≈ $610.
Stairwell: your per-stairwell price — $350.
Protection/cleanup: 6 hrs + haul ≈ $420.
Direct ≈ $7,500. At 35% margin ÷ 0.65 ≈ $11,540 — about $2.20/sq ft hung, finished, textured.

What moves the number

L5 adds the skim pass (+30–50% on finishing). Chopped layouts drop hang production by a third. 4x12 board cuts joints and finishing time where access allows — quote the upgrade; it pays both parties. Remodel tie-ins to existing plaster are a condition tier, not your standard rate.

The discipline pair

Track production on three jobs — sheets per day, finish feet per day — and you own your rates. Divide for margin — cost × 1.35 is not 35%; check it on the free margin calculator. FieldSquire applies both automatically from a narrated walkthrough — the drywall estimating app is free for 14 days.
Try it on a real job: FieldSquire's Solo plan is free for 14 days with no credit card — unlimited manual estimates and AI-assisted drafts you review line by line. Start the free trial or see the drywall estimating app guide.