Drywall repair cost calculator with sheet and mud estimator
Short answer: This drywall repair cost calculator uses our published prices: $125 to $250 per small patch, $225 to $450 per medium repair, $450 to $900 for ceiling or textured repairs and $150 to $450 per crack. It adds the $110 to $210 minimum and trip charge, and a second tool counts sheets and joint compound.
Last verified: October 2026
Drywall pricing is easier to predict by the repair than by the hour. A dent and a two-foot ceiling patch can both look small, but one takes twenty minutes and the other needs texture matching and a second visit for another coat. The calculator below groups repairs the same way we price them. If you are hanging new board instead, scroll to the sheet and mud estimator.
Drywall repair cost calculator
| Line item | Estimate |
|---|
Turn the estimate into a written quote. Send the address, your calculator numbers and a few photos. We reply with a written scope and price, and a certificate of insurance if you need one. Prefer the phone? Call or text +1 818-835-0556.
How much does drywall repair cost per patch?
With The Handy Geeks, a small drywall patch costs $125 to $250, a medium repair $225 to $450 and a ceiling or textured repair $450 to $900. A single crack runs $150 to $450 from patch through repaint. Texture matching, not hole size, pushes a repair into the top band.
| Repair | What it usually is | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| Small patch | Nail pops, anchor holes from removed shelves or monitors, small dents | $125 to $250 |
| Medium repair | Doorknob or fist-sized holes that need a backer or California patch | $225 to $450 |
| Ceiling or textured wall | Overhead work or orange-peel and knockdown texture that has to disappear | $450 to $900 |
| Crack | Taped, filled, textured and repainted so it does not show | $150 to $450 |
| Minimum visit | Floor for small jobs | $110 to $210 |
| Trip charge | Distance and parking | $20 to $95 |
For offices and stores, commercial drywall work is billed at $105 to $195 an hour in Los Angeles, and the bands above show what typical repairs come to. The cheapest way to buy drywall repair is to batch it: one visit for every ding in the suite carries one minimum and one trip charge. Our California drywall repair cost guide explains each band in detail, and the drywall crack repair guide covers when a crack points to a bigger problem.
Drywall sheet and joint compound estimator
For new board on a wall or ceiling. Enter the room size; the estimator counts sheets and ready-mix joint compound.
How do you calculate how much drywall you need?
Multiply the room’s perimeter by the wall height, add the ceiling area if you are boarding it, subtract doors and windows, then divide by the sheet size. Add about 10 percent for cutting waste and round up to whole sheets.
A 12 by 10 foot room with 8 foot walls has 352 square feet of wall. Take off one door at 21 square feet and you have 331 square feet, or 12 sheets of 4 by 8 board after a 10 percent waste allowance. Larger 4 by 12 sheets mean fewer seams to tape, which saves finishing time, but they need two people to carry and hang. For joint compound, USG says about two 4.5 gallon pails of its UltraLightweight all purpose compound finish 1,000 square feet of wallboard, and the estimator uses that ratio.
When is drywall repair a DIY job?
Nail pops and pinholes are DIY: spackle, sand, prime and paint. Anything bigger than a fist, on a ceiling or in a textured wall usually costs more in wasted materials and redo time than one professional visit.
The patch itself is quick. The skill is in feathering compound wide enough that it does not show through paint and blending texture so there is no halo around the repair. In a store or office that also has to happen around customers and staff, which is why many of our commercial patch jobs are booked before opening. If the drywall is wet or stained, fix the leak first. Our ceiling water stain guide explains the order of work.
Who does the work?
Drywall and paint repairs are among the most common jobs our crews handle for retail and office clients, run under CEO Bernard Toth from our office at 6020 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles. For brands such as Chanel, Pandora, AMIRI, Lovisa and MOSCOT, that typically means patching anchor holes after fixture and display changes, repairing corners chipped by carts and closing access holes left by other trades, then repainting to match before the store opens. We carry $2M in general liability.
Drywall repair cost calculator FAQ
How much does it cost to patch a hole in drywall?
With us, a small patch costs $125 to $250 and a doorknob or fist-sized hole costs $225 to $450. Most small jobs are subject to our $110 to $210 minimum visit, so several patches in one visit cost little more than one.
Why does ceiling drywall repair cost more?
Ceiling work is done overhead and the texture has to blend into the whole ceiling, so it takes more time and skill. Ceiling and textured repairs run $450 to $900 each.
How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 12 by 12 room?
With 8 foot walls, a 12 by 12 room has 384 square feet of wall. That is 12 sheets of 4 by 8 board before subtracting openings, or 14 with a 10 percent waste allowance. Add 5 more sheets if you are also boarding the ceiling.
How much joint compound do I need?
USG puts it at about two 4.5 gallon pails of its UltraLightweight all purpose compound per 1,000 square feet of wallboard, roughly 9 gallons.
Does after-hours drywall work cost more?
Yes. Work before opening or after close bills at 1.25 to 1.6 times standard.
Other calculators
- Office renovation cost calculator: price a full office refresh, from painting to door closers.
- TV and display mounting height calculator: find the right height for screens in offices, lobbies and stores.
Need it fixed? Request a written quote or call +1 818-835-0556.
Repair prices are The Handy Geeks’ published 2026 ranges. Joint compound coverage is from USG’s published guidance. Reviewed by The Handy Geeks operations team, October 2026.