What Size Drywall For Garage?

You might be planning on renovating your garage by installing drywall or replacing the existing drywall. But do you already know the size of the drywall that you will need? If not, then you've come to the right place. In this article, we have researched and asked the experts what size is appropriate for your garage. This is what we found out. 

The size of the drywall needed for your garage will depend on the size of your garage. But the most common drywall size available in stores is 4 x 8 (four feet wide, eight feet long). Drywall is also measured in thickness. When getting the appropriate one for your garage, the standard size for this is 1/2 inch or 12.7mm drywall panels.

Continue reading as we discuss drywall sizes below in more detail. We will be providing some vital information to help you gear up for that garage renovation that you have been itching to do. At the end of this post, we will suggest some cool and informative articles that we think could pique your interest. So what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

Prepared drywall and material for renovation, What Size Drywall For Garage?

Choosing the best drywall size is essential when you are planning to put it in your garage. It is one of the best choices of materials for creating walls and ceilings. Drywall is significantly lighter and quicker to install compared to cement walls and ceilings. It is also easier to repair when damaged.  

Ultimately, it will boil down to the type of drywalling you will be doing. There are different sizes according to what type of wall will be done. Some drywall is longer, while some is wider. 

This could be very tedious, especially if you do not have prior knowledge when it comes to carpentry. To save you time, you could always hire professional services to do this job for you.

They will be the ones to come up with the proper sizing, material, and method of installing drywall in your garage. But if you insist on doing it on your own, it is very possible, especially because we are here to help you. 

Stacking of white gypsum panels, drywall or plasterboard

Drywall Sizing

When choosing drywall sizes, there are thickness, length, and width. For the length and width, these are the standard available sizes that you can find in most hardware stores:

  • 4ft x 8ft (most common size available; it is also the most used)
  • 4ft x 12ft or 16 ft (these are perfect for tall or long walls)
  • 2ft x 2ft (usually used for patching or preparing broken drywall)

Do take note that this is read as four feet wide and eight feet long. This means that the first number measures the width of the panel and the second one measures how tall it is if you position it vertically.

For the thickness, below are the standard measurements that you will encounter when shopping for drywall.

  • 1/2 inch (the standard thickness for drywall; also the most common)
  • 1/4 inch (great for placing over existing walls or even ceilings)
  • 5/8 inch 
  • 3/8 inch

It is worth remembering that the given measurements above are standard sizes and what you will usually see in hardware stores across the country, especially if you go to bigger stores like Lowe's, Ace Hardware, and Home Depot.

With that being said, it is possible to encounter other measurements in local hardware stores, so make sure that you check their dimensions before purchasing. 

Tips On Buying Drywall

Getting a bigger panel would also be better in the sense that you could always cut it. Since drywall is usually made of plywood, asbestos, and gypsum, it are fairly easy to cut with a saw. 

We also recommend that you buy your drywall in physical stores and not online stores to make sure that you see the quality of the material and have a sense of its actual dimension. 

Before buying, ensure you have already taken the measurements of where you will be placing the drywall to know which size you should buy. Proper hardware stores will have staff that will assist you in purchasing such materials. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it. 

a man in a hardware store buys drywall for building a house

Yes, you can use regular drywall in your garage. But there are some things you have to consider. Standard panels are usually constructed to not be moisture resistant. This means that it is not ideal to be placed in a room with an air system.

This is because it can easily develop mold and weaken its integrity due to moisture, as these types of panels are reinforced with paper coating.  

Upgrading your garage to drywall entails a lot of benefits. Some of these upgrades can literally save your life, while some help improve the overall aesthetics and raise the property's value. Below is a list of what drywalling your garage will do to it.

Better Lighting

Because of the bright white surfaces that most drywall naturally has, it is great for improving the lighting and visibility of a room. If you are on a budget but want a bright ambiance in your garage, using drywall is one way to cut the cost down, as this eliminates the need for painting it. 

Improved Resale Value

If you are trying to remodel your garage to raise its appraisal value on the market, then adding drywall will help with that. Drywall helps raise the value of your house by adding aesthetics to it. The clean look of freshly installed drywall will surely make your garage attractive to potential buyers. 

Fireproofing

A lot of people do not know that drywall is highly fire resistant. This is due to the composition of gypsum, which has crystallized moisture in it. This is also one reason why drywall improves the value of a property. It not only boosts the overall aesthetics but also adds safety features like fire resistance. 

It is also perfect in places like your garage, especially if you have a lot of power tools that could potentially be fire hazards. Vehicle oils, such as transmission fluids, engine oils, etc., are stored in your garage, so having them in a fire-resistant space is essential for your safety.

Noise Reduction

Drywall is also great at suppressing sound, which makes it great for creating a noise reduction in the room. However, it will not make your garage completely soundproof. But if you plan to go down that path, outfitting it with drywall will help, along with other soundproofing methods. 

The main reason that you might want your garage to be soundproof is to avoid noise complaints from neighbors, especially if you are working with loud power tools.

Is It Better To Hang Drywall Vertically Or Horizontally?

a house interior under renovation works

Hanging drywall vertically or horizontally has a lot to do with fire codes. It is recommended to have a minimum standard thickness of 1/2" of a wall between an attached garage and the house living area.

Meanwhile, fire codes on commercial buildings will often dictate that drywall be hung vertically for the seams to fall on the entire frame length.

So it will ultimately depend on whether you will install the drywall in a residential or commercial building. Such fire codes are more strictly implemented in commercial ones, as they are more often inspected. But this does not mean that we should not follow this protocol in our residential houses.

Codes like this were established for a primary reason—to maintain everyone's safety. We must understand and follow such laws to avoid any accidents that may cause damage to property or, even worse—loss of life.

How Much Does Drywall Cost?

Typically, you can expect a standard drywall panel measuring 4 x 8 to cost around $15, but in some stores, prices may vary from $12-$20. If you plan on also hiring professional services such as construction companies and contractors, you can expect to pay $900 to nearly $3,000.

Of course, these are all estimations. The smaller the wall that will be worked on, the cheaper. Other factors such as location, design, and how big the project will be should also be included. If you also need to do plumbing, electricity, and HVAC, you can expect the price to go above $3,000.

What Is The Difference Between Sheetrock And Drywall?

New Construction of DrywallPlasterboard Garage Ready for Paint

Sheetrock and drywall are the same. Sheetrock is actually a brand that makes drywall. These two terms are sometimes interchanged due to the popularity of Sheetrock. 

In Review

Prepared drywall and material for renovation

Choosing the right drywall size will depend on how big your garage is and what type of wall you will be building. There are standard sizes for drywall, while some sizes are used for more specific purposes, like patching a hole.

You can get many benefits from drywalling your garages, such as fireproofing, sound reduction, a rise in property value, and many more.

You can always hire professionals to do the work for you. This is especially true if you will be having plumbing and HVAC system installation in it, which could be hard work. 

Below are some of our previously written articles that we suggest you look at:

Why Does My Drywall Keep Cracking? [And What To Do About It]

Should You Paint Drywall Behind Cabinets?

Does Ceiling Drywall Need To Be Staggered?

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