How Many Sheets of Plasterboard Do I Need for a Room?
Standard 2400 × 1200mm (8×4ft) sheets, 2.4m walls, one door and one window.
Page last reviewed 26 October 2026 by the UkToolCalc team
A 4 × 3m room needs about 12 sheets of 2400 × 1200mm plasterboard for the walls, and 5 more for the ceiling: 17 sheets in all, with 10% extra for cuts.
A 2400 × 1200mm sheet covers 2.88m². A 2400 × 900mm sheet covers 2.16m², and the smaller 1800 × 900mm sheet 1.62m², which is easier to carry and to lift onto a ceiling alone.
What thickness of plasterboard should I use?
12.5mm is standard for walls and for ceilings with joists up to 450mm apart. Use 15mm for ceilings with joists at 600mm, and fire-rated or moisture-resistant board where the rules or the room need it.
How many screws per sheet of plasterboard?
About 36 screws for a 2400 × 1200mm sheet, at roughly 230mm centres on walls and 150mm on ceilings.
