Drywall finishing material estimator

Drywall Corner Bead Calculator

Estimate drywall corner bead sticks, outside-corner footage, joint compound pails, waste, and rough finishing material cost from corner count, corner height, stock length, and compound coverage.

Units

Outside corners Corner height (ft)Corner bead stock length (ft)Waste / cuts (%)Compound coverage per pail (ft)Cost per bead stick ($)Cost per compound pail ($)

Corner bead sticks

Order length

Compound pails

Rough cost

Corner bead type affects the real count

This calculator estimates outside-corner bead and finishing compound only. Bullnose, archway bead, off-angle corners, reveal bead, vinyl or metal bead, corner damage, drywall level of finish, and installer preference can change the order.

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Drywall corner bead formula

Measured corner length = outside corners × corner height

Order length = measured length × (1 + waste %)

Corner bead sticks = order length ÷ stock length

Compound pails = order length ÷ compound coverage

Sample takeoff

Eight 8 ft outside corners with 10% waste and 10 ft bead sticks need about eight sticks of corner bead and one pail of compound at 150 ft coverage.Eight 2.4 m outside corners with 10% waste and 3 m bead sticks need about eight sticks of corner bead and one pail of compound at 45 m coverage.

Drywall Corner Bead Calculator FAQ

How do I calculate drywall corner bead?+

Multiply outside-corner count by corner height, add waste for cuts and damaged pieces, then divide by stock stick length.Multiply outside-corner count by corner height, add waste for cuts and damaged pieces, then divide by stock stick length.

Does this include inside corners?+

No. Inside corners are usually finished with tape and compound. This page estimates outside corner bead sticks.No. Inside corners are usually finished with tape and compound. This page estimates outside corner bead sticks.

How much compound should I allow?+

Use the pail coverage as a planning allowance. Finish level, corner type, coats, and installer technique can change compound use.Use the pail coverage as a planning allowance. Finish level, corner type, coats, and installer technique can change compound use.