Drywall Installation Cost Breakdown Guide
The lines priced apart: board, hanging labor, tape-and-finish by level, texture, and removal.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
The lines, priced apart by frame
| Cost line | Frame A reading | Frame B reading |
|---|---|---|
| Board line | board rows at $0.55-$0.90 | materials $0.50-$0.80, board alone $0.30-$0.50 |
| Hanging labor line | installer labor $1-$2.10 | hanging alone $0.85-$1.90 |
| Hang-and-finish labor line | plaster-replacement page $1.50-$3.00 | $1.00-$2.70 |
| Tape-and-finish line | by finish level below | tape-and-mud $0.35-$1.10, finishing $0.85-$3.50 |
| Texture line | $1-$1.95 | $0.80-$2.00 |
| Removal line | paneling removal $0.50-$1 | old drywall $0.50-$2.50, plaster $1.25-$2.50 |
Each line prints only where its frame prints it, each apart. The job whole prices on the drywall installation hub.
The board line in full, priced apart
| Board line, as published | Frame | 2026 reading |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture-resistant / fire-resistant board materials | Frame A | $0.55-$0.70 / $0.55-$0.90 |
| Board alone, per sheet / per square foot | Frame B | $10-$20 / $0.30-$0.50 |
| Branded panel row / installed per sheet | Frame B | $12-$20 / $30-$70 |
Board rows print as price lines only, each as its frame prints it. Frame B prints hourly labor at $40 to $100 beside its lines.
The tape-and-finish line, priced by finish level as printed
| Finish level | Frame A, Los Angeles | Frame B |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | $0.80-$1.95 | $0.85-$1.90 |
| Level 1 / Level 2 | $1.50-$2 / $2-$4 | $1.15-$2.15 / $1.30-$2.60 |
| Level 3 | $2-$3.50 | $1.50-$2.75 |
| Level 4 | $3-$4.25 | $1.70-$3.20 |
| Level 5 | $2-$4.75 | $1.75-$3.50 |
The two finish tables are two frames' own countings of the same named levels, printed side by side and never merged: Frame A's table here is its Los Angeles table, Frame B's its national finish table. Frame A's national table spans $0.80-$3.50 from Level 0 to Level 5.
The removal line and the totals behind the lines
| Line or total, as published | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster removal and replacement total | Frame B | $2.75-$6 |
| Plaster-replacement project rate | Frame A | $3,000-$18,000 |
| Typical project / most homeowners | Frame A / Frame B | $1,000-$3,253 / $1,000-$3,000 |
| Room totals: 12-by-12 / bathroom / garage / basement | Frame B | $580-$1,800 / $300-$1,000 / $1,000-$3,900 / $1,500-$7,000 |
| House total, 2,000 square feet / Los Angeles 500-square-foot row | Frame B / Frame A | $8,000-$30,000 / $2,000-$4,500 |
The frames' bands overlap, and their rows are built differently -- a frame difference, named here and never averaged. Frame B also prints painting on new drywall at $1 to $3 per square foot as its own separate line -- a finish trade's line, named apart and never an installation row. The scopes behind these lines price on the by-scope guide.
Reading a breakdown quote
- Line named beside every figure
- Each line read on its own frame
Frequently asked questions
What is the board line in a drywall installation breakdown, as reported?
Frame B prints materials at $0.50 to $0.80 per square foot, board alone at $10 to $20 per sheet or $0.30 to $0.50, installed rows at $30 to $70 per sheet. Frame A prints its board rows -- moisture-resistant at $0.55 to $0.70, fire-resistant at $0.55 to $0.90 -- as price lines only.
What do the hanging and hang-and-finish labor lines print at, as reported?
Frame B prints hanging alone at $0.85 to $1.90 per square foot and hang-and-finish labor at $1.00 to $2.70. Frame A prints installer labor at $1 to $2.10, and installation labor at $1.50 to $3.00 on its plaster-replacement page.
What does the tape-and-finish line print at by finish level, as reported?
Frame A prints its Los Angeles levels: Level 0 at $0.80 to $1.95, Level 4 at $3 to $4.25, Level 5 at $2 to $4.75. Frame B prints Level 0 at $0.85 to $1.90, Level 4 at $1.70 to $3.20, Level 5 at $1.75 to $3.50, with tape-and-mud at $0.35 to $1.10. The tables stand apart.
What do the texture and removal lines print at, as reported?
Texture prints at $1 to $1.95 per square foot in Frame A and $0.80 to $2.00 in Frame B, on new board inside an installation ticket; texture-alone work is a separate purchase, named apart. Removal prints in Frame B at $0.50 to $2.50 for old drywall and $1.25 to $2.50 for plaster demolition, in Frame A at $0.50 to $1 for paneling.
Can the breakdown lines be added into one total?
No. Totals stand as printed -- Frame A at $1,000 to $3,253 for a typical project with Los Angeles rows at $400 to $900, $1,200 to $2,700, and $2,000 to $4,500, Frame B at $1,000 to $3,000 for most homeowners with a house at $8,000 to $30,000. Drywall repair, the ceiling-type comparison, plaster-and-lath, and painting or texture-alone work are separate purchases, named apart.