Cost of Plasterboard Installation

Want to find out how much drywalling (or plasterboard) costs?

The average cost for installing drywall will be anywhere between £540 and £920.

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This guide covers everything you need to know about the cost of drywalling a house.

How Much Does It Cost To Fit Drywall?

The concept of drywalling or plasterboarding your house, rather than having a more traditional wet plaster applied to each room, has become increasingly popular in the UK.

Drywall is also known as plasterboard (sometimes referred to as wallboard or gypsum board), is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) with or without additives, that's usually encased between two outer layers of paper. These drywalls are used in the construction of interior walls and ceilings.

One of the benefits drywall has over plastering is the fact it's a much quicker process to install, which generally makes it the cheaper option. Drywalling can also help to reduce noise when combined with materials that provide additional insulation. Drywalling a house also offers some fire–resistant properties, due to water naturally present in the gypsum crystals within the boards.

For these reasons, the process is becoming and increasingly popular alternative to the traditional method of plastering an indoor wall. The average cost of drywalling a fairly standard 12-foot square room can vary between £540 and £920 (materials and labour included) depending on the thickness of the panel and the finish required.

You can also paint the walls as soon as they've been installed, rather than having to wait for the plaster to dry out first.

It's recommended to get up to 3 quotes to get the best price for drywalling your home. MyJobQuote has plenty of plasterers or renderers that can help with a variety of similar jobs in your home.

Drywall Prices

Factors Affecting Drywalling Costs

Plasterboard (drywall) installation quotes can vary a lot from one home to another. The list below highlights the main factors that affect plasterboard installation cost and explains why two similar sized rooms can sit at different points within the typical £540 to £920 range for a standard room.

• Room size and layout — Larger rooms with more wall and ceiling area simply need more boards and labour, so a small bedroom might cost around £500 to £800 while a bigger living room could be £800 to £1,400 or more. Awkward layouts with high ceilings, sloping ceilings, alcoves or lots of cutting around windows and doors can easily add 10% to 20% to the overall plasterboard cost for that room.
• Type of plasterboard — Standard boards sit at the lower end of typical plasterboard installation cost per m², often around £10 to £18 per m² including labour, while moisture‑resistant, fire‑rated or acoustic plasterboard usually adds around £3 to £6 per m² on top. On a 20 m² bathroom or partition wall, upgrading to moisture‑resistant or fire‑rated boards could therefore add roughly £60 to £120 to the total price.
• Finish level — A simple tape and joint finish is usually the cheapest, but asking for a full skim coat or a very high Level finish can push labour up, often adding another £4 to £8 per m². That could move a straightforward bedroom from the lower end of the £540 to £920 range towards the higher end if you want perfectly smooth, paint‑ready walls and ceilings.
• Access and site conditions — Working in an empty, easy‑to‑access room is quicker and cheaper than plasterboarding in a fully furnished space, a top‑floor flat with no lift or a property with limited parking or difficult staircases. Extra time for bringing boards in, protecting floors and moving furniture can add a half day or more to the job, which may mean an extra £100 to £250 on the total labour cost.
• Location and local labour rates — Labour costs for drywall and plasterboard are generally higher in major cities and high‑cost areas than in smaller towns and rural locations. A plasterboard installer’s day rate that might be around £180 to £250 in many areas can sit towards the top of that band or slightly higher in city centres, pushing up the total cost of a full house from roughly £4,500 to £7,500 towards the upper end of that range.
• Preparation work and extras — Removing old plaster or damaged boards, fixing framing, adding insulation behind the boards or installing fire‑stopping and access panels will all increase the price. As a rough guide, stripping back and preparing a tired room can easily add £150 to £400 to the quote, or an extra £3 to £8 per m² where significant preparation or upgrades are needed.

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Things to Consider When Drywalling a House

Once you have an idea of typical plasterboard costs, it is worth thinking about the practical details that can affect both price and the quality of the finish.

• Decide which rooms need special boards — Bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms may need moisture‑resistant plasterboard, while some walls and ceilings will require fire‑rated or acoustic boards to meet Building Regulations, which can add a few pounds per m² compared to standard boards.
• Confirm the finish you want — Ask your installer whether the quote includes basic tape and joint, a full skim coat or a higher Level 5 finish, as higher finishes take longer and can move a room towards the top end of the typical £540 to £920 range.
• Plan for preparation and access — Let the contractor know if old plaster needs to be removed, if furniture must be moved or protected, or if access and parking are difficult, as this can add extra labour time and cost.
• Check what is included in the quote — A detailed plasterboard quote should list the board types and thicknesses, taping and jointing, any skimming, waste removal and making good, so you can compare prices like‑for‑like between companies.
• Coordinate with other trades — It is usually best to complete first‑fix electrics and plumbing before plasterboarding, and to book painters after the boards have been taped and sanded, to avoid extra visits and delays.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Most internal plasterboard and drywall projects do not need planning permission, but building regulations will usually apply if you are building new internal walls, removing walls or changing how spaces are used.

Planning Permission for Internal Walls

Re-boarding existing walls and ceilings or adding simple stud partitions inside a home is normally classed as internal alteration and does not require planning permission. However, you may need consent if your home is listed or in a conservation area. It is always worth checking with your local planning authority or the Planning Portal guidance on internal walls before starting work.

When Building Regulations Apply

Building regulations approval is generally needed if you build a new internal wall, remove an existing wall or create a new opening, especially where the wall is load bearing or forms part of a fire escape route or sound insulating partition between rooms or dwellings.

In England and Wales this work is typically checked against the Building Regulations 2010, including Approved Document A (Structure), Approved Document B (Fire safety) and Approved Document E (Resistance to sound).

In particular, you may need:

• Fire-resistant plasterboard — Certain walls and ceilings, such as those between an attached garage and the house or on escape routes like stairwells, often need to achieve a specific period of fire resistance, which is usually met with fire‑rated plasterboard systems. Using fire‑resistant boards and extra layers can add a few pounds per m² to your plasterboard installation cost but is important for safety and compliance.
• Acoustic and moisture-resistant boards — Bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms commonly use moisture‑resistant plasterboard, while party walls, separating walls and some bedroom or living room partitions may need acoustic plasterboard or additional layers to meet sound insulation guidance. These performance boards typically cost more than standard plasterboard, so they can push a project towards the higher end of the price ranges shown earlier.

A qualified plasterboard or drywall installer can advise which board types and wall or ceiling constructions are suitable for your project and what approvals are required. This helps you avoid failed inspections or costly remedial work if the wrong products or build‑ups are used.

Doing it Yourself

Drywall is a fairly easy material to use and is relatively inexpensive to purchase, so any mistakes you make won’t cost an arm and a leg.

However, it is very heavy work and if you don’t hang the drywall correctly, a neat and smooth finish will never be achieved. Each sheet of drywall needs to be ‘taped’ to secure it after hanging.

This is a skilled job that sees up to three layers of taping compound being applied to seams and corners to cover all the joints and fasteners. This is one of the main reasons why it is advisable to search out a professional for the job rather than attempt this yourself.

An average drywall panel can be heavy, measuring 2.4m x 1.2m and each weighing around 25–30kg (possibly more for fire-rated or acoustic boards). As such, you may well need another pair of hands or the need to hire a drywall hoist.

This will obviously add to the cost of the job, whereas a drywall specialist will already have the tools and machinery required. They will also have experience of using the machinery and the ability to work efficiently, while creating as little mess as possible along the way.

Checklist: Hiring a Drywall Specialist

Consider these key points before hiring a drywall professional:

• Are they insured for their work? While not a legal requirement, having public liability insurance covers against any accidental damage or injury. Likewise, with any tradesmen you should check the drywalling comes with a guarantee in the event of any unforeseen issues.
• Have you gathered at least three quotes? Find a professional company via MyJobQuote and remember to follow the golden rule of getting a minimum of three quotes before choosing the tradesmen you wish to hire.
• What’s included in the quote? Before deciding, double check exactly what the price includes, if unsure ask for the quote to be broken down into separate lines. It should then be clear whether the likes of taping, delivery of materials, and waste removal are all included.
• Do they have examples of similar work? Look for before and after photos of previous drywall jobs, check their MyJobQuote profile or ask friends and family for recommendations so you can gauge the quality of their work before agreeing to give them the go ahead.
• Do they have positive reviews? Check feedback from other homeowners on MyJobQuote to see if previous clients were satisfied with the workmanship and professionalism of your chosen drywall specialist.

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