Drywall paperwork, done properly

Drywall bids hinge on a number most customers have never heard of: the finish level. Level 3 is fine behind texture and looks terrible under a flat sheen; Level 5 costs substantially more and is what you need for raking light. Put the level on the estimate, name the texture, and on repairs be explicit that matching existing texture is an attempt rather than a guarantee — because that is the callback that costs the most to argue about.

Pick your document

  • Drywall estimate

    An estimate is your best professional judgment of what a job will cost, given before the work starts.

  • Drywall quote

    A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope of work — the number does not move unless the scope does.

  • Drywall invoice

    An invoice is the request for payment once the work is done — the document that actually gets you paid.

What belongs on drywall contractor paperwork

  • Finish level (3, 4 or 5) with a plain-language note on what each means
  • Texture type by name — knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel, or smooth
  • Whether priming is included, since Level 5 effectively requires it
  • On repairs: that texture and paint matching is best-effort, not guaranteed
  • Dust control and containment, and whether the customer expects a clean house
  • Corner bead type, and whether existing walls are square enough for it

How drywall contractors price work

New work prices per square foot of board hung, taped and finished, with the finish level as the main multiplier. Repairs price by the patch or by the hour, and small patches are expensive per square foot because mobilisation, multiple coats and return trips dominate. Charging a minimum for repair calls is standard — three coats with dry time is a three-visit job whether the hole is a foot wide or a room is.

The builder ships with 12 drywall line items to start from, grouped into 2 sections. Edit the rates once and they save to your own price book.

Open the Drywall builder

Questions

What drywall finish level should I quote?
Level 4 is the residential default under texture or flat paint. Level 5 — a skim coat over the whole surface — is what you need for gloss, dark colors or walls in raking light, and it costs meaningfully more. Put the level on the estimate: it is the difference between a fair bid and a cheap one, and it is invisible until the paint is on.
Can you guarantee a texture match on a repair?
Not honestly. Texture is applied by hand and ages with the paint, so a patch can be very close and still visible in the right light. Say so on the estimate, and offer the alternative — retexturing the full wall or to the nearest corner — as a priced option. Customers accept this readily when told beforehand.
Why is a small drywall repair so expensive per square foot?
Because the cost is trips, not area. Tape, two or three coats and texture each need dry time, so a one-foot patch and a full wall can both be three visits. A stated minimum charge on the estimate makes that legible rather than looking like padding.