Drywall estimate template

Download the Drywall estimate template

The same sample document in two formats. The PDF is what a finished estimate looks like; the spreadsheet has live formulas, so change a quantity or a rate and the totals follow.

No signup, no email, no watermark. Sample figures — edit everything. Opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

See this estimate filled in, in the builder — the same sample, editable.

What a Drywall estimate needs on it

Estimate repairs, always. Water damage that runs further than the stain, a texture nobody can match, and framing behind the hole that has to be repaired first are all discovered rather than predicted. Price the visible patch and state that the scope may extend once the wall is opened.

• Finish level (3, 4 or 5) with a plain-language note on what each means
• On repairs: that texture and paint matching is best-effort, not guaranteed
• Whether debris haul-off is included, which on a tear-out is a real load
• Dust control and containment, and whether the customer expects a clean house
• A stated minimum for repair calls, since a small patch is still a three-visit job

And what every estimate needs

Use an estimate when the scope is clear but the final number can still move — concealed damage, a substrate you cannot see until demo, or material prices that change between bid and start date.

• An expiry date, so a months-old number cannot be held against you
• Scope written plainly enough that a homeowner knows what is excluded
• A deposit or payment schedule if you need money before mobilising
• A signature line, so acceptance is recorded rather than remembered

Drywall line items included in this template

These load into the builder ready to edit. Prices are starting points, not our opinion of what you should charge — set your own and they save to your price book.

Rates are illustrative US figures and vary widely by market. Price your own work.

Questions

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.

How do I estimate a repair when I do not know how far the damage goes?

Price the visible patch and state that scope may extend once the wall is opened. Water damage that runs further than the stain, framing that has to be repaired first, and insulation that has to come out are all discovered rather than predicted. Give each a unit rate so the extension is priced, not negotiated.