Drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot nationally in 2025-2026, including materials and labor, according to HomeGuide. A typical 12×12 room runs $580 to $1,800, while a whole 2,000-square-foot house can reach $8,000 to $30,000. New Orleans projects often land higher within these ranges because humidity calls for moisture-resistant board and extra finishing care.
Pricing a drywall project feels confusing because quotes vary so much from one contractor to the next. Square footage, board type, ceiling height, and finish level all move the number. In South Louisiana, humidity and storm repairs add local factors that national cost guides often skip.
This guide breaks down what drywall installation costs in the New Orleans area and why. The numbers come from published 2024-2026 industry sources, not guesses. TurnKey Sheetrock, a drywall contractor serving New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, and the Northshore, offers free on-site estimates, so you can check these ranges against a real quote for your home.
One note before the numbers. Every figure below is industry data, not a price list from any single company. Your actual quote depends on your walls, your timeline, and your finish choices.
Nationally, drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot with labor and materials included, per HomeGuide’s 2026 pricing data. That works out to roughly $30 to $70 per installed sheet. Most homeowners spend $1,000 to $3,000 on a full project.
Labor is the biggest slice. Hanging alone runs $0.85 to $1.90 per square foot, and taping and mudding adds $0.35 to $1.10 more. Ceilings cost extra, usually $1.50 to $3.80 per square foot, because overhead work is slower and harder on the crew.
Materials are the smaller share. A standard half-inch sheet of gypsum board, including the well-known USG Sheetrock brand, typically retails for $12 to $17. Specialty panels cost more, which matters in this region, as covered below.
Labor in Louisiana runs below the national average, which helps your budget. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2024 put the mean wage for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the Baton Rouge metro at $17.53 per hour. Crews in high-cost coastal states earn far more, and those wages show up in quotes.
Local conditions push costs the other way. Gulf humidity means many contractors recommend moisture-resistant board in more rooms than a Midwest builder would. After a hurricane or flood, demand spikes, materials get scarce, and prices climb across the metro.
Historic housing adds another wrinkle. Shotgun houses and Uptown cottages often have plaster walls, uneven studs, and 10 to 12 foot ceilings. Matching new gypsum board to old plaster takes skill and time, so expect quotes above the national midpoint for these homes. Getting the surface ready matters too, and this guide on how to prepare a wall for drywall installation explains what good prep looks like.
A standard 12×12 bedroom costs $580 to $1,800 to drywall, based on HomeGuide’s 2026 figures. That covers hanging, taping, mudding, and sanding the walls. Add the ceiling and the total rises.
Whole-house numbers scale up fast. Drywalling a 2,000-square-foot house runs $8,000 to $30,000 depending on ceiling type, finish level, and layout. Open floor plans with tall ceilings sit at the high end. Simple single-story layouts with 8-foot ceilings sit near the bottom.
Garages, additions, and basements fall in between. A single-car garage might need 400 to 500 square feet of board, so budget $1,000 to $2,500 installed. If you want an exact figure for your square footage, a site visit beats any online calculator. The drywall installation service page explains how a walkthrough and measurement turn into a firm written quote.
Moisture-resistant greenboard costs about 20 percent more than standard drywall, typically $12 to $20 per panel per 2025 Angi data. Mold-resistant purple board and fiberglass-faced panels cost more still. In most of the country, these boards go only in bathrooms.
New Orleans is different. Average humidity stays high most of the year, and summer dew points regularly sit in the 70s. Kitchens, laundry rooms, and exterior walls all benefit from upgraded board here. Spending a few hundred dollars extra on panels can prevent thousands in mold remediation later.
Upgraded board also protects your finish work. Damp gypsum swells, tape lifts, and joints crack, and repairs cost real money. Watch for early warning signs using this drywall repair signs guide so small problems stay small.
Finish level is the big one people miss. A Level 4 finish is the standard for painted walls. A Level 5 finish adds a thin skim coat over the entire surface and can add $0.50 to $1.00 or more per square foot. Glossy paint and strong side lighting make Level 5 worth it.
Height and access matter too. Stairwells, vaulted ceilings, and second-floor rooms need scaffolding or lifts, which adds labor hours. Custom work such as archways, curved walls, and decorative ceilings takes more cuts and more finishing passes. Those details fall under drywall finishes, and they price differently than flat walls.
Demolition changes the math as well. Tearing out old plaster or water-damaged board, hauling debris, and fixing hidden framing can add $1 to $3 per square foot before any new board goes up. Commercial specs like steel stud framing or fire-rated shaft wall assemblies follow their own pricing entirely.
Get a written, itemized quote before anyone hangs a sheet. It should list square footage, board type, finish level, and cleanup. Vague one-line bids invite change orders later.
Bundle work when you can. Doing three rooms in one visit costs less per square foot than three separate jobs, since setup and cleanup happen once. Scheduling outside post-storm rush periods also helps, because demand pricing is real in this market.
Protect the investment after the crew leaves. Control indoor humidity, run exhaust fans, and touch up nail pops early. These simple habits from this piece on how to maintain drywall in your home stretch the life of your walls. For a deeper routine, see these drywall longevity and durability tips as well. Walls that last decades make the installed price a bargain.
Drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot nationally, including labor and materials, per 2026 HomeGuide data. Ceilings run higher, at $1.50 to $3.80 per square foot. New Orleans quotes vary with board type and finish level.
Labor tends to cost less, since BLS data from May 2024 shows Louisiana drywall installers earning below national coastal-market wages. However, moisture-resistant materials and storm-driven demand can offset those savings. Most local projects still land inside national ranges.
Expect $580 to $1,800 for a standard 12×12 room, based on 2026 industry figures. The final number depends on ceiling work, board type, and finish level. An on-site measurement gives you an exact price.
Yes, in most rooms it is worth the roughly 20 percent premium over standard board. Gulf humidity stresses ordinary gypsum panels year-round, not just in bathrooms. Upgraded board resists sagging, mold, and joint failure.
Level 4 is the standard finish for most painted walls, while Level 5 adds a full skim coat for a flatter surface. Level 5 costs more per square foot but hides imperfections under gloss paint and raking light. Large open rooms with big windows usually justify it.
No, estimates are free with no obligation. A crew member visits your property, measures the space, and provides a written quote. Call to schedule a visit anywhere in the greater New Orleans area.
Ready for a real number instead of a range? Reach out through the contact page or call (504) 285-7483 for a free drywall installation estimate anywhere from Kenner to Slidell to Baton Rouge.
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