---
title: "Retainage calculator for drywall subcontractors (free) | TapeAndFloat"
url: https://tapeandfloat.com/retainage-calculator.html
language: en
author: James Grokman, CEO, TapeAndFloat
updated: 2026-10-29
---

# Retainage calculator for drywall subcontractors

**Retainage is the part of each progress payment the GC holds back until the job is finished. This free calculator takes your contract, approved change orders, progress, retainage percent and payments received and shows what you have earned, what is being held and what this pay app should ask for.**

By [James Grokman](https://tapeandfloat.com/about.html), CEO, TapeAndFloat · Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

Use the numbers from your own contract and pay apps. Nothing is pre-filled, there is no default retainage percent, and nothing you type leaves your browser. Free, no sign-up.

Check your contract and a lawyer for retainage rules in your state.

## The math, in plain words

  * **Contract to date** = original contract + approved change orders.
  * **Total earned to date** = work completed to date, or contract to date × percent complete.
  * **Retainage held to date** = total earned to date × retainage percent.
  * **Earned less retainage** = total earned to date − retainage held.
  * **Amount due this pay app** = earned less retainage − previous payments received.
  * **Balance to finish, including retainage** = contract to date − earned less retainage.
  * **Retainage to be released at completion** = contract to date × retainage percent (what is held once the whole contract is earned at the same percent).

## Use it with your pay apps

Put the same numbers on your pay app with the [free drywall pay application template (Excel + CSV, English/Spanish)](https://tapeandfloat.com/templates/drywall-pay-application-template.html) ([Excel](https://tapeandfloat.com/downloads/TapeAndFloat_Drywall_Pay_Application.xlsx), [CSV](https://tapeandfloat.com/downloads/TapeAndFloat_Drywall_Pay_Application_Solicitud_de_Pago.csv)), and track retainage held on every job in the [free drywall payment tracker](https://tapeandfloat.com/templates/drywall-payment-tracker-template.html). When your scope is done, ask for it with the [free retainage release request letter](https://tapeandfloat.com/templates/drywall-retainage-release-request-template.html). What the words mean: [retainage](https://tapeandfloat.com/glossary/retainage.html) and [retainage release](https://tapeandfloat.com/glossary/retainage-release.html). For how retainage works on drywall jobs in Texas, read [Drywall retainage in Texas](https://tapeandfloat.com/blog/drywall-retainage-texas.html). More free tools: [all free drywall office templates](https://tapeandfloat.com/templates/) and the [unbilled change order calculator](https://tapeandfloat.com/unbilled-change-order-calculator.html).

## Frequently asked questions

**What is retainage on a drywall job?** Retainage (also called retention) is a share of each progress payment that the GC or owner holds back until the work is finished and accepted. The percent and the release terms come from your contract.

**Should I use percent complete or dollars completed?** Use whichever your pay app uses. If you fill in work completed to date in dollars, the calculator uses that and ignores the percent box. Percent complete is applied to the contract plus approved change orders.

**Why is the amount due negative?** Previous payments received are more than what you have earned less retainage. Check that the previous payments and the progress number match your last pay app.

**Does this calculator know my state's retainage rules?** No. It only does the math on the numbers you type. Nothing is pre-filled and nothing you enter leaves your browser. Check your contract and a lawyer for retainage rules in your state.

Want help keeping up with pay apps and retainage? TapeAndFloat reads the texts and emails you forward and flags pay apps, past-due invoices and retainage to follow up on, for you to review. [Join the free 60-day pilot](https://tapeandfloat.com/office-assistant.html#pilot).

En español: [Calculadora de retención](https://tapeandfloat.com/es/calculadora-retencion.html).