TapeAndFloat.comFree drywall estimate template
By James Grokman, CEO, TapeAndFloat · Updated 2026-10-28
A drywall estimate is a written price for a job: what areas you will hang and finish, which board and finish level, the quantities, your price and your terms. Below is a free template you can copy or download as a CSV and open in Google Sheets or Excel.
This template has no prices in it. You add your own. Any numbers shown are example data so you can see how a row is filled in; they are not pricing advice.
The template
Download the CSV (opens in Google Sheets, Excel or Numbers; no sign-up).
| Section | Field | Example data (not real pricing) | Your entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Header | Company / phone / email | Example Drywall Co. | |
| Header | Estimate # | EST-0001 (example) | |
| Header | Date / valid until | [date] / [date] | |
| Customer | Name / company | Example GC | |
| Customer | Job name / address | Example job, 123 Sample St | |
| Scope | Areas included | Example: 3 bedrooms, hall, garage | |
| Scope | Board type & thickness | Example: 1/2 in. regular; 5/8 in. Type X garage ceiling | |
| Scope | Finish level | Example: Level 4 walls, Level 3 under texture | |
| Scope | Texture | Example: orange peel / none | |
| Quantities | Board area (sq ft) | Example: 4,800 | |
| Quantities | Waste allowance (%) | Example: 10 | |
| Quantities | Sheets (count, size) | Example: 110 x 4x12 | |
| Quantities | Joint compound (boxes/bags) | [from your takeoff] | |
| Quantities | Tape (rolls) | [from your takeoff] | |
| Quantities | Corner bead / trim (pcs) | [from your takeoff] | |
| Quantities | Screws (boxes) | [from your takeoff] | |
| Pricing | Materials subtotal | [your price] | |
| Pricing | Hang labor | [your price] | |
| Pricing | Finish labor | [your price] | |
| Pricing | Extras (height, access, haul-off) | [your price] | |
| Pricing | Overhead & profit | [your price] | |
| Pricing | Estimate total | [your price] | |
| Terms | Exclusions | Example: framing repair, paint, permits | |
| Terms | Payment terms | [your terms] | |
| Terms | Changes | Changes to scope by written change order | |
| Sign-off | Accepted by / date |
How to fill it in
- Header. Give every estimate its own number so you can match it to the job, the bid follow-up and any later change order.
- Scope. List the rooms or areas you are pricing, the board type and thickness, and the finish level for each area. Writing the finish level down heads off arguments at walk-through. See drywall finish levels 0 to 5.
- Quantities. Measure board area from the plans, add your waste allowance and round up to whole sheets. Our free drywall bid calculator turns job size and your own prices into sheets, mud, tape and screws, and the how to bid drywall guide walks through each step.
- Pricing. Enter your own material and labor prices. Keep extras (height, access, haul-off) on their own lines so the customer sees what drives the total.
- Terms. Exclusions are what you are not doing. Spell them out. Add your payment terms and state that scope changes go on a written change order.
- Sign-off. Ask the customer to sign and date before you schedule the crew.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an estimate and a bid?
People use the words loosely. Usually an estimate is an early price, often before final plans, and a bid is a firm price submitted against a set of plans, often to a GC who is comparing several subs. You can use this template for either; just title it the way your customer expects. For the internal worksheet behind a bid, see the drywall bid sheet template.
Should I include the finish level?
Yes, for each area. Finish level changes how many coats and how much sanding the job needs, so it changes the price.
Does TapeAndFloat give me drywall prices?
No. The template and the calculator use your own prices. Labor and material costs vary by market and by job.
How long should an estimate stay valid?
That is your call. Material prices move, so many contractors put a "valid until" date on every estimate. Fill in the date that fits your market.
Can I edit the CSV?
Yes. Add, remove or rename rows to match how your office works.
Is this estimate a contract?
On its own it is a price and a scope. Whether a signed estimate binds both sides depends on your terms and your state's law. Ask a construction attorney about a specific contract.
Want help keeping this current?
Free 60-day pilot. If you stay on, we agree on the price with you up front.
¿Prefiere español? Plantilla de presupuesto de tablaroca.