How Long Does It Take to Install Drywall in a New Home? Guide
If you’re building a house, one question comes up sooner or later: how long does it take to install drywall in a new home? Drywall is more than just a covering for studs, it’s what turns the open frame of your home into finished walls.
It’s the point where the space starts to feel like a real living area. But the time it takes can vary a lot. Your new construction timeline will depend on the size of the house, the crew’s experience, the design, and even the weather.
In this guide, we’ll walk through every stage of the process, look at what can make it faster or slower, and share tips to help you get an accurate estimate.
Why Drywall Is More Than Just a Wall Covering
Drywall, also called sheetrock, is a key part of new home construction and home improvement projects. It’s used in almost every type of build because it’s cost-effective, easy to work with, and delivers a smooth surface for paint or wallpaper.
In remodeling projects, it’s just as important, whether you’re adding a room or doing drywall water damage repair. There are different types of standard drywall for different needs:
Moisture-resistant for bathrooms.
Fire-rated for safety.
Soundproof for quiet spaces.
Choosing the right type can affect installation time. Heavier or specialty panels may take longer to cut and hang, especially if your home has a high ceiling or complex features.
Sweet Home Drywall is one company known for efficient, quality work. They handle everything from hanging the drywall to mudding and sanding, which helps you stay on schedule.
The Main Stages of Drywall Installation
Even the fastest professional drywall crew follows the same basic stages. Here’s a closer look at each.
Step 1 – Prepping the Space (1–2 Days)
Before the drywall crew starts hanging sheets, they need to get the space ready. This prep work sets the foundation for a smooth drywall installation and can affect the entire timeline.
During this step, drywallers will carefully check every stud to make sure they are properly aligned. Studs that are out of place can cause uneven walls or ceilings later on. Next, the crew will confirm that insulation is correctly installed between the studs.
Insulation is important for energy efficiency and comfort, so it must be in place before drywall covers the walls. The workspace also needs to be clean and clear of any debris, tools, or leftover materials from framing or electrical work. A tidy space allows drywallers to work safely and quickly.
If there are any framing issues, fixing those early on is crucial. Delays here can add days to the drywall project, especially in complicated new construction or when drywalling an entire house.
Key points:
Check stud alignment to avoid uneven drywall
Ensure insulation is fully installed before drywall
Clear workspace to keep installation safe and efficient
Fix framing issues early to prevent drywall problems later
Prepping can take longer for large or complex homes
Step 2 – Hanging the Drywall (2–4 Days)
Now the real transformation begins. Hanging drywall sheets on the walls and ceiling creates the smooth surface that defines your home’s interior. How long this takes depends on several factors. First, the size of the home matters.
More square footage means more drywall sheets to hang. For a standard 2,000 square foot house, expect several days to a week just to hang all the sheets. Drywall sheets usually come in standard sizes, but cutting them to fit around outlets, switches, and fixtures slows down the process.
Each cut must be precise to avoid gaps or uneven edges. Custom cuts also add time. If your home has arches, skylights, or vaulted ceilings, drywallers need extra care and time to measure and cut sheets correctly.
Experienced drywall installers can hang multiple sheets per hour on walls, but ceilings usually take longer because of the awkward angles and extra support needed.
Key points:
Square footage impacts how many drywall sheets are needed
Cutting drywall for outlets and switches takes extra time
Custom shapes and vaulted ceilings require careful cutting
Skilled crews hang sheets faster, but ceilings slow progress
Hanging drywall on a 2,000 sq ft house usually takes days to a week
Step 3 – Taping and Mudding (3–6 Days)
Once the drywall sheets are hung, the next big step is taping and mudding. This is when the seams between sheets and screw holes get covered with joint compound (also called drywall mud). The crew applies the first coat of mud over all seams and screws.
This first coat is critical to fill gaps and prepare the surface for a smooth finish. After the first coat dries, which usually takes about 24 hours, the drywallers apply additional coats. Each coat smooths out bumps and strengthens the joints.
It’s very important not to rush the drying time. If mudding is done too quickly or drying is skipped, cracks can form later. Patience is key here, and this part of the drywall project often takes the longest. Sanding happens after the final coat dries, smoothing the surface perfectly before painting.
Key points:
First coat of joint compound covers seams and screws
Multiple coats needed for a smooth, strong finish
Each coat requires about 24 hours drying time
Rushing mudding can cause cracks or uneven surfaces
Taping, mudding, and sanding usually take the most time
Step 4 – Texturing, Priming, and Painting Prep (2–4 Days)
After finishing drywall, many homeowners choose how their walls will look. Some prefer a smooth, clean finish while others like textured walls for a bit of style and character. Simple spray textures usually take less time and are easier to apply.
Hand-applied textures, like knockdown or skip trowel, take longer sometimes twice as long as simple spray finishes. Once the texture is complete and dry, the walls need priming.
Priming prepares the drywall surface so paint will stick well and last longer. It also helps paint colors appear even. This final prep stage for painting adds a few days to the overall drywall timeline but ensures your home’s interior looks its best.
Key points:
Choose between smooth or textured drywall finishes
Spray textures are quicker; hand textures take longer
Priming is essential for long-lasting, even paint
Painting prep can add 2 to 4 days to drywall timeline
How Long Does It Take to Drywall a House Based on Size
Drywall installation is a key part of any new construction or home improvement project. Many homeowners wonder, How long does it take to drywall a house? The time it takes to finish drywall depends on factors like size, crew, and the drywall work involved.
These times assume an experienced crew and a straightforward layout. Larger homes or designs with unusual features may take weeks to complete.
Factors That Affect How Long It Takes to Drywall a House
When planning a drywall project, one of the most common questions is, how long does it take to drywall a house? The answer isn’t the same for every job. Several important factors influence the overall drywall installation time and the new construction timeline.
Understanding these can help you get a more accurate estimate of how long it should take to finish drywall in your home.
House Size & Layout
The size and layout of your house play a major role in determining how long it will take to install drywall. A bigger house with many rooms, hallways, and walls naturally requires more drywall sheets and longer labor hours.
More drywall means more cutting, hanging, taping, mudding, and sanding all parts of the drywall project, that add up in time. For example, drywalling a single room might only take a day or two, but finishing an entire house can stretch over several weeks depending on the square footage and complexity of the layout.
New construction projects with open floor plans may take less time than homes with many small rooms, corners, and closets because installers can work faster with fewer interruptions.
Ceiling Height
Ceiling height is another key factor that affects how long drywall installation takes. Standard drywall sheets are typically 8 feet tall, which fits perfectly with most standard ceiling heights. When walls and ceilings are 8 feet tall, drywallers can hang full sheets with fewer cuts and seams, making the process quicker.
However, if your home has vaulted ceilings, tall walls, or unique ceiling features, the drywallers will have to make more custom cuts and carefully hang sheets in hard-to-reach areas. These ceilings not only increase the number of seams but also require extra support and safety measures for the crew, which can double or even triple the time needed to finish drywall compared to a standard height room.
Crew Size & Experience
The number of people on the drywall crew and their level of experience greatly influence drywall installation times. A professional crew of four to six drywallers, such as the experienced team at Sweet Home Drywall, can install drywall much faster and more efficiently than a small two-person crew or a DIY effort.
Experienced drywallers who work together regularly know how to move sheets quickly, avoid mistakes, and handle taping and mudding smoothly. They can hang more drywall sheets per hour and reduce rework, which shortens the overall drywall project timeline.
On the other hand, less experienced installers or smaller crews often take twice as long and might struggle with finishing the drywall as cleanly.
Weather & Humidity
Weather conditions and indoor humidity levels can significantly impact the drying time of drywall mud and joint compound. High humidity slows down the drying process, meaning each coat of mud takes longer to dry before the next coat can be applied or before sanding and priming can begin.
This added drying time can extend your drywall project by several days, especially during rainy seasons or in areas with naturally high moisture. On the flip side, dry, warm weather helps mud dry faster, allowing the crew to move more quickly through taping, mudding, and sanding.
Keeping humidity levels controlled inside the home during drywall installation is key to maintaining an efficient timeline.
Custom Features
Custom architectural features and special drywall details can add extra time and complexity to your drywall project. Curved walls, built-in shelves, and unique design elements require more precise measuring and cutting of drywall sheets, which slows down the hanging process.
Removing old popcorn ceilings or installing acoustic ceiling textures also add several extra hours or even days to the timeline, depending on the scope of the work. These custom features often require specialized tools and skilled drywallers familiar with handling tricky cuts and finishes.
Because of this, projects with custom drywall work typically take longer than standard drywall installation and require a detailed estimate to determine the accurate time needed.
FAQs
How many days does it take to drywall a 2,000 sq ft house?
A professional crew typically takes 7–10 days to hang drywall, tape, mud, sand, and finish drywall on a 2,000 sq ft house.-height
Does ceiling height affect drywall time?
Yes, ceilings taller than 8 feet need more cuts and seams, which makes drywall installation take longer than standard height ceilings.
Can I drywall my home myself?
Yes, but expect it to take about twice as long as a professional crew because DIY drywalling involves more time for taping and sanding.
What slows down drywall installation the most?
Humidity, inspection delays, and complex layouts all add time to drywall finishing by increasing drying time and requiring more custom drywall work.
When can I paint after drywall is installed?
Usually, you should wait 3–4 days after the last drywall mud coat dries completely before priming and painting the walls and ceiling.
Conclusion
So, how long does it take to install drywall in a new home? For most standard builds, a pro crew can take to drywall a house in about 7–10 days. But how long should it take? That depends on the design, square footage, and the crew.
Larger or more complex builds can run days to several weeks. If you want a clean, timely job, hiring an experienced crew like Sweet Home Drywall can help you stay on schedule and get a flawless finish.
