Cost to Drywall a Closet
Enter the closet size and your prices. The calculator lists the materials, works out labor at your rate or the contractor minimum, whichever is higher, and shows the DIY cost beside it.
- Materials list
- Minimum charge logic
- DIY vs hire
- Reach-in or walk-in
Your estimate
132 sq ft of drywall$127 if you do it yourself
Materials
Labor
A closet is a small job, so a contractor's minimum charge usually sets the labor price rather than the square footage. Three coats over three days cost the same trips as a whole room.
A closet is one of the smallest drywall jobs and one of the most expensive per square foot to hire out. The board and mud are a few sheets and a pail, but taping takes three trips on three days whether it is a closet or a living room, so most contractors charge a minimum for small jobs. That minimum, not the square footage, usually sets the price. The calculator shows both numbers so you can see which one you are paying.
What a closet costs
- Materials: a handful of 4x8 sheets, one pail of all purpose compound, a roll of tape and a pound or two of screws.
- Labor at the square-foot rate: closet area times the rate you are quoted for larger work.
- Minimum charge: what the contractor charges to show up for a small job at all. Ask for it up front; it is the number that matters here.
Minimums vary a lot by market. HomeAdvisor reports many drywall pros charge $100 to $150 even for small repairs, while HomeGuide puts most contractors' minimum job fee at $350 to $650 or more. The calculator starts at $400; replace it with your contractor's figure. Because the minimum dominates, adding a closet to a larger job costs far less than hiring it out alone.
Doing it yourself
A closet is a good first drywall job: the surfaces are small, the corners are many, and nobody inspects the inside of a closet closely. The materials cost is the DIY price. Budget a weekend split over three days for the coats to dry.
Frequently asked questions
Primary references
Manufacturer and industry guidance used to check this article.
- Drywall installation cost, minimum chargesHomeAdvisor
- Drywall repair cost, minimum job feesHomeGuide
- Sheetrock Brand Installation and Finishing GuideUSG
Product instructions, tested assemblies and local code take priority over general guidance.