Understanding your result
The headline is the contractor’s price range for the tear-out, or your dumpster cost if you do it yourself, and the line under it gives the area, the material and the weight of the debris. The tiles give the debris weight, the dumpster size and count, and either the price per square foot or your hours.
The table shows the arithmetic: area times weight per square foot gives the debris, which decides the dumpster by weight; the contractor range is the area times the published price per square foot, adjusted for plaster and second layers, which take longer. It always shows both the contractor range and the DIY hours, so you can compare.
The dumpster itself, with other renovation debris added, is on the dumpster size calculator. Putting the room back together is on the sheet calculator and the cost estimator.
How we calculate this
The drywall weights are manufacturer figures from the sheet weights table. The plaster weight, the contractor price range, the dumpster weight allowances and the DIY rate are estimates: published guides vary widely, and hauler limits vary by company. The page labels them as such, and the dumpster cost for DIY is your local price.
The assumptions behind the numbers
| Assumption | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor tear-out with haul-away | $1 to $3 per sq ft | Published consumer cost guides, 2024–2025 (wide spread) |
| Drywall weight | 1.6 lb (1/2 in), 2.2 lb (5/8 in) per sq ft | Manufacturer data |
| Plaster on wood lath | About 8 lb per sq ft | Our estimate for three-coat plaster on lath |
| Dumpster weight allowances | About 2, 3 and 4 tons for 10, 20 and 30 yd | Typical hauler allowances; check yours |
| DIY rate | About 100 sq ft per hour for drywall | Our estimate |
| Asbestos | Test before disturbing pre-1980 materials | US EPA guidance |
Assumptions last reviewed October 8, 2026.
The calculator does not price asbestos abatement, mold remediation, electrical or plumbing work in the opened walls, or the cleanup of plaster dust from the rest of the house. It assumes standard access; carrying debris down stairs to a distant dumpster takes longer. The full process, and what to do when a test comes back positive, is in the guide to removing old drywall and plaster; contractor pricing in the guide to what contractors charge.
Two worked examples
900 sq ft of 1/2 in drywall, contractor
- Debris: 900 × 1.6 = 1,440 lb, one 10-yard dumpster
- Contractor: $900 to $2,700, $1 to $3 per sq ft
- DIY would take about 9 hours
The spread is wide; quotes for tear-out vary more than for any other drywall line. Ask whether disposal is included.
600 sq ft of plaster on lath, DIY, in a 1950s house
- Debris: 600 × 8 = 4,800 lb (2.4 tons), a 20-yard dumpster by weight
- Your cost: $500 for the dumpster; about 11 hours of work
- A contractor would be about $1,050 to $3,150
Before the first swing: a 1950s house is exactly where joint compound, texture and some plasters may contain asbestos. Test first.
Where to find your inputs
Area. Walls and ceilings to remove, from the wall and ceiling area calculators.
Material. Drywall has paper faces and a chalky core; plaster is hard, heavy and on wood or metal lath behind.
Layers. Two if an older wall was covered with drywall later.
Dumpster price. Your local hauler’s price for the size shown.
Common mistakes
- Swinging before testing. Pre-1980 materials may contain asbestos. Test first.
- Live wires. Turn off and verify every circuit in the walls.
- Ordering a dumpster by volume. Weight limits govern for drywall and especially plaster.
- No dust control. Seal doorways and vents; plaster dust travels.
- Removing what could be covered. Sound plaster can take a skin of 1/4 in board.
- Forgetting the screws and nails. Pull them, or the new board will not lie flat.
Questions people ask
- How much does drywall removal cost?
- Published cost guides put tear-out with haul-away at roughly $1 to $3 per square foot of wall or ceiling, more for plaster and lath, which is heavier and slower. A 900 sq ft room's worth of 1/2 in drywall is about $900 to $2,700 with a contractor.
- How much does drywall debris weigh?
- About 1.6 lb per square foot of 1/2 in board and 2.2 lb for 5/8 in, so 1,000 sq ft of 1/2 in is about 1,600 lb. Plaster on wood lath is several times heavier, around 8 lb per square foot by our estimate.
- What size dumpster for drywall removal?
- A 10-yard dumpster typically allows about 2 tons, which is roughly 2,500 sq ft of 1/2 in drywall. Plaster fills the weight limit quickly: 600 sq ft of plaster and lath is about 2.4 tons, a 20-yard dumpster by weight. Check your hauler's weight limit; overweight fees are common.
- Can I remove drywall myself?
- Yes, if the walls are tested clear of asbestos and you shut off and verify power first. It is dusty but simple work: score along the ceiling and corners, pull the board off the studs and pull the screws. One person removes about 100 sq ft of drywall an hour by our estimate, slower for plaster.
- Does old drywall contain asbestos?
- Joint compound, textures and some plasters made before about 1980 may contain asbestos. The US EPA advises testing before disturbing them; if the samples are positive, removal is work for a licensed abatement contractor and costs much more.
- Is it cheaper to remove plaster or cover it with drywall?
- Covering sound plaster with 1/4 in or 3/8 in drywall, screwed through to the studs, is usually cheaper and much less messy than tearing it out, and it avoids disturbing old materials. Remove it when the plaster is loose, the wall must be opened for wiring or plumbing, or the trim depth cannot take another layer.