Reference
Drywall Fastener Spacing Table
How far apart drywall screws and nails go, how many that makes per sheet, which length to buy and how many come in a pound.
Maximum spacing, single layer
| Fastener | Walls, framing 16 in | Walls, framing 24 in | Ceilings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screws | 16 in | 12 in | 12 in |
| Nails | 8 in | 8 in | 7 in |
| Screws with adhesive on the framing | 24 in | 24 in | 16 in |
Spacing is measured along each framing member, centre to centre, on wood or steel framing. Fasteners sit 3/8 in or more from the edges and ends of the board; screw heads are driven just below the paper without tearing it. Metric framing at 400 and 600 mm takes the same spacing as 16 and 24 in.
Fasteners per sheet, hung horizontally
| Sheet | Framing | Screws, wall | Screws, ceiling | Nails, wall or ceiling | Screws with adhesive, wall | Screws with adhesive, ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 | 16 in | 28 | 35 | 49 | 21 | 28 |
| 4 × 8 | 24 in | 25 | 25 | 35 | 15 | 20 |
| 4 × 10 | 16 in | 32 | 40 | 56 | 24 | 32 |
| 4 × 10 | 24 in | 30 | 30 | 42 | 18 | 24 |
| 4 × 12 | 16 in | 40 | 50 | 70 | 30 | 40 |
| 4 × 12 | 24 in | 35 | 35 | 49 | 21 | 28 |
| 4 × 14 | 16 in | 44 | 55 | 77 | 33 | 44 |
The count is one line of fasteners on every framing member the sheet crosses, ends included, times the fasteners along each line: a 4 × 8 sheet across studs at 16 in crosses 7 studs, with 4 screws on each at 16 in, which is 28. Pros often drive a few more at the edges; the calculators add a waste allowance on top.
Two layers and fire-rated assemblies
A two-layer wall or ceiling fastens each layer at the single-layer spacing unless a listing says otherwise, with the face-layer joints offset from the base layer. Fire-rated assemblies use the spacing their listing names, which can be closer: the Gypsum Association’s one-hour wall WP 3660 screws its 5/8 in type X at 7 in on centre with 2-1/4 in screws, and many two-layer listings fasten the base layer at 24 in and the face layer more closely. Follow the listing exactly.
Screw lengths
| Board | Wood framing | Steel framing (25 to 20 gauge) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 or 3/8 in | 1-1/4 in coarse thread | 1 in fine thread |
| 1/2 in | 1-1/4 in coarse thread | 1-1/4 in fine thread |
| 5/8 in | 1-5/8 in coarse thread | 1-1/4 in fine thread |
| Two layers of 1/2 in (face layer) | 1-5/8 or 2 in | 1-5/8 in fine thread |
| Two layers of 5/8 in (face layer) | 2 in | 1-5/8 in fine thread |
Screws penetrate wood framing by at least 5/8 in and steel framing by at least 3/8 in. Heavier steel (20 gauge and thicker) takes self-drilling screws.
Screws and nails per pound
| Fastener | Per pound (typical box counts) |
|---|---|
| 1-1/4 in #6 drywall screw | about 210 |
| 1-5/8 in #6 drywall screw | about 160 |
| 2 in #6 drywall screw | about 120 |
| 2-1/2 in drywall screw | about 95 |
| 1-3/8 in ring-shank drywall nail | about 330 |
| 1-5/8 in drywall nail | about 280 |
| 1-7/8 in drywall nail | about 230 |
Sources
Spacing, edge distance and penetration: Gypsum Association GA-216, Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, and the International Residential Code Table R702.3.5. Fire-rated spacing: Gypsum Association GA-600, file WP 3660. Screws and nails per pound: typical counts printed on manufacturers’ boxes; the box always governs.
Calculators that use this table
- The drywall screw calculator, the drywall nail calculator and the screw spacing pattern calculator.
- The drywall adhesive calculator and the furring strip calculator.
- The fire-rated assembly calculator, the fire-rated drywall calculator and the metal stud calculator.
- The drywall sheet calculator, which adds screws to its summary.
The guide to screws per sheet, spacing and length explains the figures, and metal vs wood studs covers fastening to steel.