(01) — Cost guide · Pennsylvania edition
Drywall Installation Cost in Pennsylvania (2026)
In Pennsylvania, drywall installation cost for the typical project costs about $1,450 — 1% above the national average of $1,450. The gap comes from labour: Pennsylvania labour runs at 1.02× the national average, and labour is about 45% of an installed price, so the state figure below scales the labour share only and leaves material prices at national levels. Read the national guide for the full breakdown, then use this page for the Pennsylvania numbers, city prices and code notes.
- $950
- low end in Pennsylvania — simple spec
- $1,450
- typical in Pennsylvania — most homeowners pay near this
- $3,250
- high end in Pennsylvania — premium materials, complex site
- $2.27
- per sq ft of board area, hung and finished to level 4, Pennsylvania-adjusted
Typical project used for these figures: hanging and finishing a 12 × 16 ft room (walls and ceiling, about 640 sq ft of board, 20 sheets) to a level 4 finish. Ranges are 2026 planning figures for a professional installation in Pennsylvania, derived from the national guide as explained below — always confirm with local quotes.
Pennsylvania prices vs the national average
Materials for this project are priced nationally — a bundle of shingles or a pallet of panels costs roughly the same anywhere in the country before delivery. Labour is what moves, and Pennsylvania labour sits at 1.02× the national average. Applying that index to the labour share (about 45% of the installed price) gives the Pennsylvania range below. If your quotes cluster well outside it, the difference is usually specification — material grade, code extras or site difficulty — not the labour market, and it is worth asking which line moved.
| Figure | National average | Pennsylvania | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low end | $950 | $950 | 1% above |
| Typical project | $1,450 | $1,450 | 1% above |
| High end | $3,200 | $3,250 | 1% above |
For the full national breakdown — what is included, what is billed separately, DIY vs pro, and what drives the price — read the national drywall installation cost guide. The table below re-prices that same breakdown for Pennsylvania.
Cost breakdown, Pennsylvania-adjusted
The national guide's line items, with materials held at national prices and labour scaled by the Pennsylvania index of 1.02. Compare a real bid against this table line by line: if a contractor's labour lines run far above these figures, ask what is different about the job, and if the materials lines run far above, ask for the product grades.
| Line item | Materials | Labour (Pennsylvania) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall sheets20 sheets of 4 × 8 ft, 1/2 in standard board, including cutting waste | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| ConsumablesScrews, joint tape, corner bead and about 5 gallons of compound across coats | $200 | $0 | $200 |
| HangingBoard cut, lifted and screwed off on walls and ceiling | $0 | $450 | $450 |
| Taping & finishingTape coat, fill coat and finish coat to level 4, feathered and checked | $0 | $400 | $400 |
| Sanding, texture-ready prep & cleanupFinal sand, dust control, scrap removal | $50 | $50 | $100 |
| Total for the typical projectState-adjusted from the national breakdown above | $550 | $950 | $1,450 |
Typical cost by city in Pennsylvania
Labour markets differ within a state too. These city figures apply each city's multiplier to the Pennsylvania typical price for the same project — use them to sanity-check a quote from a specific metro, not as a bid. Rural areas outside these metros often land below the cheapest city shown, while resort and island markets can exceed the highest.
| City | Typical project cost |
|---|---|
| Erie | $1,350 |
| Scranton | $1,350 |
| Harrisburg | $1,400 |
| Pittsburgh | $1,450 |
| Allentown | $1,450 |
| Philadelphia | $1,550 |
Pennsylvania rules, climate and code that change the price
Pennsylvania follows the Uniform Construction Code statewide, but enforcement sits with municipalities, so permit practice and inspection rigour vary between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and small townships. Frost depth runs 36–42 in across much of the state, so footings for decks, fences and porches must go well below grade, and snow loads in the northern tier and the Alleghenies affect roof and deck design. Philadelphia adds its own licensing and permit layers on top of the state code.
Drywall Installation Cost in Pennsylvania: what to watch
Pennsylvania drywall is an older-stock and plaster job. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh rowhouses and older homes often have plaster walls that are cracked or bowed, so the choice is repair the plaster or hang drywall over it — and hanging drywall over plaster changes trim, outlets and door jambs, all of which belong in the quote. Pre-1978 homes carry lead paint risk and old joint compound may contain asbestos, so test before demolition. The Uniform Construction Code applies statewide with municipal enforcement, so permit practice varies between the big cities and small townships, and Philadelphia adds its own licensing layers. Compare quotes on finish level — a level-4 finish is standard, level-5 is the upgrade for walls in raking light.
What to ask contractors in Pennsylvania
Four questions that catch the expensive surprises on this project in this state. Get the answers in writing, on the quote, before you compare prices — two quotes are only comparable when they describe the same job.
- Permit: Pennsylvania municipalities enforce the Uniform Construction Code locally, so permit requirements for roofing, decks and remodels are near-universal but the office, fees and inspection schedule depend on the municipality. Philadelphia has additional licensing and permit requirements beyond the state code.
- Specification: Ask for the full material specification — grades, ratings and the code extras in the state notes above — not just a brand name and a total.
- Labour basis: Ask how the quote treats the Pennsylvania labour market: a quote far above the $1,450 typical figure should name the extra work, access problem or specification that justifies it.
- Local references: Ask for two recent jobs in your city, not just your state — city prices above vary by thousands, and a contractor working regularly in your metro knows its permit office and inspectors.
Frequently asked questions — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania municipalities enforce the Uniform Construction Code locally, so permit requirements for roofing, decks and remodels are near-universal but the office, fees and inspection schedule depend on the municipality. Philadelphia has additional licensing and permit requirements beyond the state code.
Pennsylvania labour sits close to the national average, with Philadelphia about 6% above the state figure. The cost items that surprise newcomers are deep frost footings and snow-load structure, both of which are standard here and absent from warm-climate pricing.
Budget around $1,450 for the typical project (hanging and finishing a 12 × 16 ft room (walls and ceiling, about 640 sq ft of board, 20 sheets) to a level 4 finish) in Pennsylvania, with most jobs landing between $950 and $3,250. That typical figure is 1% above the national typical of $1,450, because Pennsylvania labour runs at 1.02× the national average and labour is about 45% of the installed price. Get at least three local quotes before committing — the range above is a planning figure, not a bid.
Yes. Within Pennsylvania, the typical project runs from about $1,350 in Erie to about $1,550 in Philadelphia, reflecting local labour markets and, where applicable, stricter local code requirements. The city figures above are planning estimates from the state average, not quotes — a specific job's price depends on its specification, access and site conditions.