what thickness drywall for walls

The thickness of drywall commonly used for interior walls is 1/2-inch. This is considered the industry standard for interior residential walls and is easy to carry and hang. However, building codes may have specific requirements for the thickness of drywall panels, and the thickness required for each application is dictated by the building code. Other common thicknesses of drywall include 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 5/8-inch. The thinnest of all the options, 1/4-inch drywall is most commonly used as a skimming material, while 3/8-inch drywall is a good choice for curved walls or for repairing existing drywall that needs patching. The thickest of all the types of drywall, 5/8-inch drywall is often fire-resistant and is the best choice for soundproofing rooms and ceiling applications because it helps to prevent sagging over time. In a practical sense, the thickness of drywall maxes out at 5/8-inch, but 3/4-inch drywall does exist and is used on steel-framed walls for fireproofing. Walls must be able to support 3/4-inch drywall since 4-foot by 10-foot sheets weigh about 112 pounds.