TIL the average sheet of drywall weighs over 50 pounds

I was reading an old building code pamphlet from Phoenix and it mentioned the standard weight for a 4x8 sheet of half-inch. I've been hauling those things for fifteen years and never actually knew the number, just that they're heavy. How many sheets do you guys think you've lifted in your career?

3 comments

3 Comments

faith_lopez482mo ago

Heard a contractor say once that the weight can change a lot if the sheet gets damp. Ever notice that?

flores.jana2mo ago

That's a bit dramatic, isn't it? Sure, a wet sheet is heavier, but how often does that actually happen on a job? Seems like one of those things people say that gets blown out of proportion. Unless you're storing your drywall outside in the rain, the change is probably pretty minor. Most sheets are inside and up on the walls before moisture even becomes a factor.

angela_coleman1mo ago

My buddy's crew in Florida deals with damp sheets adding 20 pounds every humid morning.