Drywall Tools: The Complete List (and What You Can Skip)
Everything you need to hang and finish drywall, what each tool actually does, and which ones you can leave in the shop. Hanging board and finishing it are two different jobs with two different kits — most lists muddle them together, which is why people end up over-buying.
What it costs to tool up
344 €
The 8 essentials, bought outright
646 €
All 12, including the nice-to-haves
Indicative prices for DIY-grade tools — brand and region move them a lot. Already own half of it? The project tool checklist lets you tick off what you have and put your own prices against the rest, then adds it to your budget. For the materials themselves, use the drywall calculator.
Hanging tools vs finishing tools
Hanging
Utility knife, drywall saw, rasp, screwdriver with a depth stop, and something to hold board against a ceiling. Boards are scored and snapped, not sawn — the saw is only for socket and pipe cut-outs.
Finishing
Taping knives in ascending widths, something to carry compound, a corner tool, and a pole sander. This is where the visible quality comes from, and where the cheap tools cost you most in time.
Why you need three taping knives, not one
Each coat of compound has to be wider than the one beneath it, so the edges feather out into the board instead of leaving a ridge. That is the whole trick to an invisible joint, and it is why a single knife cannot do the job however skilled you are.
Hawk or mud pan?
Both do the same job — carry compound in your off hand. A hawk is a flat square plate: faster to load from and preferred by most professionals, but it takes practice not to drop compound down the wall. A mud pan is a long trough with straight edges you can wipe the knife against, which is more forgiving and keeps the knife cleaner. If you are boarding one room, buy the pan. Neither is expensive; plenty of people own both and reach for whichever suits the day.
What you can skip
- —Automatic taping tools (bazookas, flat boxes). Thousands to buy and they only pay back over many houses. Renting them for one room is false economy too — the setup and cleaning alone eats the time saved.
- —A powered drywall sander, unless you are doing a whole house. A pole sander and a bit of patience gets the same finish; the powered one mainly saves your shoulders.
- —A dedicated drywall screwgun, if you already own a drill with a clutch and buy a dimpler bit for a few euros. The depth stop is what matters, not the tool it lives in.
- —Corner tools for a single small room. They earn their place quickly on a whole house, but two knives and care will do a handful of corners.
The one thing to rent: a board lifter
Boarding a ceiling on your own is the single hardest part of the job, and a panel hoist turns it from near-impossible into straightforward. It is cheap for a day and there is no sensible reason to buy one. If you are only boarding walls, skip it entirely.
Tools you'll need
The kit this job actually calls for, and whether it's worth buying or renting for one weekend.
- Taping knives
Each coat goes wider than the last, so you need the set.
Buy 20–60 € - Plasterer's hawk
Or a mud pan — try both and keep the one that suits your grip.
Buy 15–35 € - Drywall saw
Stabs straight into a board for socket and pipe cut-outs.
Buy 8–15 € - Utility knife
Score and snap is how boards are cut, not sawing.
Buy 8–20 € - Drywall screwdriver
The depth stop is the point — a normal driver tears the paper.
Buy 60–160 €Rent 12–25 €/day - Pole sander
Reaches ceilings and wall tops and keeps the finish flat.
Buy 20–50 € - Safety glasses, gloves and dust mask
Sanding compound is fine dust — mask and glasses.
Buy 15–40 € - Step ladder
Ceilings, cutting in and high walls.
Buy 40–120 €
Prices are indicative for DIY-grade tools and vary a lot by brand and region — treat them as a budgeting starting point, not a quote. Rental rates are per day from a typical tool rental shop.
Now work out the boards
Sheets, screws and joint compound for your room size, with waste included — then read the full drywall guide for how to hang it.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need for drywall?
To hang it: a utility knife, drywall saw, rasp, and a screwdriver with a depth stop. To finish it: taping knives in roughly 150 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm, a hawk or mud pan, and a pole sander. Boards are scored and snapped rather than sawn, so the saw is only for cut-outs.
Why do I need three different taping knives?
Each coat of compound must be wider than the one beneath it so the edges feather into the board instead of leaving a ridge. A 150 mm knife beds the tape, 250 mm covers it, and 300 mm skims and feathers. One knife cannot produce an invisible joint however skilled you are.
Is a hawk or a mud pan better?
Both carry compound in your off hand. A hawk loads faster and is preferred by most professionals but takes practice. A mud pan is more forgiving and gives you a straight edge to wipe the knife on. For a single room, the pan is the easier choice.
Do I need a drywall screw gun?
Not if you own a drill with a clutch — a dimpler bit costs a few euros and gives you the same depth stop, which is the part that matters. The depth stop stops the screw tearing through the paper face, which is what destroys holding strength.
How much do drywall tools cost?
Roughly €340 to buy the essentials for hanging and finishing, or about €650 for everything including a corner tool and rasp. The one thing worth renting rather than buying is a panel hoist for ceilings.
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Turn this guide into a plan
Get exact quantities and costs for your own measurements, build an itemized shopping list so you don’t overbuy, and use the PDF to collect quotes from contractors.