Can I measure ceiling and wall areas for plasterboard?

Yes. Measure ceiling areas straight from the floor plan and calculate wall areas from measured perimeters and heights, so you can total the plasterboard sheets a job needs.

Will it help me avoid over-ordering sheets?

Because you measure the real areas rather than estimating from room sizes, your sheet counts are accurate, which cuts the waste that comes from rough guesses on complex plans.

Can I keep floor levels separate?

Yes. Use layers to group measurements by floor or area, so multi-level jobs stay organised and easy to total.

How do I work out plasterboard sheet counts from area?

Measure the total wall and ceiling area in square metres, then divide by the coverage of your sheet size to get the number of sheets. MetreMate totals the areas as you go, so the sheet count is a quick step from there.

How do I measure cornice runs?

Use the Perimeter tool to trace where the wall meets the ceiling in each room, and MetreMate totals the lineal metres of cornice. That gives you the run to order off without walking the job with a tape.

How accurate is a plasterboard takeoff off the plan?

As accurate as the drawing. With the scale set and snapping on the corners, the wall and ceiling areas match the plan, so your sheet and compound quantities are reliable rather than a rough allowance.

MetreMate for Plasterers

Measure wall and ceiling areas from plans

Work out plaster and plasterboard quantities by measuring wall and ceiling areas, cornice runs, and rosettes from architectural plans.

Try MetreMate, it's free See how it works

No credit card needed. Free plan to start, works on Windows and Mac.

Under 90s to your first measurement

Why plasterers choose MetreMate

Plasterers use MetreMate to work out how much plaster and plasterboard a job needs straight from the plans. Measure ceiling areas off the floor plan and wall areas from perimeters and heights, run the Measure or Perimeter tool along the cornices, and count feature rosettes and external corners with the Count tool. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to print and nothing to install.

See how MetreMate compares

Free calculators for your trade

Quick numbers before you open the plan. Every one shows its working.

Plasterboard and cornice calculator

Quote in minutes, not hours

Set the scale once and measure straight off the PDF. Your first measurement takes under 90 seconds, and it's free to start.

Try MetreMate, it's free

No credit card needed

The slow way, or the smart way

What changes when plasterers measure in MetreMate instead of off a printout.

Without MetreMate

Estimating sheet quantities from room dimensions
Missing areas in complex floor plans
Waste from inaccurate measurements

With MetreMate

Area tool for plaster and plasterboard quantities
Measure and Perimeter tools for cornice runs
Count tool for feature rosettes and external corners
Layers Manager to organise by floor level
Pencil tool for freehand mark-ups, and to add your initials or signature by hand

500+

Tradies using MetreMate

50,000+

Measurements taken

90s

Average time to measure

Everything you can measure off the plan

Set the scale once, then pull the quantities plasterers actually quote on.

Lengths & lineal metres

Any distance, edge, or run measured straight off the plan.

Areas in m²

Trace rooms, slabs, and zones for instant square metres.

Perimeters

Boundary and edge runs totalled for you, no maths.

Counts

Tap to count fixtures, fittings, and symbols with live totals.

Step by step

How plasterers use MetreMate

1
Ceiling area takeoff
Measure ceiling areas from floor plans for plasterboard sheet estimation.
2
Wall area calculation
Measure wall perimeters and heights to calculate total wall areas for plastering.
3
Cornices, rosettes, and corners
Use the Measure or Perimeter tool for cornices, and the Count tool for feature rosettes and external corners.

Read our how-to guides