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Drywall anchors aren’t necessary if there’s a stud behind the wall where you’ll be working. Studs are strong enough to support screws on their own, but they don’t run throughout the wall. If you’re doing a project that involves the entire wall and not just one part (like hanging a small painting or photo), odds are you’ll need drywall anchors at some point in the process. 

Installing drywall will cost between $1.50 and $3 per square foot for materials, labor, and finishing, which is quite a bit lower than the average of $9 to $13 per square foot for a drop-tile ceiling. So, while drop ceilings allow more design flexibility, provide easy access to utility lines above them, and are often much easier and less expensive to repair, they do cost more upfront. You can minimize your drop ceiling cost by opting for more affordable fiberboard panels, although some homeowners don’t like the look of this material.

The average cost to apply a skip-trowel drywall texture to walls is $1.25 to $2.00 per square foot. Ceilings cost slightly more because of the increased difficulty of working overhead. Additional cost factors include any drywall repairs and removal of existing textures or wallpaper.

It is less expensive to install a drywall ceiling. Drop ceilings are generally more costly to install than drywall, but they're also easier to install. Drywall sheets are heavier than drop ceilings—weighing in at about 60 pounds each—so if you hire a pro, they may charge a little more for labor. You should also factor in paint costs for a drywall ceiling. The least expensive drywall ceiling option is the standard, smooth variety.