How Much Does Drywall Cost in North Dakota?
Drywall averages $11.64 per sheet in North Dakota as of 2026 research, with metro-level pricing ranging from $11.29 (lowest-cost metro) to $12.11 (highest-cost metro). That's 3% below the national midpoint of $12.00 per sheet (source; confidence: high). The state midpoint is computed by applying North Dakota's 0.97× regional adjustment to the national-average dataset documented on our pricing methodology page.
Use the metro table below for finer-grained budgeting — within North Dakota, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive metro on the same material can run 15-30%.
What Drives Drywall Pricing in North Dakota?
North Dakota material and installed costs run about 3% below the national average (adjustment factor 0.97). It is a sparsely populated, agriculture-heavy northern Plains state where long haul distances from quarries and plants add freight to delivered prices, and where Bakken oil-region activity in the west can pull labor and materials pricing upward when drilling is active. Local aggregate and ready-mix supply is anchored by a handful of large regional producers.
Climate and supply factors: North Dakota is one of the deepest-frost states in the country, with design frost depths of 48-60 in and severe freeze-thaw cycling that drives frost heave on footings, slabs and flatwork. Expansive, high-plasticity clays are a major concern: the Red River Valley around Fargo and Grand Forks sits on deep glaciolacustrine (Lake Agassiz) clays that swell when wet and shrink when dry, a well-documented source of foundation cracking, heaving and slab movement. Similar swelling behavior occurs in Pierre and Bearpaw shale-derived soils elsewhere in the state. Add high winds and, in the western Bakken oil region, periodic surges in construction demand and haul distances that push costs above the statewide norm.
Drywall Prices by North Dakota's Major Metros
Per-metro estimates apply each metro's population-weighted price tier to the North Dakota state midpoint. Population figures are 2024 ACS estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
| Metro | Population | Per Sheet | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 132K | $12.11 | +4% |
| Bismarck | 76K | $11.87 | +2% |
| Grand Forks | 59K | $11.52 | -1% |
| Minot | 48K | $11.41 | -2% |
| West Fargo | 40K | $11.29 | -3% |
When to Buy Drywall in North Dakota
Construction season in North Dakota: Short building season, roughly May through October. Winters are long, very cold and windy, with sub-freezing highs common from December through February, so most excavation, foundation and flatwork is packed into the warmer months. Cold-weather concreting (per ACI, when air temperature falls below 40 F for three consecutive days) requires heated enclosures, blankets or accelerators and typically carries a premium over summer pours.
Drywall pricing is largely seasonal-flat indoors but tightens during peak residential-construction season (May-September) when commercial drywall demand also peaks. For non-emergency work in North Dakota, ordering during the off-peak window typically saves 5-15% vs. spring/summer peak pricing. Material yards run promotional pricing twice a year — early-spring (Mar-Apr) on bagged products and late-fall (Oct-Nov) on bulk aggregates as plants clear inventory before shutdown.
Climate & Code Considerations for Drywall in North Dakota
Frost line: 48-60 in (the North Dakota State Building Code sets a 60 in design frost depth statewide in its appendix; some jurisdictions such as the Bismarck/Mandan area use 48 in, so always confirm with the local building department). Frost line drives footing and base depth on hardscape projects — though it has less direct impact on per-sheet drywall pricing.
State / local code: North Dakota has a State Building Code built on the International Codes (IBC, IRC, IMC and IFGC), historically administered through the Department of Commerce Division of Community Services. Enforcement is largely local: the state does not enforce the code, and a city, county or township only adopts and enforces it if it elects to (though it may add local amendments). The code still applies as a baseline to schools and state-owned buildings even in jurisdictions that have not adopted it, and many rural areas have limited or no permit enforcement. Confirm the adopted code edition and local amendments with the authority having jurisdiction.
Where to Find Drywall Suppliers in North Dakota
Authoritative directories for sourcing ready-mix producers, aggregate quarries, and bagged-product retailers across North Dakota:
- North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association
- NRMCA ready-mix producer directory (filter by state)
- Quikrete dealer locator
Get quotes from at least three local suppliers — pricing on the same spec varies 10-20% across producers in the same metro. Volume orders (10+ cu yd ready-mix, 20+ tons aggregate, full pallets bagged) typically earn another 5-10% off published quotes.
Calculate Drywall for Your Project
Use our Drywall Calculator to estimate quantity, then apply North Dakota's 0.97× adjustment to the national-average cost displayed on the calculator. The calculator's built-in cost overlay uses national pricing — multiply the displayed total by 0.97 for a North Dakota-specific estimate, or use the per-metro figures in the table above for tighter budgeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drywall cost per sheet in North Dakota?
Drywall averages $11.64 per sheet in North Dakota, with a metro range of $11.29 to $12.11 as of 2026. North Dakota pricing runs about 3% below the national midpoint.
What is the cheapest North Dakota metro for drywall?
West Fargo typically prices the lowest of the major North Dakota metros, around $11.29 per sheet. Fargo typically prices the highest, around $12.11. Differences come from delivery distance to producer plants and metro-area labor rates.
When is the best time of year to buy drywall in North Dakota?
Short building season, roughly May through October. Winters are long, very cold and windy, with sub-freezing highs common from December through February, so most excavation, foundation and flatwork is packed into the warmer months. Cold-weather concreting (per ACI, when air temperature falls below 40 F for three consecutive days) requires heated enclosures, blankets or accelerators and typically carries a premium over summer pours. Drywall pricing is largely seasonal-flat indoors but tightens during peak residential-construction season (May-September) when commercial drywall demand also peaks. For non-emergency work, ordering off-peak (late fall in cold-winter states, mid-winter in southern states) typically saves 5-15% vs. spring/summer peak pricing.
What code requirements affect drywall costs in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a State Building Code built on the International Codes (IBC, IRC, IMC and IFGC), historically administered through the Department of Commerce Division of Community Services. Enforcement is largely local: the state does not enforce the code, and a city, county or township only adopts and enforces it if it elects to (though it may add local amendments). The code still applies as a baseline to schools and state-owned buildings even in jurisdictions that have not adopted it, and many rural areas have limited or no permit enforcement. Confirm the adopted code edition and local amendments with the authority having jurisdiction.
Where can I find drywall suppliers in North Dakota?
Start with the North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association, the NRMCA national producer directory filtered to North Dakota, or the Quikrete dealer locator for bagged products. Get quotes from at least three local suppliers — pricing varies 10-20% across producers in the same metro.
Why is drywall more expensive in North Dakota than the national average?
North Dakota material and installed costs run about 3% below the national average (adjustment factor 0.97). It is a sparsely populated, agriculture-heavy northern Plains state where long haul distances from quarries and plants add freight to delivered prices, and where Bakken oil-region activity in the west can pull labor and materials pricing upward when drilling is active. Local aggregate and ready-mix supply is anchored by a handful of large regional producers.
Related Pages
- All drywall prices by state
- All construction material prices in North Dakota
- Drywall prices in Montana
- Drywall prices in South Dakota
- Drywall prices in Minnesota
- Drywall Calculator
- Pricing methodology & sources
National-average pricing triangulated from homeguide.com. Updated Apr 2026 · methodology
Estimates only. Always verify with your supplier before ordering.
Written by Daniel McCarney — AceCalc