You can finish drywall to a number of quality levels. Each drywall finish level represents a different number of coats of joint compound to cover the fasteners and tape. The correct drywall finish level can vary depending on the project goal for each part of the home. You’ll have to choose a level of finish of 0 through 5 in each area, focusing on saving the higher levels of quality for occupied areas where it’s visible. These five levels come from the GA-214 standard set by the American Gypsum Association on hiding joints. Other standards are also essential for professionals, such as ASTM C840, which addresses fire safety through proper drywall installation.
Drywall Finish Levels by Use Case: When to Choose Each One
Choosing the right level of finish for your drywall is largely a matter of considering the use for each space. Unfinished attic spaces don’t need the same finish as a living room, so there's no need to put in the same level of detail. Pros and dedicated DIYers alike have a wide range of tools available to simplify the process, including sanding blocks, taping knives, wide skim coat knives, and more.
Level 0: Construction-Stage Surfaces
There’s no need for any sanding tools to achieve the Level 0 finish level. It’s an unfinished state that involves no tape, joint compound, or other finishing stages at all. You’ll see the fasteners and all the joints, which are essential when a home is still in the planning stage and needs mid-construction inspections to continue.
This level of finish is used for temporary spaces, unfinished homes, and pre-drywall meetings to verify the installation is correct. You may be able to get away with this level of finishing in storage and hidden areas, but Level 1 finishing is generally recommended for safety reasons. Level 0 finishing leaves gaps between the sheets of drywall that allow smoke and fire to flow through, which is why Level 1 finishing is known as fire taping.
Recommended Tools & Materials: None typically used since the surface is untouched.
Level 1 : Fire Tape or Temporary Coverage
Level 1 finishing offers the best balance of speed and quality for non-public areas. This stage involves embedding joint tape in a single layer of basic joint compound. Ridges and uneven surfaces are acceptable, the joint tape remains exposed, and fasteners aren’t hidden. It’s often called fire tape because it slows down the spread of fire while preventing dust, insulation, and smoke from spreading as well.
Level 1 finishing is generally recommended for rarely used or accessed areas, such as plenum spaces, service corridors, and occasionally unfinished basements and attics. Hyde’s ergonomic taping knives ensure you get a strong bond with the joint tape with one pass, even at awkward angles.
Recommended Tools & Materials: Taping knife, paper tape, and joint compound (basic grade).
Level 2: For Backside Surfaces or Garages
Unlike the level five drywall finish, this level provides basic coverage that seals up all the joints without costing more time or materials than the project scope demands. Used for utility areas, garages, and non-finished basements and attics, this finish level requires a few more drywall tools than level 1. Adding in a finer joint compound and some corner tools can go a long way to providing full coverage over the tape and fasteners. Hyde’s corner tools maintain clean internal angles with less knife work. There’s no need to deal with ridges or tool marks, so no need for sanding tools yet.
Recommended Tools & Materials: Taping + joint knife, corner tools, first coat joint compound.
Level 3: Preparation for Textures
In some instances, this might be the primary finish level used for the entire project. A level 3 drywall finish involves applying one coat of compound over the tape and at least two coats over all fasteners. Tool marks and ridges aren’t acceptable at this level, even if they’ll be disguised with a heavy texture later. This is the drywall finish level where sanding comes into play. If you’re using a thick wallpaper or other covering that can disguise unevenness, you may not need additional coats of compound.
Recommended Tools & Materials: Broader taping knives (10-12”), skim coat tools, sanding blocks.
Level 4: Smooth Walls for Paint or Light Texture
The level 4 drywall finish is often the highest level you’ll see in a home or business. Of all the levels of drywall finish, this is the best compromise between a smooth surface and labor. It’s smooth enough for painting or light textures thanks to two coats of compound over the embedded joint tape and two coats over all fasteners.
If you plan to paint with a semi-gloss paint or apply wallpaper, you’ll need at least this level of finish. Reading our guide on The Right Knife for Drywall will also help you get smoother cuts around openings and at joints, resulting in less work to get a paintable surface. Hyde’s dust-free sanding solutions make it easier to achieve Level 4 results without a lot of extra work to clean up the job site.
Recommended Tools & Materials: Wide joint knives (12”+), pole sanders, corner tools, and fine joint compound for multiple skim coats.
Level 5: Premium Finish for High-Gloss or Critical Lighting
A level 5 drywall finish is as smooth as it gets. Unfortunately, a strict project timeline doesn’t always allow for this level of finishing. It provides a perfectly uniform surface for the smooth walls needed for high-end interiors, critical lighting walls, and luxurious environments like resorts and hotels. It involves a thinned skim coat over the sanded Level 4 wall, providing a mirror-smooth finish like no other. It also requires a higher level of project monitoring to make sure no joint goes without the required two coats over the tape and three coats of the fasteners as well. Review the Benefits of Dust-Free Sanding for this level.
Recommended Tools & Materials: Topping compound for skim coat, specialty finishing knives, fine-grit sanding blocks and pads, dust-free sanding equipment.
Tools & Materials for Every Drywall Finish Level
No matter the project requirements, there are taping knives, joint knives, and other tools that make the finishing job easier on you. Choosing the right joint compound is also essential to achieving the desired finish on the walls and ceiling. Basic joint compounds may work just fine for embedding tape and the first layer of coverage on fasteners, but only materials with finer particulates will polish out to the skim coat you need for a Level 5 finish.
Why Pros Trust Hyde Tools for Every Drywall Finish Level
Getting the perfectly flat joints you want on your drywall project is easier than you might think with the help of our taping knives and other tools. Explore Hyde’s selection of hand tools today or contact us for recommendations based on your project.
Jessica Kolifrath
Jessica Kolifrath is a content writing expert that has spent the last 15 years writing for some of the biggest brands in the world. She writes regularly on industries as diverse as retail cannabis, consumer insurance, construction and home goods, automotive dealerships, dentistry, and the entire food industry from the farm to the table. Working with brands like Ashley, Lowe's, major metal building producers, and AutoDesk has helped polish her skills at conforming to exacting style guides.