How To Cut a Hole in Drywall for Lights and Electrical Boxes

Introduction

Here's how to cut perfectly sized holes when you're hanging drywall.

Cutting accurate holes in drywall

One of the most frustrating and time-consuming parts of hanging drywall is cutting all those holes for electrical boxes and lights. Cut them too small and you have to take the piece down and recut it. Cut them too big and you’ve got a bigger taping job on your hands, or you wind up throwing away the sheet and starting over.

Here we’ll show you how to cut electrical box openings in drywall that fit perfectly the first time—without broken corners and especially without being too big. Oversized holes are a hassle to fix and look tacky with those big plate covers.

What if you damage the edge of the hole in your drywall?

To fix busted edges on the holes in your drywall, you have to cut away all loose paper and broken drywall and fill the gap with setting joint compound. Then you have to apply tape and several coats of regular taping compound. Work carefully to avoid the hassle!

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