The Many Names of Drywall: What is Another Name for Gypsum Board?

A Global Vocabulary: Understanding Regional Terms for the World's Most Popular Wall Material

If you are browsing a hardware store in London, chatting with a contractor in Sydney, or reading an architectural manual in New York, you might be surprised to hear people using different names for the exact same product. While gypsum board is the formal technical name, this versatile building material has adopted several regional and brand-specific aliases.

Knowing these synonyms is essential for clear communication on the job site and ensuring you purchase the correct material for your wall partition or ceiling project.

1. The Most Common Global Aliases

Depending on where you are in the world, you will likely encounter these three main terms:

• Drywall: This is the most common term used in North America, referring to the "dry" nature of the construction process, which replaced "wet" lath-and-plaster methods.

• Plasterboard: The standard term used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, accurately describing the board's core—a layer of gypsum plaster sandwiched between heavy paper.

• Wallboard: A general, descriptive term frequently used by manufacturers and retailers to categorize any rigid board used to create interior wall surfaces.

2. Specialized and Technical Names

In professional and technical contexts, you may hear terms that describe the board's specific properties or its chemistry:

• Gyp Board / Gypboard: A common shorthand used by architects and contractors in blueprints and technical specifications.

• Sheetrock: Often used generically (like "Kleenex" is for tissues), Sheetrock is actually a registered trademark of the USG Corporation and has become synonymous with any brand of gypsum board.

• Gib (or GIB®): In New Zealand, the material is almost exclusively referred to as "Gib," which dominates the market in that region.

• Boral / Knauf: In various international markets, the material is frequently referred to by the names of the manufacturers currently leading in that territory.

3. Names Based on Specific Functions

Sometimes, the name changes based on the board's specialized performance features:

• Green Board: The industry nickname for moisture-resistant gypsum board, recognizable by its green paper facing.

• Type X: The technical designation for fire-rated gypsum board, which contains special glass fibers to increase its fire resistance.

• Blue Board: Used specifically for "veneer plastering" (a high-end finish where a thin layer of plaster is applied over the entire surface).

Conclusion

Whether you call it drywall, plasterboard, or Sheetrock, you are referring to the same high-performance gypsum core that provides fire safety and acoustic comfort to modern buildings. Understanding these names ensures you always get the right specification for your project.