Types of plasterboard: which board goes where?
Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Drylining team
Short answer: Standard plasterboard suits most dry internal walls and ceilings. Moisture-resistant board is used in bathrooms and kitchens, fire-rated board where walls or ceilings need extra fire resistance, acoustic board where noise matters, impact board in busy areas, and insulated board with a foam backing for cold external walls.
Common board types
| Board | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Standard | Most dry internal walls and ceilings |
| Moisture-resistant | Bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms, though not as a direct tile backer in showers |
| Fire-rated | Escape routes, garages, loft conversions and ceilings between floors |
| Acoustic | Walls and ceilings between bedrooms, flats and neighbours |
| Impact-resistant | Hallways, stairs, schools and commercial corridors |
| Insulated | Cold solid external walls and some ceilings |
Thickness
- 12.5 mm is the standard thickness for most walls and ceilings
- 15 mm is often used for better sound or fire performance
- 9.5 mm is mainly used for small areas and some ceilings with close joist spacing
- Insulated boards are much thicker because of the foam backing
Wet areas
Moisture-resistant plasterboard copes with humid rooms, but in showers and wet rooms that are tiled directly a cement-based board or a fully tanked system is the safer choice.
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