How to Cut Drywall Angles

Cut two 12-inch long pieces of 2-by-4 inch board with a handsaw. Hold one board on the wall with its bottom edge following the angle. Place the second piece on top of the first piece. Set a level on the second piece and adjust it so it is straight across. Use a pencil to trace along the second piece's bottom edge.

Lay the first 2-by-4 inch board on a flat surface with the bottom edge closest to you. Line up a protractor's bottom edge with the board's bottom edge. Center the protractor over the line you traced in Step 1. Use the protractor's arm to determine the line's angle. This tells you the slope's angle.

Measure the distance along the slope that needs to be drywalled. Transfer this to a piece of drywall and make two marks, one near the drywall's top edge and one near the bottom edge. Connect the two marks with a straight edge. Cut along the straight edge with a utility knife.

Stand behind the drywall with one hand on either side of the line you just cut. Hit the drywall's paper backing lightly with a knee to break it along the line. Cut through the drywall's paper backing with a utility knife.

Lay the cut drywall on a flat surface. Line up the protractor's bottom edge with the edge of the drywall you will angle, in one of the corners. The corner you select will determine if the cut will slope to the left or the right. Set the protractor to the appropriate angle and make a 2-inch long line. Set the protractor aside.

Lay a straight edge on top of the drywall. Line up the straight edge's edge with the line you drew in Step 5. Trace along the straight edge with a utility knife.

Stand the drywall on edge with one hand on either side of the line you just cut. Tap the back of the drywall, behind the line, gently with your knee to break the drywall. Cut through the drywall's paper backing. Test fit your drywall along the angled slope.