Keep the fasteners around 3/8 inches from the ends and edges of the drywall panels.
Definitions
Edge: Any of the four outer edges of a sheet of drywall.
Lippage: A variation or protrusion between the panels.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Then, multiply the number of sheets by 32 (the number of screws needed per sheet).
Example
You are installing drywall in a bedroom that has 320 square feet of wall space.
Dividing 320 by 32 produces 10.
The Spruce
Thus, you will need to purchase 10 sheets of drywall to fit that space.
In this case, continuous means reducing lippage between the panels.
Finishing with drywall compound can fix the occasional chipped or gouged edge.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
The field is considered a more stable area.
Some builders like to space fasteners tighter than that, so they go down to 12 inches.
The entire weight of the sheet is now carried by upside-down screws.
Industry professionals often recommend 8-inch edge placement, which is the same as for wall edges.
Others like to reduce that number to 7 inches.
Both IRC and USG recommend that ceiling field spacing should be no greater than 12 inches apart.
Drywall ceiling field spacing is closer than wall field spacing because of the weight-bearing that occurs from the drywall.
Horizontal placement adds more stress on drywall and screws than vertical placement.
Best Drywall Screw Patterns
Screw distances, for the most part, determine the pattern.
How to Tape and Mud Drywall in 7 Simple Steps.Angi.
What Size Drywall Screws Should I Use?Angi.
