How Much Paint Do I Need for a Room?
For a standard room, calculate wall area using: 2 x (length + width) x height. Then divide by 350 sq ft (typical gallon coverage). A 12x10 ft room with 8 ft ceilings needs about 1.3 gallons for one coat. Use our Paint Coverage Calculator for exact amounts.
Key Takeaways
- Paint coverage depends on wall texture, paint quality, and color change.
- Subtract window and door areas (about 20 sq ft per door, 15 sq ft per window) for more precise estimates.
- Dark colors covering light colors typically need 2-3 coats; light over dark may need primer plus 2 coats.
Explanation
Paint coverage depends on wall texture, paint quality, and color change. One gallon typically covers 350-400 square feet on smooth walls. Textured walls or drastic color changes may require more paint or additional coats.
The formula for wall square footage is: 2 x (room length + room width) x ceiling height. This calculates all four walls. For example, a 12x10 room with 8-foot ceilings has: 2 x (12 + 10) x 8 = 352 square feet of wall space.
Most painting projects require two coats for even coverage, especially when changing colors. Always round up when buying paint - it's better to have extra for touch-ups than to run short mid-project.
Things to Know
- Subtract window and door areas (about 20 sq ft per door, 15 sq ft per window) for more precise estimates.
- Dark colors covering light colors typically need 2-3 coats; light over dark may need primer plus 2 coats.
- Ceiling paint is calculated separately: length x width of the room.