How much paint do I need?
Enter the size of the room and how many coats you plan to roll. Doors and windows are taken out of the wall area for you.
Paint needed
2 gal
Estimated material cost
Paint needed
2 x $$40.00 per gallon
$80.00
Typical store prices before tax and delivery. Change any price to match your store.
How to measure
Measure the length of each wall along the floor and the height from floor to ceiling. For a simple rectangle room, the length and width of the room are enough. Count every door and window, since those are taken out of the paintable area.
Tips from the field
- One gallon covers about 350 sq ft on smooth, primed drywall. Textured or bare walls drink more.
- Going from a dark color to a light one usually takes a primer coat plus two finish coats.
What you'll need
Common questions
How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?
About 350 to 400 square feet on smooth, primed drywall. Textured walls, bare drywall, and dark colors under light ones all need more.
Do I need two coats of paint?
Usually, yes. Two coats give even color and better durability. One coat can work when you repaint the same color over a clean wall.
Should I buy a five-gallon bucket?
If you need four gallons or more, a five-gallon bucket is usually cheaper and keeps the color consistent across the whole room.
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Printed from housecalcs.com/tools/paint-calculator